He graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in the University of the Philippines in 1939. He held his first solo exhibit at the PAG in 1952. He received a Rockefeller grant that allowed him to study printmaking in the USA and Europe from 1962 to 1963. He participated at the Sao Paolo Biennial in 1964 and the Heritage Award in 1967. He zealously taught at the propagated knowledge and appreciation of printmaking as a medium equal to painting and sculpture. He inspired the founding of the Philippine Association of Printmakers in 1969, which rippled into the development of outstanding printmakers in the 70s and 80s. He received the Pamana ng Pilipino Award in 2000 and Presidential Award of Merit in 2007, both from the Republic of the Philippines, recognizing him as “Father of Philippine Modern Printmaking.