Who is the girl behind the viral photo in National Museum?

A National Museum visitor has gone viral online in recent days after she posted a photo of herself beside an art piece, showing her resemblance to the subject.

In an interview on “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho,” Veronica Balayo, a resident of Davao City, said that she went to the museum with her friends while she was in Manila for a business meeting.

Veronica said that her initial goal was to take a photo with Juan Luna’s Spoliarium painting.

But to her surprise, she saw a woman in a portrait who looked almost exactly like her.

“It was not an intention po talaga. Sa karami-rami po na art pieces na nandodoon, doon po talaga ako napadpad,” Veronica said. “Tumatawa pa ako, parang ‘Bakit parang nandito ako?’ ‘Yung mga officemates ko pa yung nagpumilit sa akin na magpicture.”

[“It really wasn’t intentional. There were so many art pieces, but for some reason I was drawn to the area where the portrait was. I jokingly said, ‘Oh! Why is there a portrait of me here?’ My officemates insisted on taking pictures of me with the portrait.”]

Veronica had her hair down, but her friends told her to tie her hair— the same way the woman in the portrait had. She added that she first noticed that they have the same smile and similar laugh lines.

Veronica’s look-alike

The image Veronica saw was part of an exhibition in the museum called “Larawan at Litrato: Foto-óleo and Picture Portraits in the Philippines (1891-1953),” which features 44 foto-oleos from various institutions, private individuals, and collectors.

These portraits were originally in black and white, but were then painted over to further bring out their details and beauty. It was a popular form of portraiture before colored photographs were invented.

Upon her research, Veronica found out that the photos were collected in Panay, Iloilo, or Negros Oriental.

“‘Yung tatay ko po originally from Barotac Viejo, Iloilo po talaga sila or mga Ilonggo. Dun ko po siya na-connect. Sa mga panaginip ko noon may mga pamilyar talaga na mga lugar, or parang napuntahan ko na. Minsan pagkagising mo parang pagod na pagod ka, it's just like astral travel,” she said.

[“My father is originally from Barotac Viejo, Iloilo. That’s when I started feeling a particular connection. I’d see those places in my dreams and they’d feel like I’ve been there before. When I wake up, I feel exhausted. It was like I was astral projecting.”]

She continued, “Sinabi ko ‘Is this my second life?’ or ‘Am I her reincarnation?’ We cannot confirm or we cannot deny the possibility of it. Wala pa man napapatunayan pero parang nakakapanindig-balahibo kung iisipin.”

["It’s not like we could prove it, but it gives me goosebumps just thinking about it.”]

Because there was nothing written in the portrait, Veronica went over the National Museum’s page.

“Doon ko na nalaman na parang on loan ‘yung mismong portrait by Ambeth Ocampo,” she said.

[“That's when I learned that the portrait was loaned to the museum by Ambeth Ocampo.”]

The woman in the portrait was Valeriana “Belen” Raymundo Ocampo, mother of the Filipino historian and author Ambeth Ocampo.

Ambeth said that his mother had two foto-oleos. He agreed that his mom and Veronica had a lot of similarities, including their love for cooking.

Veronica said that she and Belen had more similarities than she originally thought. Unfortunately, Belen passed away in 2003 at the age of 70.

“Parang advanced lang ng 4 years ako ipinanganak after Belen Ocampo died,” Veronica said.

[“I was born just 4 years after Belen Ocampo passed away.'”]

Veronica meets Ambeth

Ambeth said that it’s an “interesting thing” how much Veronica and his late mom look so much alike.

“This is particularly viral and coincidental,” he said, saying he is curious and wants to meet Veronica.

Veronica said the same, saying that she’s grateful he noticed her post on social media.

On Friday, Veronica flew back to Manila, where she finally met Ambeth. Ambeth told her that even his siblings got curious.

And when he compared Veronica in person to the portrait, Ambeth said, “Mukhang kamukha.”

[“There’s really a resemblance.”]

Ambeth recalled that his sibling bought the portrait from a photo studio.

“Nakita niya ‘yan na nandoon sa istante.  Pumasok siya, sabi niya ‘nanay ko yan, puwede ko bang bilhin ko na lang?’ Tapos sabi niya, ‘hindi po, not for sale,’” he said.

[“My brother saw the painting on the shelf. My brother said, 'That's my mother, can I buy it?' Then they replied, 'No, it's not for sale..”]

Eventually, the owner gave in.

“Siguro nakulitan na ‘yung may-ari isang araw, ‘Sige kunin mo na, bigay na lang namin sayo.’ Hindi na niya siningil. ‘Yun nga nu’ng hiniram ng National Museum sa Foto-óleo,” he said.

[“One day, the owner gave in and said, 'Fine, take it, we'll just give it to you.' He didn't charge anything for it. That's when the National Museum borrowed it for the exhibit," he said.]

Veronica told Ambeth that she hopes to be as wonderful as Belen "and have a very nice life, very fun. Having kids someday and being proud of them someday."

As a piece of advice to Veronica, Ambeth said, “Ang importante talaga na meron kang sarili mong career and that you find the right husband. My mother was career-oriented. Marami siyang pinasok na trabaho. Which I think is what a modern woman is. Independent. With independent income from your husband.”

[“It’s really important that you have your own career and that you find the right husband for you. My mother was career-oriented. She ventured into various jobs, which I think is what a modern woman is— independent. She had her own income separate from her husband."]

He also gave Veronica one of his books.

“Marami na akong nasulat but this is my #16 of my looking back series and it's about the women of Rizal which is relevant to what we're talking about so happy birthday and I hope you enjoy,” he said.

Was it reincarnation?

While some were greatly amazed at how much Veronica and Belen looked alike, others wondered if it was a case of reincarnation.

Philosophy Professor Robert Jeff Reyes said that “for us, Christian Catholics, hindi natin tinatanggap ang konsepto ng reincarnation. Sa ating paniniwala, pagkatapos ng kamatayan ay nagkakaroon ng tinatawag nating judgment, it is all about you living a good life.”

["For us, Christian Catholics, we do not believe in the concept of reincarnation. In our belief, there is  judgment after death; it is all about living a good life."]