Martino Alcoseba Abellana was the fourth of seven children, born into a family of artists with talents ranging from visual arts to music. He primarily worked in oil, pastel, and watercolor, blending classical, impressionist, and realist styles. Abellana honed his skills under the mentorship of National Artist Fernando Amorsolo, earning him the nickname “The Amorsolo of the South.”

A native of Carcar, his works reflected his deep love for his seaside hometown, its laborers, and the Filipino values of family and faith. His decades-long career brought him local and international recognition for pieces like Job Was Also Man and The Rocks. As the “Dean of Cebuano Painters,” Abellana left a lasting legacy, laying the foundation for the thriving art community in Cebu today. His influence lives on through the generations of students he taught, many of whom are now celebrated artists in their own right.