Collection: Mario Parial

In the early 1970s, the Cultural Center, in recognition of highly talented young artists, launched what would become the highly prestigious and much-coveted Thirteen Artists Awards. Among its early recipients were four outstanding artists who became synonymous with the Philippine Modernist movement—namely, the abstract artists Romulo Olazo and Justin Nuyda, the sculptor Ed Castrillo, and the figurative modernist Mario Parial (b. 1944, d. 2013).

Mario Parial was born in Gapan, Nueva Ecija, on August 13, 1944, to Fidel Garcia Parial—a local kalesa coachman—and his wife, Aurora. Founded in 1595, Gapan is known for its vast tracts of farmland and agricultural activity. Parial, the eighth of 14 children, was thus born in a typical rural Philippine town. The town’s prosperous agricultural setting would later serve as a foundational influence in much of his artwork. In recognition of his accomplishments, the province of Nueva Ecija honored him in 2004 with a plaque of appreciation as an Outstanding Nueva Ecijaño.

The Parial family eventually left Gapan and settled in the La Loma district of Quezon City in the 1960s. There, Parial flourished, pursuing a degree in Fine Arts at the University of Santo Tomas, after which he built a stellar career in the visual arts.

Parial developed his art with high distinction, exploring a wide range of themes rooted in Philippine culture, including fiestas, rituals, and folklore. His subjects included the Moriones Festival, the Nazareno of Quiapo, anting-anting (amulets), masks and jesters, omens of good fortune such as fishermen, colorful kites, fruit vendors, harvest scenes, and female market vendors.

He received numerous accolades for his work, including First Prize at the 1966 Art Association of the Philippines Graphic Arts Award, First Prize in Sculpture at the 1966 Shell National Student Art Competition, and the Outstanding Thomasian Alumni Award from his alma mater in 2009. Parial also exhibited extensively across Asia, North America, and Europe.