Maria Rita Teresa Batalla-Laforteza

Maria Rita Teresa Batalla-Laforteza (born 3 August 1960) is a Filipino artist who graduated from the University of Santo Tomas in the Fine Arts Department, majoring in Painting. Currently, she is taking her master's degree in the same university. Ms. Batalla-Laforteza is also the daughter of the artist and musician from Cabuyao, Domingo M. Batalla.

Maria Rita Teresa Batalla-Laforteza (Born Maria Rita Teresa Herce Batalla) was born on August 3, 1960 in Cabuyao, Laguna. She is the daughter of Dr. Virginia Herce Batalla (acupuncturist) and artist and composer Domingo M. Batalla. She grew up in a small town in Cabuyao, Laguna and still resides there. She has attended numerous schools throughout her education, including the Canossa School in Laguna and the Philippine Women's University. But mostly, her education has been in the University of Sto. Tomas having had her pre-school, college and graduate school years there.

As a child, Laforteza initially dreamed to be a doctor like her mother. But as time passed, she grew to love the arts, learning how to draw at a very young age. During elementary, she would make handmade designer stationary that she would then sell to her schoolmates. She would also participate in various art related school activities like school plays (in which she would be the production designer), booths in school fairs, drawing competitions and the like.

Come college years, she chose to apply to the University of Sto. Tomas under the College of Science. She did not finish her course, however, and shifted soon to the then College of Architecture & Fine Arts (now the College of Fine Arts & Design) under the course of Painting. She has since developed her artistic ability and honed her skills using the style of impressionism under the watchful mentoring of her professor and another famous Filipino artist, Danilo Santiago.

Laforteza started to make a name for herself in the art industry when her Thesis work entitled "The History of Medicine" gained popularity as it was praised by her jurors and many art enthusiasts. Said thesis work was even published in numerous print media including The Vision Magazine and Bulletin Today. She was the only outstanding female during her batch's Thesis Deliberation.

She made her Thesis artwork exactly 1 week before her deliberation, choosing to focus more on her Thesis book. On the day of the deliberation, she had a high fever and was advised by her mother not to go through with it. But, with the support of her father as well, she pushed through and faced her three jurors: artists Danilo Santiago, Glory Rogers and Leonardo Hidalgo (son of famous artist Felix Hidalgo). She also had her adviser, Antonio Austria, present. With this, she received Top Thesis and was praised for her work.

On September 25, 1982 she embarked on her first exhibit for her Thesis work. After this, she focused more on her schoolwork, and didn't join an exhibit until later on in 1995.

She joined The Chairman of Research & Documentation historical exhibit along with other artists. It was held on April till September of the year 1995. On 1996, shortly after the exhibit, she joined an On-the-spot Painting Competition. Both events are for the celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the College of Architecture and Fine Arts. She joined as an alumni.

December 1996, she was one of the exhibitors in the 5th National Eucharist Congress and UST "Masters of the Arts for the Eucharist" Painting Exhibition that was held at the GSIS Building. Come 1999, she became a chairman in the Committee on Invitations and Documentations for CITIES 2000, an international convention hosted by her alma mater.

Throughout 1999-2000 she joined various kinds of summer art and sports workshops. From 2005-2007, she has been in various positions in different committees for the University of Sto. Tomas College of Fine Arts & Design. During August 2006, she participated in helping to break the record Longest painting on Continuous Canvas for the Guinness World Records & International Mid-decade Celebrations of UNESCO for a Culture of Peace & Non-violence for the children of the world.

August 2009, three years later, she was an exhibitor for the SI KAD: CFAD Pahid Kulay Art Exhibition, along with her co-faculty members. In the same year, she held her first ever solo exhibit in the gallery of her alma mater, University of Sto. Tomas.

She was also an exhibitor last May 2010 for the Lakan Sining Bulacan SM Art Center and 2011 for the Quadricentennial Exhibition of the University of Sto. Tomas.

During 2012, she was an exhibitor for the UST Atelier Group Exhibit in Siguada Gallery and September of the same year in the Vignettes and Variations exhibit at the Beato Angelico Gallery for the AAP UST CFAD Junior Chapter.

She has since participated in various joint exhibits. A few of these are the Ika 2 Yugot at Galeria de las Islas, the Brushes with Words & Chords Making: Love in Fourteen Collaborative Acts and the like.

Her most recent exhibits were held in 2013. They include BALIK-TANAW for Grupong Tomasio, a Collaborative Exhibition at the UST Main Building and a group exhibition at the GSIS Museum called Ugnayan. But her most memorable one is her second solo exhibit in memory of her father titled: Memories, Music & Me 2 – A Tribute to the Legacy of Domingo M. Batalla.

Nature is a very common theme with her paintings, mostly choosing to use butterflies, flowers, landscapes and the like as her subjects. She has stated that, in doing her paintings, she keeps thing organized. She has said that, "I have a cabinet at home that contains all my materials. My brushes and paints are in order. I like to be organized," and emphasizes that organization is very important to her because it saves her time and makes it easier for her to start with her works. The longest she has ever painted was 24 hours, but it usually takes her 4–6 hours to finish at artwork, depending on the size and subject of her work.

In doing her works, she sometimes gets ideas and starts one on impulse. At other times, however, she researches first on the subject before making a composition and proceeding with doing her work.

Music is also a big influence on her, choosing to listen to various tunes while creating her works. She has said that, "You have to have an idea first and then let the music enhance that. You can't depend on it. You can't say that you have to listen to music before you start your work. That leads to you being dependent on it, which will not be good in the future. You have to have the idea created in your head first, and then while making your work, you let the music be your support and you let it enhance your artwork and help you finish it. That's the right way to do it,". She believes that one should be taken by the emotions through the music, not by the music itself.

Her future projects include a wide array of activities, which include: Mural paintings for the University of Sto. Tomas Alumni Center, group exhibitions in Dubai, Saudi Arabia, and a group exhibition for the Philippine Embassy in Los Angeles, California in the United States.