2018

The UST Museum took the lead in ushering in Yuletide festivities this year, with “Christmaseum Year 2.” The Museum collaborated with the UST College of Fine Arts and Design (CFAD), with Interior Design majors crafting a theme of golden doves and lanterns with cutout silhouettes depicting Christmas themes to delight holiday guests. The UST Museum took charge of putting up the Belen (Nativity scene) and the art installation featuring Christmas trees with cut-out designs, evoking the message of allowing the light of Christ to shine through us during this season.

This year’s celebration of Our Lord’s birth was made doubly festive and merry with a concert that showcased the talents of the faculty members and students of the UST Conservatory of Music, along with the UST Junior High School Glee Club.

The UST Conservatory of Music Guitar Ensemble

The UST Guitar Octet started out as the core members of the UST Guitar Ensemble, one of the UST Conservatory of Music's performing groups. In 2016, the original lineup won 2nd place – besting nine other international ensembles and duos – at the Tarrega Malaysia International Guitar Ensemble Competition in Klang, Malaysia. They continue to train, refine their art and expand their repertoire, gearing up to represent our country once more for future competitions and musical performances.

The UST Guitar Quartet is one of the Conservatory’s premiere performance ensemble. It was originally formed by Professor Ruben Reyes, former Guitar Department coordinator and his students. The quartet has performed in some of the most prestigious venues all over the country, and have over the years produced several outstanding guitarists, some of which are now teaching and performing locally and internationally.

The current lineup consists of Erskine Basilio, Mario Echipare, Alberto Mesa and James Peter Namit, all faculty members from the UST Conservatory of Music’s Guitar Department.

The UST Guitar Ensemble’s repertoire consists of arrangements, transcriptions and original guitar ensemble pieces from the Renaissance to the Contemporary. Under the direction of Alberto O. Mesa, its current members include: Luis Capistrano; Manuel Chua; Nico Panopio, Lyon Lopez; David Reyes; Karl Sabado; Rogelio Imperial; Gentry Nalzaro; Aaron Paul Serrano; Miguel Sto. Domingo; Gelvin Dalena; Frances Ancheta; Angelo Rodriguez; and Val Villamin. The Guitar Ensemble performed with Marco Raquiza on percussion and Lucas Paredes on piano.

The UST Junior High School Glee Club

The UST Junior High School (JHS) Glee Club is the High School’s official chorale ambassadors composed of a select group of students, under the direction of Ms. Maria Lulu P. Orlina and Mr. Nicanor Infante.

It envisions itself to be one of the best high school choirs in the country. They aim to explore the different genres of music, sing songs to build relationships, inspire the human spirit with the Divine, and serenade hope and healing to those whose lives they touch.

Formerly known as the UST High School Music Society, it had its humble beginnings as the school’s show choir for school and club programs, as well as a liturgical choir for regular Masses and prayers. Over the years, choir members have gone on to become the nation’s popular chorale conductors, musicians and singers.

The UST JHS Glee Club student soloists were: Job Clarence Centeno; Rafael Miguel Dichoso; Regillkent Esquivas; Johann Paulus Coronel; Alexander John Dimalibot; John Derick Ramos; Imee Claire Calaro; Johann Mariel Lopez; Kristin Millamena; Isis Audrey Magpantay; Alyssa Skylar Raagas and Janette Beverly Jurado.

The UST Woodwind Quintet

The UST Woodwind Quintet is a chamber group formed by students from the UST Conservatory of Music. Initiated by Mr. Jedrick Itugot alongside fellow students who founded the group, each batch aims to uphold the vision the quintet was founded on – to develop wind players' chamber music performance skills, and to foster camaraderie between different individuals participating in the group.

Throughout the years, the UST Woodwind Quintet lineup has produced batch after batch of remarkable young performers. The UST Woodwind Quintet’s lineup for the November 15 performance was comprised of: Josh Rampall Silangcruz; Angeli Marie Nicolas; Peter Joseph Ocampo; Ian Resureccion; and Agnes Bayato. Performing on November 16 were Zach Tad-y; Kevin Rivera; Paolo Noprada; Eimard Teano; and Deiniel Sanchez.

