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Napoleon Isabelo Veloso-Abueva (born January 26, 1930), more popularly known as Napoleon Abueva, is a Filipino artist. He is a sculptor given the distinction as the Philippines National Artist for Sculpture. He is also entitled as the "Father of Modern Philippine Sculpture". He is the first and only Boholano given the distinction as National Artist of the Philippines in the field of Visual Arts. Napoleon Abueva, nicknamed Billy, was born on January 26, 1930 in Tagbilaran, Bohol to Teodoro Abueva, a Bohol congressman and Purification Veloso, president of the Women’s Auxiliary Service. His father was a friend and contemporary of former Philippine President Manuel Roxas and Ambassador Narciso Ramos. He was a member of the Provincial Board, and later became the Provincial Governor of Bohol. He ended his career as a Congressman in 1934. Both of Abueva's parents died serving their country. Abueva has six other brothers and sisters: Teodoro, Jr., now based in New York, USA; Purificacion, married to Atty. Ramon Binamira of Tagbilaran City; Jose Abueva, former president of the University of the Philippines; Amelia Martinez, now living in Chicago; Teresita Floro, now living in Sydney, Australia; and Antonio, a landscape artist who met a tragic fate aboard Princess of the Orient; his body has not been found. |
