THE MAVERICK MARIVIC RUFINO (First of four parts) (March 05, 2012)

MARIVIC RUFINO'S ROMANZA II-DREAMSCAPES 2012 PAINTINGS

When we say “maverick,” either Dirk Nowitzki or Jason Terry would come to mind. Yet, outside the hardcourts, and inside galleries, the said word for “an unbranded range animal” could also mean -- Maria Victoria Rufino -- whose love for horseback riding, her regular fitness regimen, began when she was still in diapers!

More popularly known as Marivic, she is a team player -- who is now the Philippine Long Distance Telephone-Smart Foundation executive director, Red Cross Makati vice chair, and Carl Jung Circle Center board member. However, at heart, she is indeed “an independent individual who does not go along with a group” as an artist!

Last 22 February, she had proven it, again, when she opened Romanza II: Dreamscapes 2012 at the Manila Peninsula Gallery. In a way, it was as “rebellious” as the sculpture exhibit that began last 20 February at the Philippine Heart Center called Diversity by such awarding-winning sculptors as Adel Agubang, Francis Apiles, Roger Basco, Jonathan Dangue, Van Cleef Emnacen, Noy Gepte, Al Giroy, Tito Obor, Glennd Pagaduan, Alex Roxas, Narciso Santiago, Rinald Soto, Nerio Tanjay, Elrine Vicaldo, and her dad, Jun Vicaldo, the co-organizer of Raul “Tata” Funilas, who, upon learning about the worsening health condition ofNational Artist Napoleon Abueva, thought of putting up this tribute to the aforementioned Father of modern Philippine sculpture.

On the other hand, Ms. Marivic or Mav’s Romanza II: Dreamscapes 2012 had two National Artists, namely Virgilio Almario and Arturo Luz, as her guests of honor.

For the first Romanza, Tahanan Books published, with her 36 paintings, Rio Alma’s selected poems in such indigenous form as tanaga, diyona, and dalit in English courtesy of his “official” translator and editor -- poet Marne Kilates -- the main man behind his own online literary and art journal -- The Electric Monsoon Magazine(www.electricmonsoon.com) -- who, by the way, will deliver his Henry Lee Irwin Chair Lecture entitled My Last Dry Season Or: Eking Poems Out of a New Age of Anxiety, Sendong, Impeachment, and the Prospect of the Mayan Apocalypse. Today, it will be, from 4:30 to 6 p.m., at the Ateneo de Manila University’s Science Educational Complex where he will also launch his workshop students’ Poetry Chapbook.

Romanza II: Dreamscapes 2012, her 17th painting exhibit, ended last 27 February, and her egress was last Tuesday. Sadly, you cannot catch it anymore.

But she, the former Alliance Française de Manille’s vice president, made a promesse that you can order the limited edition of her soft art by contacting Fritzie or Zeni at 8179574, from Mondays to Thursdays, at 10am to 3pm.

Or, just hope and pray that she, being ever-giving and forgiving, will finally decide to make itavailable in places she loves the most, next to the Manila Polo Club.

One day, The Maverick Marivic will simply surprise you with her paintings on sofas, chairs, three-panel screen dividers, tapestries, pillows, lamps, bags, glass tables, and parasols either at the Ayala Museum shop or inside the LRI Design Plaza.

Vim Nadera: You were born in the Philippines, you studied high school in Spain, and graduated valedictorian in Italy. Could you compare and contrast your personal and student life in those countries?

Marivic Rufino: As a high school student, I was fortunate to study in Barcelona and Rome. Marymount International School had many students from different parts of the world -- the U.S.A., South America, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. The girls were children of diplomats and expats. I enjoyed interacting with them and learning about Spain and Italy. We traveled a lot around Europe with the nuns during Easter breaks. My personal life? It’s all about studying and excelling.

I love books, languages, science, culture, history, good food. It was intense and fun. (I was a nerd!)

VN: Looking back, did it help make or break your “art”?
MR: I absorbed art because of my exposure to the museums and the architecture. I paid (out of my meager allowance) for my private art lessons in Spain. In Italy, I sketched and wrote poems. I was a struggling artist-writer since I was a kid. My parents did not encourage my art because they were worried I would starve.