UST CFAD Interior Design Department

Adding a visual component to “Christmaseum” was the “KINDLE: THE LIGHTS OF CHRISTMAS” installation created by Interior Design majors from the UST College of Fine Arts and Design (CFAD). The ceiling installation consisted of lanterns of various sizes, taking inspiration from the Christmas song composed by St. Alphonsus Liguori.

Above the lanterns were hung hundreds of golden doves, symbolizing the Holy Spirit, hope and peace. The word “kindle” means to “set alight.” The display of lanterns and doves aimed to kindle hope and the light of Christ in the hearts of exhibit viewers as they await Christmas.

The UST Museum is grateful to the following major sponsors: Divina Law; Ramcar; KFC; Wok With Me; Cindy’s Grill; RSL Rhythm Sound and Light Trading Corp.; and TV Maria. Our University partners were: the UST Communications Bureau; EdTech Center; Facilities Management Office; Office of Public Affairs; College of Science; and the Security Office. We also thank UST JHS Principal Assoc. Prof. Marishirl P. Tropicales, PhD; Mr. Rudy Olaso; and Mr. Henry Maralit.

UST Museum, NCCA and KASIBULAN mount “Kalinga” (Nurture)

The University of Santo Tomas (UST) Museum, together with the National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCCA) and Kababaihan sa Sining at Bagong Sibol na Kamalayan (KASIBULAN), mounted the “Kalinga” (Nurture) exhibition at the UST Main Building Lobby on October 27, 2018. This event coincided with the celebration of the National Indigenous People’s Month in October.

KASIBULAN founding member Ms. Anna Fer shared her insights about the exhibition’s theme “Kalinga”, while Atty. Trixie Cruz-Angeles highlighted the significance of gender awareness and development within indigenous cultures and the active role of women in IP communities.

NCCA Chair Prof. Felipe M. de Leon, Jr., highlighted the values that could be emulated from the indigenous communities, saying that they are, “Makalinga, maka-Diyos, malakas ang loob, at marunong” (Nurturing, God-fearing, courageous, and wise). The program was capped off with a presentation of Manobo and T’boli dances.

This collaborative project was coordinated by KASIBULAN President Ms. Rajelyn Bustamante and curated by UST College of Fine Arts and Design alumna Ms. Doris Rodriguez. The exhibition ran until November 21, 2018.

We are glad to let everyone know that the Main Gallery is once again open for viewing, with a freshly-retiled floor. The previous floor of the central exhibition area was renovated in 1997, and has since experienced the wear and tear that we consider a good sign – this means that your UST Museum is a living, active agent of education for Thomasians and the general public. The retiling required us to close the Main Gallery for a month, but it was worth it!

Also part of our facilities upgrade this Academic Year is an ongoing upgrade of the Museum’s CCTV systems. With better equipment and updated software, we will be able to offer our guests an even safer environment to enjoy and learn about our collection on display.

The UST Museum is proud to invite guests to view the new display of santos at the Hall of Philippine Religious Images, on indefinite loan from a private collector.

The images include a figure of the Crucified Christ with silver ornamentation, and a sculpture of St. John the Beloved with ivory head and hands. Images of St. Barbara and St. Augustine are also featured, both of which have ivory heads and hands as well, and are garbed in exquisitely embroidered garments. An eye-catching ivory set of head and hands of Our Lady of Sorrows or Mater Dolorosa, along with a silver rostrillo, pierced Immaculate Heart of Mary, and rosary are also included in the special display.

