Atoy Apostaero

It all started when the 8-year old Atoy would frequently stop by an art signage shop in San Pablo City, Laguna, and would astonishingly observe every artist's strokes, which would eventually ignite his passion for the arts. He then had his first art recognition when he won his school's drawing contest when he was in Grade 2. 

Atoy's family moved back to Angono in 1975. Little had he imagined that his love for the arts would even heighten when he got to see Angono Ateliers Association's exhibit, "Gunita Kay Botong". He then enthusiastically took sketching tutorials from Jose Blanco and Vicente Reyes to further his craft. With his talent and skills, he was recruited to be a part of the oldest art group in Angono, the Angono Ateliers Association (AAA), when he was only 17 years old.

His leadership has always been apparent since he became the coordinator of AAA for five years; the President of Angono Youth Artists in 1988; and the youngest three-time President of AAA in 1990, 1998, and 2021.

Atoy had commissioned murals for Nayong Pilipino depicting regional revolts from Philippine history. He also gave art lessons to many art enthusiasts in Nayong Pilipino as well as in Valle Vaerde and McKinley. 

He has had more than 80 group exhibits in the Philippines and the US, showcasing his distinction in the use of oil paint and watercolor as media in bringing out vivid traditional and cultural still life paintings, mostly all from his childhood memories.