President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo congratulated this morning Filipino painter Romulo Galicano, who won the prestigious Draper Grand Prize by the Portrait Society of America in Washington, DC on May 14, 2005.

Galicano presented to the President a compilation of his paintings and a photo of the winning 30" x 40" oil painting, titled "Eddie," at the Music Room in Malacañang.

A resident of Loyola Heights, Quezon City, Galicano is the second Filipino who won the contest after the late painter Juan Luna, whose "Spolarium," which was painted 123 years ago, had also won recognition.

The Filipino painter, who bested 2,000 other painters from all over the world in this year’s Portrait Society of America awards, was also awarded a Certificate of Merit by the Portrait Society of America in 2004.

"This is one good news at this time…Filipino artists are really talented and at par with international artists," National Commission on Culture and Arts chairman Ambeth Ocampo said in an interview.

"Eddie," the man in the portrait is "a client," Galicano said.

A non-profit organization under a governing board of artists, the Portrait Society of America is dedicated to fostering and enhancing the practice, aesthetics and application of traditional, fine art portraiture.

Aside from Ocampo, Galicano was accompanied to Malacanang by his daughters, Cristine and Rowena, lawyers Ramon Maronilla and Wilfred Garcia and friends.