Last June 21-24 2018, The administrators of the University of Santo Tomas Museum went to Miami, Florida, USA to attend the 2018 Association of Academic Museums and Galleries – University Museums and Collections (UMAC) Annual Conference. This conference was attended by partner academic museums from all across the world. The University of Miami was the gracious host of the 4-day workshop conference that was centered on the theme “University Museums and Collections as Change-Agents for a Better World.” This topic primarily talked about how museums could spark change in their respective institutions around the world using their collections and teaching methodologies at play in their exhibits. It also talked about the best practices in operations and collection management geared towards the advancement of the universal mission of a museum: to teach.

The first sessions started off with group roundtable discussions focusing on the different museum operational setups of the participants. It is here that the delegates share what their museums are all about, what issues beset their museum and how do they address them accordingly. On a personal note, I found this activity helpful in a way that other museums share how they approached their problems and the solutions they have applied.

The succeeding sessions were about the developments of university museums in terms of content, community involvement, funding, research and most of all historical value and the safekeeping of cultural heritage, I learned that the ultimate goal of a university museum is to expose its identity, not only to students, administrators of the institution, but most importantly, the community it is in. Museums are not only for the learned, they are for everyone who wishes to learn and discover new ideas and lessons and the catalyst should be the museum in itself.

After the conference, visits to some chosen museums and galleries provided us with actual experiences to validate our theoretical knowledge and learn new practices in exhibition designs.

The UST Museum is proud to share the achievements of its staff this Academic Year. Melchor Briones, Alain Manalo, Dahl Reyes, Mike Alvin Torres, and Noel Villaseñor received Punctuality Awards during the 2018 HIYAS Awards, while Susan Samson and Maita Oebanda and the rest of the staff were nominees for the Most Outstanding Employee Award. The HIYAS Awards recognize the University’s Support Staff for their performance, punctuality, and achievements.

We would like to introduce our new Museum Attendant, Ms. Yjah Carlos, who received her Bachelor of Fine Arts and Design Major in Advertising Arts degree from the UST College of Fine Arts and Design (CFAD). Yjah is responsible for the Museum Gallery’s day-to-day activities as well as exhibition collaterals and publicity materials. Another new member of our staff is our Gallery Clerk, Ms. Twinkle Rana. Twinkle is a 2011 BSBA Marketing Management graduate of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, and she handles the operations of the Museum Curio Shop, and maintenance of the Museum’s art collection library.

We wish our graduating Student Assistant, Joanna Estorque, the best of luck! Joanna, or as we fondly call her, Joe, is an AB Journalism graduate this year from the Faculty of Arts and Letters. We’re very proud of you, and look forward to the trails we know you will blaze in the future!

Last April 12, 2018, the UST Museum unveiled “Serial Kolorista: Color More, Stress Less Year 3” at the Main Gallery. Featuring works rendered in colored pencil on paper, over 30 coloring artists – or as they prefer to be called, “coloristas,” – expressed themselves in a panoply of colors and themes, showing the soothing and therapeutic value of coloring.

Among the colorists was the UST Museum’s own Director, Rev. Fr. Isidro Abaño, O.P., who spearheaded the exhibit since 2016. The guest colorists who are members of the Coloring Books for Adults Philippines (CBAP) were in attendance at the exhibit opening, which was also graced by UST Vice-Rector Rev. Fr. Richard Ang, O.P. The exhibit also featured installation art using found objects, both created and curated by Fr. Abaño. It ran until May 11, 2018.

The UST Museum, in cooperation with Tukod Foundation, Inc., the UST College of Architecture (USTCA), and the Heritage Conservation Society (HCS) – UST Youth Chapter, presented “The Visionary Comes Home: A Mañosa Beyond Architecture Exhibit” at the Main Gallery from February 27 to April 6, 2018.

The exhibit was an exploration of Thomasian Architect Francisco “Bobby” Mañosa’s contribution to Philippine architecture. He became renowned for his study and understanding of indigenous building styles, and advocated the use of traditional materials combined with modern building technology to create a uniquely Filipino architectural identity.

The exhibit featured scale models of Mañosa’s most iconic works, as well as samples of the local materials he regularly included in his designs.

