When you get a call for a lunch invitation with Romulo Olazo, you don’t think twice. Which is how I found myself seated beside

Romulo Olazo with one of his diaphanous paintings

him and his wife, Pat, over a plate of Carbonara and a glass of iced tea.  His 40-year retrospective happens in a week, on July 27, and the exhibit organizers and the Ayala Museum wanted to make sure to get the word out.

We chatted mostly about his early years as a visual artist, how he decided to completely give up on a career in advertising, and at age 40, begin anew, first as a print maker, then as a painter.  How inspiring is that?  We lamented on the damage inflicted by cockroaches and the elements to a 50-foot serigraph he executed for his first one-man show at the CCP. He professes admiration for the work of Nona Garcia (“Ang galing n’on!”)

With his son, artist Jonathan Olazo

and hasn’t given much thought to choosing the most memorable piece he has ever done, as perhaps it is yet to come.  Mang Ola, at 75, finds time to work a few days a week.  He even includes a few new works for the upcoming show.

I promised to tell fellow art lovers not to miss Romulo Olazo:  A 40-Year Retrospective.  As if.  Once the news get out, watch us all come flocking to see.

Romulo Olazo:  A 40-Year Retrospective opens on 27 July 2009 at the Ayala Museum, Greenbelt Park, Makati City.  It runs until 13 September 2009.  For more information, call (632)757-7117 or visit  http://www.ayalamuseum.org