Sining Saysay: Philippines History in Art

Yesterday February 28, 2015 affair is a momentous event in the Philippine history. I attend the formally opening a first in the world- a comprehensive collection of murals depicting a nation's milestones and culture from prehistory to the present, like no other artworks have portrayed before.

"Muslim in the Philippines" National Artist Abdul Mari Asia Imao

This large Paintings, collectively entitled SiningSaysay- Philippine History in Art- showcase the saga of the Filipino people from antiquity through the colonial and occupation times, through the birth pangs of independence, to the present day; tracing our ascent from the shadows primitive tribal life to our growing pains as we unsteadily, but surely move forward to becoming a modern and progressive nation regarded as respected peer, perhaps even a leader, among the peoples in this part of the globe. 

"Building from the Ashes" Norlito Meimban- 

" The Philippines Under Stars and Stripes" Crisostomo S. Cruz

SiningSaysay needed three institutions working shoulder -to-shoulder to make these murals a palpable reality- the University of the Philippines, the UP Alumni Association, and the Araneta Center, Inc. Together, we raised the funding necessary to finance the creation of these thirty murals by distinguished alumni of the UP College of Fine Arts

"Prehistoric Philippines I" Luis E. Yee Jr.

"Woman Empowerment in the Philippines" Grace "Gigi" J. Alfonso

"Ramos/ Esrada Administration" Michael N. Velasco

"Peopling the Philippines 11" Gigi De Pio.

The project took no less than five years- starting from its genesis shortly after the term in 2009 of UPAA President Gari Tiongco, whose brainchild it was, through the terms of the next

UPAA president and now UP President Alfredo Pascual, his successor Alumni Regent Gladys San Juan Tiongco, to its completion during her term in 2004. Similar murals of the Philippine history and culture have been painted before, such as the one at the Manila City Hall. Its magnificence notwithstanding, the scope of its panorama is focused primarily on the history of the capital city and, understandably, spans the time frame of the artist's life only.

for more photos please click this link: Past Time of Mom's Hug

                                                               The making of

                                                             SININGSAYSAY

                                                            Philippine History in Art

PROF.MA LUISA T. CAMAGAY-Historian, Writer Member, UP Project Team- 

EMERLINDA R. ROMAN-Former President, University of the Philippines

PONCIANO E. RIVERA JR.- Regent, University of the Philippines and President, UP Alumni Association of the Philippines.

HARI M. TIONGCO- Former UP Regent and Former President of UP Alumni Association

ALFREDO E. PASCUAL-President, University of the Philippines 

RUBEN D. F. DEFEO-Curator, Writer Member, UP Project Team 

ROMEO S. A. CARLOS- UPAA Project Coordinator, Executive Director, UP Alumni Association and Artist.

GLADYS S. J. TIONGCO-Former UP Regent and Formers Pres. of UP Alumni Associatio. 

GRACE "GIGI" JAVIER ALFONSO- UP Project Team, Artist Documentary