While a high school student at the Carcar Academy, Romulo Galicano did decor and lettering jobs; hang around the Abellana brothers' studios (painter Martino and sculptors Ramon and Sindulfo) where he was informally taken in and where he was able to observe and absorb from the masters in his own hometown;

He studied in Manila; was part of Dimasalang Group of artists and writers founded by his future brother-in-law and fellow Cebuano and Abellana apprentice, Sofronio Y. (sym) Mendoza. He formally began his career in the more competitive capital; although there was exposed to various art styles and movements being pursued by their best proponents.

He harkened back to his Abellana awakenings and found his best form in realistic portraiture; he won the prestigious Portrait Society of America William F. Draper Grand Prize for International Competition in 2005;

ART STUDIES • 1961 to 1965 Private Art Lessons with a Cebuano Realist master Martino Abellana of landscapes and figure paintings• 1965 Arrived in Manila to pursue artistic training under SYM (Sofronio Y. Mendoza), another Cebuano Artist• 1968 Full time studies in Painting

MEMBER • Dimasalang Art Group Taza de Oro• Group of Artist Art Association of the Philippines• 1975 Sigliwa Group• 2001 American Society of Portrait Artists• 2004 Portrait Society of America• 2010 Honorary Member of PAC (Pasig Art Club)

Sources:
Website of the artist
carcarfamilies.wordpress.com/carcaranons/galicano-romulo/

Galicano is a portraitist of note who describes his style as technically academic yet abstract in philosophical approach. Vertical lines accentuate his works, which he says is a reconciliation of opposite poles.

He took private art lessons from Martino Abellana, considered the Amorsolo of Cebu.