Cesar Montano's "Confusion." (Photo by ENIE REYES)

An abstract painting of actor Cesar Montano that hangs nowadays in one corner at the Glass Wing of Ayala Museum in Makati City had the press agog about the story behind its title: “Confusion.”

Painted in 2007, the 121.9 x 91.4 cm Oil on Canvass creation is rendered mostly in the colors red and orange.

And of the 50 paintings that Montano mounted at the exhibit, it was the only one named after an emotion.

“Maraming confusion [nung time na ‘yon]…maraming nakakagulo sa isip, hence, the title.

“Every human being, may [phase na may] kaguluhan sa isip, merong smooth-sailing din. Nakita ko yon [kaya] I borrowed the colors [that represent the emotion] and put it on canvass,” he said.

His wife Sunshine Cruz, however, had a more telling explanation.

“Kahit hindi ko na siya tinanong tungkol sa title nung painting, alam ko at alam niya kung ano ‘yung confusion na ‘yon…at ginawan na namin ng paraan para maliwanagan yon.

 “We’re better off now. Mas masaya…mas tahimik ang buhay [namin ngayon].

“Minsan, mas maganda na lang na tumahimik ka at mag-give way,” she said.

Cesar was clearer about the titles of his other paintings, particularly about the “Sunshine” series.

Named after his wife, each of those were done using watercolor and shows a bunch of flowers inside a vase.

“I did those in my studio in Bohol,” he said. “Mga three days ko ginawa ‘yung series and since Sunshine was there while I was painting, pinangalan ko sa kanya.”

But why paintings of flowers?

“Because we need more flowers nowadays especially since madami sa mga kapatid natin ang nasawi sa catastrophic events na nangyari sa bansa recently. Alay ko ‘yan ‘di lang sa asawa ko kundi para sa kanila,” he said.

Sunshine suggested that the paintings were in watercolor because the medium is “very fluid” and gentle”---just like their marriage.

“I’m happy to be Cesar’s wife. Achievement na maituturing ang 10 years naming kasal lalo at ang dami-dami ng mga napagdaanan namin---at kung anuman ‘yon, ang masasabi ko lang at those have made a stronger person.

“Sana lang kung may pagsubok man na darating pa ay makayanan namin. Mahalaga kasi ang katahimikan sa buhay,” she said.

Asked what she would call her painting for Cesar if she ever does one, Sunshine intimated that she might actually do a series, too:

“Cesar 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6…”

According to a press release, Cesar has been dabbling in painting for most of his adult life.

Some of his outstanding pieces adorn the walls of his Italian restaurant Bellissimo Ristorante in Quezon City and his homes in Quezon City and in Bohol. Some of his closest friends are also lucky enough to have been recipients of some of his artpieces as gifts from the generous actor.

His very own solo art exhibition billed, “The First Impression,” is ongoing until Nov. 29, 2009.

Most of the paintings there depict the rural day-to-day realities of his beloved home province of Bohol, which he dreams of someday promoting as Asia’s ideal movie-making center and an environmentally-protected ecological tourism paradise.

All the paintings at his exhibit will be sold to raise funds for his Panaghoy Children Foundation, Inc. which helps bring to school, deserving but impoverished youths, mainly in his home province of Bohol.