The Unpainted Legacy of Victor Ramos

To be associated with a top caliber artist such as the famous painter Simon Flores active during the late 19th century would be a compliment. And to be rated as great and of the same level as Simon Flores would also be an honor. Almost every amateur artist these days might long for this kind of comparison. But to have the masterpieces you’ve created mistaken for a work by a Master such as Simon Flores, that is a another story. Neglecting the role (or contribution) that you had to a particular work of art is a totally disenfranchising thing that shouldn’t be forgotten.

This is the case of the painter Victor Ramos y Gozum (1922-1986) who repainted almost 80% of the ceiling and mural paintings in the interior of the Betis church which most contemporary writers mistook for Simon Flores originals. Victor Ramos, together with Daning Henson from San Fernando Pampanga and a certain Mr. Pangilinan reworked the ceiling paintings in the early 80’s, commissioned by the Betis Fiesta Committee under Tatang Emias Roque. It was a flagship project for the town which was then headed by the late former Guagua Mayor Atty. Manuel Santiago. Based on Macario Ligon-originals (Ligon was an uncle and teacher of Victor Ramos in painting), repainting was done due to the decaying panels infested by termites and to avoid a more devastating effect on other parts of the church’s ceiling. Photographs served as guides for the painters in the restoration process which simulated the original ones especially the trompe l’oeil (fool the eye) effect of the vaults, frames and arches. The original ones were painted in the pre-war years by Macario Ligon of Barrio San Agustin Betis which was headed by the last Spanish friar of Betis named Santiago Blanco. Victor Ramos never had a hard time repainting the ceiling in the late 70’s to early 80’s since he was also the apprentice of Macario Ligon when the latter started painting it in 1939. He was only in his teens then.



Victor Ramos nurtured his painting skill despite being born in an impoverished family in Betis. Working as an apprentice under his uncle Macario Ligon, he became so interested with ecclesiastical painting which became his specialization. He entered the School of Fine Arts at the University of the Philippines Diliman, and after a year, made his way to work with Maximo Vicente, a well-known sculptor, in the post-war period. He became an encarnador, one who paints the skin of rebultos, and had several side jobs along Mabini and Hidalgo Streets in Quiapo before he came back to Betis and married his long time sweet heart Ester.



His important works include “The Genesis and Apocalypse“. Betis Church Dome.1985., “The Four Evangelists”. Betis Church pendentives.1985., “St.John Baptizing Christ”. Betis Baptistry.1972., “The Four Evangelists”.Guagua Parish Church.Undated.,
“The Four Evangelist”. San Guillermo Church of Bacolor Pampanga., “Fourteen Stations of the Cross”. Obando Parish Church. Obando Bulacan.1982.