"Remembering Alice Guillermo"
By Paul Smirnoff
On behalf of this page, this person express to the family of Alice Guillermo deep regret on her passing. As the art community, as well as patriots and nationalists alike, have lost in the person of Professor Alice Guillermo, who contributed to the study of art, as well as to Filipino society.
Through her, as well as her views and lifelong works, all these became contributions, enough to bid thanks not just by followers, but to the people whom afforded to study and learn art criticism and on how art as relevant to society.
Admittingly speaking, in recalling her contributions, the book "Protest/Revolutionary Art in the Philippines 1970-1990" somehow made this person self-studied art, particularly on how artists, as influenced by the society and its shortcomings, has turned their craft into a tool in seeking truth from facts, if not a weapon to assert changes in the society still marred by ever continuing crisis.
And aside from her written works, Prof. Guillermo, along with other esteemed faculty members in the University of the Philippines, helped set new directions in the field of art scholarship, leading to the creation o Art Studies as a course proper. Obviously, one would wonder why there are those engaging in art studies? Is seeing it alone and admiting its beauty not enough? Most likely yes, for these people whom engaged throughout the years hath afforded not just criticising artworks in various forms but also intersects with its history as well as theory.
From this then no wonder the late professor, being a lifelong scholar and writer for years, hath affected, inspired, and touched her friends, colleagues, artists, students, and even readers' lives that somehow bid thanks and expressed condolences to this one of the few whom afforded to engage on that field of art criticism and studies.
And because of this, then despite her passing, her legacy triumphs over her death, and so long as art continues to enlighten and mobilise people, the professor is with them in their hearts- youthful as ever in their presence.