The title of this column will probably make you think right away that I will be describing how much I enjoy my many “staycations” at my favorite hotel-by-the-sea, Conrad Manila. Well, yes, but, there’s much, much more than that.
Spending a few days at this hotel is something I always look forward to. The service is impeccable, the facilities are all to my liking, and they always give me the best room in the house: that corner suite right in front of the bayside Ferris Wheel. This is why I wasn’t surprised when the hotel was recognized in the Conde Nast Traveler Reader’s Choice Awards as one of the 2019 Best Hotels in The World.
With the spectacular view of the glorious Manila Bay sunset, and the colorful lights of the amusement park right in front of the hotel sparkling at nighttime, I get fully de-stressed by just looking at them and I easily get lulled to a restful sleep which makes possible beautiful dreams that crown a good night’s rest.
But what prompted me to talk about my happy dreams at the hotel was the launch of a famous artist’s exhibit at its Gallery C. The 60-year-old Rossano Capili, who signs his masterpieces with “Rosscapili,” is multi-awarded in the fields of painting, photography, and digital medium.
I first met this artist several decades ago when I was the country manager of the Northwest Airlines GSA and we sponsored an art competition which his 11-year-old daughter won. You can easily see how potent his artistic genes are.
Rosscapili’s collectible art pieces, painted on canvas and shaped in steel, are narratives of his love for nature, music, and all things that represent celebration and happy memories of traveling.
He held his first solo exhibit in 1981 and has since mounted over 30 exhibits in Manila, Paris, and in many parts of the United States. He has also participated in over 35 group exhibitions in Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Indonesia, and South Korea.
During the Conrad Manila Cocktails launching his exhibit, Rosscapili was asked why he is such a prolific painter, continuously dishing out excellent masterpieces. His answer was very simple—he sleeps a lot (and I presume he always has a restful sleep) and when he wakes up, he paints the images he dreamt of.
Hearing that, I felt so inadequate with my dreams because, most of the time, I don’t even remember them. But someone who can clearly put on canvas the colors, shapes, and poetry that his dreams are made of is definitely gifted…and enviable.
This exceptionally skilled artist has garnered more than 55 awards and distinctions, including the Jurors’ Choice in the 1994 Philip Morris ASEAN Art Awards; the Pamana Ng Lahi Award in San Francisco, California in 2001; the 2008 PATA Gold Award for Travel Photo Journalism in Hyderabad, India; and the 2009 Ani Ng Dangal Presidential Award.
Rosscapili’s Tales & Trails Exhibit is part of Conrad Manila’s “Of Art and Wine” series at the Gallery C and will be on display until January 2020.
I was almost tempted to ask Rosscapili what he takes before going to sleep so that my brain can also generate those “vivid colors, shapes, and poetry” that he gets. But, in case it doesn’t work for me, a “staycation” at Conrad Manila is still worth dreaming of.
For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com.
YOUR weekend CHUCKLE
“Old” is when you are cautioned to SLOW DOWN by the doctor instead of by the police.