Push Admin

Side A's Rodel Gonzalez looks back on his art journey

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA -- Original Side A vocalist and artist Rodel Gonzalez’s journey back to painting is a living illustration to the cliche that first love never dies.</p><p>Born into a family of painters, it was no surprise Gonzalez fell in love with the art at an early age and was determined to draw a colorful future using a canvas — that was until he began an affair with music in college. </p><p>“I am very proud to say I was part of third generation family of artists, lumaki ako sa pamilyang pintura. I saw the lifestyle of an artist, I watched my dad, nililinis ko palette, I would help out sa gallery. I learned to paint at 9 years old until high school, and then college I took Fine Arts,” he told ABS-CBN News at the opening of his Manila Art exhibit on Friday in Pasay City. </p><p>“Pero nagbabanda na ako noon. Nang sinabi ko sa dad ko I want to become a musician, he said, ‘Alam mo hindi mo alam gaano ka kagaling magpinta. Pero kung gusto mo mag-music, mag-music ka.&#x27; Siguro sumama loob ng konti. And ayun, I did music with my brother with Side A,” he said.</p><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:550px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:468px;height:554px;display:block;flex-grow:1" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1753405528951411044&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fnews-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fpersonal%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Anews-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2024-02-03T01%3A00%3A24.705742%3A01a7b00f-673c-4706-a04e-8e36ae78c5d0%26action%3Dedit&amp;sessionId=d2838a0167f89c512a22dd286270e5d3d4455a2b&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px" data-tweet-id="1753405528951411044"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><p>At around 20 years old, Gonzalez along with his brother Naldy as well as the group’s other OG members Joey Benin, Kelly Badon, Mar Dizon and Pido Lalimarmo, founded the band Side A, which became one of the biggest groups in the local music scene. </p><p>While Gonzalez charted hits with the band that would eventually become known as timeless classics, he revealed he had completely let go of his relationship with painting. </p><p>“I did not paint for 18 years,” he confessed. “I was focused on music with my brother.” </p><p>But the multi-faceted artist admitted he had never forgotten his passion for the visual arts, especially his favorite -- oil and acrylic on canvas. Thus, when he retired from music, Gonzales did not think twice about reviving the flame of his first love.</p><p>“When I moved to Hawaii in 2002, doon ako bumalik. Para mong na-meet ulit dati mong girlfriend. Exciting siya kasi siyempre nag-evolve din ang art world. Especially in Hawaii, very inspirational lugar na &#x27;yun. Lumabas ka lang, &#x27;yung alon, palm trees, gusto mo lahat i-pinta. Kaya I chose Hawaii and moved my family there because inspirational and magical. Since subject matter ko is landscapes, doon ako nagsimula,” he explained. “Then when kinuha na ako ng ibang galleries sa Los Angeles, New York, I moved na to LA, para nasa gitna ako. Mahirap kasi travel.” </p><p>Gonzalez shared that while it took nearly two decades to find his way back to the medium, he carries no regrets. Furthermore, this gave his father an opportunity at least be able to witness his return to painting. </p><p>“When I moved to Hawaii, I called him up, he was 74. I said I went back to art. He was happy. He said, ‘That’s good son.’ A year later he passed away, but at least nakita niya ako bumalik,” he recalled. </p><p>“Sa akin, I live in the moment. As long as you are passionate about something, whether it is music or art, what matters is you stay true to yourself. There is such a similarity, with music and painting too. Andoon pa rin creativity,” he added. </p><p>While Gonzalez started sculpting his path in the field of fine arts somewhat in the later stage of his life, he was still able to draw a colorful and vibrant career. Apart from boasting of sold-out shows in the United States and Japan, he is the only Filipino in the exclusive pool of artists licensed by Disney to re-interpret iconic characters from the franchise’s classic films and shows, as well as from Marvel and Star Wars. </p><p>“2008, I was offered license with Disney. Happenstance lang, because the CEO of Disney Fine Arts, fan ko pala. He was at one of the shows in Hawaii,” he said. “Yung grupo namin, there is just 35 of us who can do what we do. Ako lang Pilipino doon kaya nakaka-proud kasama ako sa elite group na yun.” </p><p>Although based in the United States, Gonzalez from time to time makes it a point to bring some of his works back home to the Philippines — in hopes of inspiriting more Pinoys to make their own mark on the international stage. </p><p>“Alam mo, we live now in an age everything is instant. Akala ng iba ang pag-pinta, ano man sining, music, may iba natural talent. But you have to invest in the hours. I remember my dad telling me, kahit isang oras mag-drawing ka. Oras talaga ginugugol para gumaling. You gotta invest time. Walang shortcut. Kailangan mo igugol,” he reasoned. </p><p>The Rodel Gonzalez Manila Art Show 2024 collection features a range of his signature paintings and reprints which include Disney characters, NBA giants in action, wildlife, seascapes — including a piece capturing the beauty of El Nido, and as tribute to the zodiac year, several dragon paintings. </p><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:560px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:468px;height:264px;display:block;flex-grow:1" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-1&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1753413033530175968&amp;lang=en&amp;maxWidth=560px&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fnews-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fpersonal%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Anews-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2024-02-03T01%3A00%3A24.705742%3A01a7b00f-673c-4706-a04e-8e36ae78c5d0%26action%3Dedit&amp;sessionId=d2838a0167f89c512a22dd286270e5d3d4455a2b&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px" data-tweet-id="1753413033530175968"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><p>“Ang iba dito available lang sa US. They are for sale and the proceeds will go to the charities Marriott arranged,” he said. </p><p>And of course, his trip in the country would not be complete without revisiting his love affair with music. Part of Friday&#x27;s program was a nostalgic set from Side A. </p><p>“Parang mga kapatid ko mga &#x27;to, sina Joey, Pido, Ernie, they are family. Re-relive namin time na sama-sama kami, mga Calesa days. We will do acoustic songs. We did not play for 30 plus years, kaya minsan sinasabi namin, ano nga ba ulit lyrics noon,” he saiod.</p><p>Side A will hold its “Live and Love: A Valentine Concert” on February 10, at Newport Performing Arts Theater in Pasay City. </p>

<p>Original Side A vocalist and artist Rodel Gonzalez’s journey back to painting is a living illustratio</p>

Original Side A vocalist and artist Rodel Gonzalez’s journey back to painting is a living illustratio

Rodel Gonzalez looks back on his art journey, reunites with Side A

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

Lifestyle

Rodel Gonzalez looks back on his art journey, reunites with Side A

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 03, 2024 09:11 AM PHT

|

Updated Feb 03, 2024 02:11 PM PHT

Read More:

Side A

Rodel Gonzalez

art

painting

Manila Art

exhibit

art

culture

ANC promo

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.