A new image of Our Lady of the Rosary has been acquired by the UST Museum. It has been carefully restored under the guidance of Museum Director Rev. Fr. Isidro Abaño, O.P., and has a new home at the 4^th floor lobby of the College of Commerce at the St. Raymund Building.

UST’s official student publication, the Varsitarian, unveiled its exhibit in celebration of its 90th year anniversary at the UST Museum last Feb. 6.

Managing Editor Bernadette Pamintuan, Publications Adviser Joselito Zulueta and seasoned ‘V’ alumni Nestor Cuartero and Vim Nadera led the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The Varsitarian’s maiden issue, released on Jan. 16, 1928, stood at the center of the exhibit, accompanied by photos of its previous mastheads, staff boxes, and editors in chief.

Also displayed were some of the Varsitarian’s special issues, which include the Quadricentennial supplement “400” and the literary magazine “Montage.”

Last Jan. 20, the publication held its grand alumni homecoming at the Grand Ballroom of the Buenaventura Garcia Paredes, O.P. Building, graced by its alumni from the fields of arts and letters, media, business, science and medicine, and others.

The oldest campus paper in the country, the Varsitarian has been recognized by the Catholic Mass Media Awards, International Association of Business Communicators, and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

Distinguished alumni include Jose Burgos, Neal Cruz, Jullie Yap Daza, Bernardo Bernardo, Doris Trinidad Gamalinda, Gloria Garchitorena Goloy, Leticia Buhay, Rogelio Sicat, Celso Carunungan, Joe Guevarra, Jess Sison, Charlie Agatep, Crispin Maslog, Danny Dalena, Remy Boquiren, Rita Gaddi, Felix Bautista, Mario Hernando, Antonio Siddayao, Jake Macasaet, Francisco Tatad, Juan Frivaldo, Antonio Lopez, Alice Colet-Villadolid, Ophelia Alcantara-Dimalanta, Cristina Pantoja-Hidalgo, Norma Miraflor, Eric Gamalinda, and Lourd de Veyra, and national artists F. Sionil Jose, Bienvenido Lumbera, Cirilo Bautista and J. Elizalde Navarro.

The “V90” exhibit ran until Feb. 20, 2018 at the UST Museum.

The University of Santo Tomas, in collaboration with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) held the 2018 UST Annual Inter-School On-the-Spot Painting Competition (OTSPC) on February 22, 2018, from 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Benavides Garden, UST.

This year the participants were allowed to paint a theme of their own choice. The UST Museum invited students of Fine Arts to look beyond themselves and think about how their futures are shaped by their choices, expressed through art.

The winners were: “Mga Matang Mapanghusga” by John Frances N. Ochoco of Eulogio “Amang” Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology (EARIST), 1^st prize; “Beyond What I See” by Ma. Alyssa T. Castro of UST, 2^nd prize; and “Hindi Mapigilan ang Pag-asa” by Mark Anthony P. Laza of EARIST, 3^rd prize.

Honorable Mentions were awarded to: an untitled work by Kenneth Santiago of the University of the East (UE); “Pantay-Pantay, Magkaisa” by Jamia Mei Tolentino of the University of the Philippines (UP); and “Paro at Pinang” by Josephine Mari Ramos of Far Eastern University (FEU). Each Honorable Mention awardee received a cash prize, and all of the winners and awardees received a set of Pébéo art materials from Times Trading, and gift certificates from Giordano.

The panel of judges for this year’s OTSPC were: National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) National Committee on Art Galleries (NCAG) Head John Delan Robillos; multi-awarded visual artist Florentino “Jun” Impas, Jr.; renowned painter and sculptor Romeo “Omi” Reyes; and UST Museum Director Rev. Fr. Isidro Abaño, O.P.

The awarding ceremony was held at 6:00 p.m. on the same day, the winning works were exhibited at the UST Main Building lobby from February 22 to March 2, 2018. The UST Museum is once again proud to have partnered with the NCCA, Giordano, and Times Trading to unite student artists and encourage them to further hone their artistic talent.