The Faculty of Arts and Letters (AB) unveiled its first-ever mural at the main lobby of the St. Raymund de Peñafort Building on Friday, Sept. 25 to showcase the history and identity of the Artlets community.
The unveiling of the mural, painted by Artlets brothers Glenn, Michael and Noel Blanco, is part of the events leading up to the celebration of the faculty’s 60th founding anniversary.
Glenn, a Journalism alumnus, said that the mural was intended to remind Artlets of AB’s deep-rooted history and to foster pride in their origins.
“It instills a sense of pride that some people have forgotten, the pride in where you came from, where you originated, and what strengthened you,” he told The Flame.
Glenn described the mural as a “pictorial history” that features Rizal, former deans of the faculty and the development of communication technologies from print to radio and modern technology. The mural’s central element is the AB logo, which the brothers emphasized through its size and placement.
“Of course, the important part is what’s in the center—the Artlets logo. Also, in terms of composition and the painting process, the larger element is the more important one,” Glenn said.
Michael, a Literature graduate, said researching the faculty’s history deepened their appreciation of AB and its graduates.
“When we started researching, we realized how deep the history of our college really is,” Michael told The Flame.
The brothers said the mural could encourage Artlets to learn more about the history it depicts.
“Because others might say, ‘You’re just an AB graduate.’ It might seem insignificant, but the AB degree is actually something else entirely—it equips you to handle whatever comes your way,” Noel, a Communication Arts alumnus, told The Flame.
For Glenn, leaving a mural at AB also serves as the brothers’ way of giving back to their alma mater. He said they had long hoped to leave a lasting artistic legacy at the faculty.
Among the alumni present at the unveiling were newscaster and radio host Arnold Clavio, Henry Tenedero, president of the UST Philets and Artlets Alumni Association, and Jose Lina Jr., president of The Manila Hotel.
AB is commemorating the 1964 merger of the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters and the Bachelor of Arts programs of the defunct College of Liberal Arts. F -with reports from Veancy Palad
