Jose Yap Baguio was born in Zamboanga, Cebu on April 15, 1959. He studied Architecture at the University of Visayas and graduated in 1977.

He first learned to paint from Rudy Cerna, a sign painter based in Diplog City.

Baguio’s works are reminiscent of the luminous style of the Hudson River artists. He paints hyper-realist renditions of pastoral scenes, old Church altars, orchids, and rice harvests.