ART EXHIBIT OF COLORADO-BASED FILIPINA SCULPTOR ELAINE ANTONIO BORDEAUX OPENS AT PH CENTER IN SAN FRANCISCO
Filipino American artist Elaine Antonio Bordeaux, along with Bay Area Filipino Community leader Polly Cortez, unveils her bronze sculpture of Filipino World War II hero Magdalena “Maggie” Leones, during the opening of the “Courage” exhibit at the Philippine Center in San Francisco on 8 July 2024. (San Francisco PCG photo)
SAN FRANCISCO, USA – As part of the celebration of the 78th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the United States, the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco is hosting the “Courage” exhibit at the Philippine Center’s Kalayaan Hall from 8 to 12 July 2024.
The solo exhibit by Colorado-based Filipino American immigration lawyer and bronze sculptor Elaine Antonio Bordeaux marks the second leg of her “Courage” exhibition tour, which was first staged at the Philippine Embassy in Madrid, Spain in November 2023.
“Courage” showcases Bordeaux’s sculptures in bronze, which depict her Filipino heritage, her life experiences in the Philippines and the United States, her faith, and her aspirations for her people. She uses bronze as her medium because of its strength and enduring quality.
The main showcase of the 16-piece exhibition is a bronze sculpture of Filipino World War II hero and “Lioness of Filipino Guerrilla Spies” Magdalena “Maggie” Leones, which was unveiled during the exhibit’s opening reception on 8 July 2024.
In his welcome message, Philippine Consul General Neil Ferrer thanked Bordeaux for traveling all the way from Colorado—one of the 10 states under the Consulate’s jurisdiction—to mount her exhibit, and for her efforts in erecting a bronze statue of Philippine national hero Jose Rizal in Colorado Springs, Colorado through her nonprofit, the Dr. Jose Rizal Legacy International Foundation.
Consul General Ferrer, in his remarks, recognized Leones’s heroic acts during the Second World War as a bearer of intelligence information and vital equipment that earned her the Silver Star Medal, becoming the first and only Asian to receive one of the highest decorations for valor in combat by the U.S. Armed Forces.
Leones was a longtime Bay Area resident before her death in Richmond in 2016; she was later interred at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in the Philippines.
“To the family of Maggie Leones who are with us this evening, I wish to convey that the Filipino people consider her a hero. Rest assured that her legacy will never be diminished nor forgotten by future generations of Filipinos and Filipino Americans,” Consul General Ferrer said.
In line with the celebration of “Philippine-American Friendship Day” last Fourth of July, Consul General Ferrer said that the Philippines-U.S. alliance is at an all-time high, grounded on the legacy left behind by Filipino war veterans.
“While the patriotism of Filipino World War II heroes such as Maggie Leones is often remembered in historical moments such as the Fall of Bataan and the Death March, it must be befitting that their most important legacy is not only the freedom that we gained as a people, but also the independence that we achieved later on as a nation,” Consul Ferrer said.
Circling back to Bordeaux’s exhibit, the Philippine Consul General said: “By honoring Maggie Leones and the other faces of courage in this art exhibit, may we be reminded of our historical and people-to-people connection that continues to define the enduring relations between the Philippines and the United States. All of us bear the responsibility of ensuring that the stories of our heroes will never be forgotten, passing it on to future generations.”
Consul General Ferrer and Bordeaux formally opened the exhibit with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Fil-Am Daly City, California Mayor Juslyn Manalo delivered her remarks during the program.
After a powerful number by Filipino performing artist and X Factor Philippines finalist Mark Mabasa, a Filipino-themed cocktail reception followed, courtesy of Kusina ni Javen Jesel.
A proud Caviteña, Bordeaux is a Filipina American lawyer, immigrant advocate, and visual artist. In her 16 years of law practice, she has represented human trafficking victims and Filipino workers in the United States for violations of labor laws. She is a volunteer lawyer of the Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network, where she helps children immigrants from war-torn countries.
Despite her successful law career in the United States, Bordeaux has not forgotten her passion for the arts, which began she was a child. She attended various art schools and trainings at the New York Academy of Art, the Houston Baptist University, and the Barcelona Academy of Art.
In October 2023, Bordeaux was inducted into the 100 Most Influential Filipina Women in the World (Global FWN100) by the Filipina Women’s Network. END
Philippine Consul General Neil Ferrer gives his welcome message at the opening of the “Courage” exhibit at the Philippine Center in San Francisco on 8 July 2024. (San Francisco PCG photo)
Filipino American artist Elaine Antonio Bordeaux gives her remarks at the opening of her “Courage” exhibit at the Philippine Center in San Francisco on 8 July 2024. (San Francisco PCG photo)
Philippine Consul General Neil Ferrer and Colorado-based Filipino American artist Elaine Antonio Bordeaux lead the ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the “Courage” exhibit at the Philippine Center in San Francisco on 8 July 2024. (San Francisco PCG photo)
Posing with the bronze sculpture of Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal are, from left to right: Filipino American artist Elaine Antonio Bordeaux; Philippine Consul General Neil Ferrer; and Fil-Am Daly City, California Mayor Juslyn Manalo. (San Francisco PCG photo)