ert is a compleat artist – an educator and cultural activist. Internationally and nationally acclaimed, he is a recipient of the Australia Council for the Arts, Asian Artists Awards of Vermont Studio Center, U.S.A., Philip Morris Group of Companies ASEAN Art Awards, GSIS Museum Artist of the Month and Art Association of the Philippines Best Entry Award. He popularized and vigorously promoted Mindanaoan Arts and Culture through art exhibitions, lectures and workshops in different countries abroad. He had major solo exhibitions in Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Australia, USA and Canada. He was the Mindanao Coordinator of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA)-Committee on Visual Arts from 1996-2001. As an artist-educator he has organized art workshops in schools and communities, for skills development, art- as- therapy and peace building. Active in social development advocacy work for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Mindanao, Monterona’s art elevates social realities to aesthetic heights.
