Bernardo Balagtas

Born into a family of painters in Angono in 1972, Bernardo "Bernie" Balagtas attended Angono Elementary School and Angono National High School. Throughout his education, he showcased his artistic talent by winning numerous art contests, including the Angono Ateliers Association Annual Competition, which he dominated for five consecutive years from 1985 to 1989.

As a scholar at the UP College of Fine Arts, Bernie continued to excel, earning significant achievements. He secured first place in the POPCOM competition for three consecutive years, triumphed in the UST on-the-spot painting contest in 1992, and claimed accolades in prestigious competitions such as the METROBANK National Painting Competition and the Shell Student Art National Competition in 1993, among others.

In 2016, Bernie held a solo exhibition titled "Displacement" at Artologist Gallery, and he has participated in numerous group exhibits in notable locations such as Angono, SM Megamall, Ayala Heights, UP, and CCP.

In addition to his artistic pursuits, Bernie currently serves as the barangay captain of Barangay Kalayaan.