Miss Universe 1973 Margie Moran and her family have gifted a prized family heirloom to the National Museum of the Philippines—the “Double Portrait of Nieves Balmori Gonzales de Moran and Her Daughter Nieves Moran Garcia” by National Artist in Painting Fernando Amorsolo.
Created by Amorsolo in 1959, the painting features Nieves Balmori Gonzales de Moran and her daughter Nieves Moran Garcia, who were Margie’s grandmother and aunt, respectively. The former had been crowned as the Carnival Queen of Lingayen in 1919 and Bautista, Pangasinan in 1920. She was also the one who encouraged Margie to join the Binibining Pilipinas pageant, despite her parents being against it.
“This painting was really part of our growing up days. It was displayed next door in my grandmother’s living room and later in Tita Nenita’s flat in Madrid,” shared Margie.
National Museum Director Jeremy Barnes revealed that the museum’s collection has never featured a double portrait, leading to his excitement upon seeing the painting.
“Not many people realize that Amorsolo really painted quite a lot of group portraits, and we’ve seen these in private collections, many still with the original families, but we have yet to receive one here to show to the public,” said Barnes.
The painting was gifted to the museum on August 5 at the Spoliarium Hall of the National Museum of Fine Arts.
