NMP RECEIVES DONATION OF FERNANDO AMORSOLO’S “DOUBLE PORTRAIT OF NIEVES BALMORI GONZALES DE MORAN AND HER DAUGHTER NIEVES MORAN GARCIA”

The National Museum of the Philippines proudly announces the ceremonial turnover of a significant addition to its National Fine Arts Collection: National Artist Fernando Amorsolo’s 1959 oil painting, “Double Portrait of Nieves Balmori Gonzales de Moran and Her Daughter Nieves Moran Garcia.” This generous donation was made by Rafael Garcia Moran-Montenegro, Jean Paul Garcia-Moran, and Rosalie Montenegro-Roth in honor of Bianca Montenegro-Roth. The turnover ceremony will take place on August 5, 2024, 5:00 PM at the Spoliarium Hall of the National Museum of Fine Arts. 

Nieves Balmori Gonzalez de Moran was a notable figure, crowned carnival queen of Lingayen in 1919 and Bautista in 1920, both in Pangasinan where she is from. She was married to Manuel V. Moran, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the first Ambassador to Spain and the Vatican City. A photograph of Nieves as a carnival queen from 1919 hangs in The Presidencia, a museum located in the historic town hall of Rosales, Pangasinan. Her photo postcards were highly popular, reportedly outselling those of previous Manila Carnival Queens. She is the grandmother of 1973 Miss Universe, Margie Moran, while her daughter in the portrait, Nieves Moran Garcia, is Margie’s aunt and the wife of the former  Minister of the Philippine Embassy.

On behalf of the Filipino people, we extend our deepest gratitude to Rosalie Montenegro-Roth for honoring her daughter Bianca’s wish to entrust this treasured painting to our institution. This significant artwork will not only enrich our collection but also serve as a testament to the enduring legacy of Fernando Amorsolo and the distinguished Moran family.