The Oblation (Filipino: ''Pahinungod'', ''Oblasyon'') is a
concrete
Concrete is a composite material composed of fine and coarse aggregate bonded together with a fluid cement (cement paste) that hardens (cures) over time. Concrete is the second-most-used substance in the world after water, and is the most wi ...
statue
A statue is a free-standing sculpture in which the realistic, full-length figures of persons or animals are carved or cast in a durable material such as wood, metal or stone. Typical statues are life-sized or close to life-size; a sculpture t ...
by
Philippine National Artist
The Order of National Artists of the Philippines ( Filipino: ''Orden ng mga Pambansang Alagad ng Sining ng Pilipinas'') is an order bestowed by the Philippines on Filipinos who have made significant contributions to the development of Philipp ...
artist
Guillermo Tolentino
Guillermo Estrella Tolentino (July 24, 1890 – July 12, 1976) was a Filipino sculptor and professor of the University of the Philippines. He was designated as a National Artist of the Philippines for Sculpture in 1973, three years before his de ...
which serves as the
iconic symbol of the
University of the Philippines
The University of the Philippines (UP; fil, Pamantasan ng Pilipinas Unibersidad ng Pilipinas) is a state university system in the Philippines. It is the country's national university, as mandated by Republic Act No. 9500 (UP Charter of 200 ...
. It depicts a man facing upward with arms outstretched, symbolizing selfless offering of oneself to his union.
History
The idea for the Oblation was first conceived during the presidency of Rafael Palma, who was the one to commission Tolentino to make the sculpture. Palma requested that the statue would be based on the second verse of Rizal's ''
Mi Ultimo Adios'':
The concrete sculpture painted to look like bronze, measures 3.5 meters in height, symbolizing the 333 years of
Spanish rule in the Philippines.
[Michael Tan]
''The Oblation''
Pinoy Kasi. Retrieved October 6, 2007. The sculpture is replete with references of selfless dedication and service to the nation, and as Tolentino himself describes it;
Oblation.com.ph Retrieved October 6, 2007.
Originally, the statue was completely naked, but for reasons of decency it was modified by U.P. President Jorge Bocobo, 5th President of UP, with the addition of a
fig leaf
The expression "fig leaf" is widely used figuratively to convey the covering up of an act or an object that is embarrassing or distasteful with something of innocuous appearance, a metaphorical reference to the Biblical Book of Genesis in which ...
to cover the genitals. The sculpture was funded by the U.P. students of 1935–36, and was presented by Potenciano Illusorio and
Jose B. Laurel, Jr., presidents of the student council during the first and second semester respectively and was dedicated in March 1939 at the
University's Manila campus, the main campus then, where it stayed until February 1949, when the main administrative offices of the university moved to the new
University of the Philippines Diliman
, image = University of The Philippines seal.svg
, image_size = 175px
, caption = Official Logo of UP Diliman
, motto = Honor and Excellence
, established = February 12, 194 ...
campus in
Quezon City
Quezon City (, ; fil, Lungsod Quezon ), also known as the City of Quezon and Q.C. (read in Filipino as Kyusi), is the List of cities in the Philippines, most populous city in the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a populatio ...
. The transfer of the Oblation to its new home served as the highlight of the move from Manila, which is historically referred to as the Exodus.
[''Exodus Marker'', Quezon Hall, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City. Retrieved October 6, 2007.] The sculpture in front of the
Quezon Hall at UP Diliman was installed facing west, purportedly a tribute to the American roots of the university. Today, that sculpture is only a bronze replica (which was recast from the original in Italy in 1950, under the supervision of Tolentino himself) dedicated on U.P.'s Golden Jubilee on November 29, 1958. The original sculpture is being kept at the Main Library (Gonzalez Hall), the former site of the U.P. College of Fine Arts.
Several replicas of the Oblation were made for the various campuses of the University of the Philippines, some by National Artist
Napoleon Abueva
Napoleon "Billy" Veloso Abueva (January 26, 1930 – February 16, 2018) was known as the "Father of Modern Philippine Sculpture" Through Proclamation No. 1539. He was proclaimed National Artist for Sculpture in 1976 when he was 46, making him th ...
. The Oblation at the
University of the Philippines Visayas
The University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV or UP Visayas) is a public research university in the Philippines with campuses and facilities throughout the Visayas. A constituent university of the University of the Philippines system, it teaches ...
campus in Iloilo City was made by Professor
Anastacio Caedo
Anastacio Tanchauco Caedo (14 August 1907 – 12 May 1990) was a Filipino sculptor. His style of sculpture was classical realist in the tradition of his mentor, Guillermo Tolentino.
His best known works include the MacArthur Landing site in Palo ...
. 2005 National Artist-nominee Glenn Bautista, likewise, did his celebrated version of the Oblation in pen and ink as part of his schoolplates at the
University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts
A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, t ...
under Professor Rebillon. The sculpture was registered at the
Intellectual Property Office in the year 2004. Being the main symbol of the university, the Oblation is the centerpiece of many U.P.-related logos, like those of the ''
Philippine Collegian
The ''Philippine Collegian'' is the official weekly student publication of the University of the Philippines Diliman. It is also commonly known to the university's students as ''Kulê'' (). It is known for its radical, national democratic, often ...
'' and other official student publications, the U.P. Cooperative, and the U.P. Centennial emblem.
The
University of the Philippines Open University
The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) is a public research and open university and distance education institution headquartered in the town of Los Baños, Laguna, with satellite offices in Quezon City, Metro Manila. It is th ...
Oblation sculpture is unique for its ribbon-like flag swirling around the pedestal and the replica of Guillermo Tolentino's U.P. Oblation. This gives an effect of the flag lifting the Oblation into greater heights and rendering it the boundless reach that is symbolic of U.P.O.U.'s prime objective of widening access to U.P. quality education. Completed in 2005, it was designed and executed by University Artist and U.P.O.U. Chancellor Dr. Grace J. Alfonso.
Locations
As the primary icon of the University of the Philippines, oblation statues are located on the campuses of its constituent universities, often on plazas named "oblation" after the statue, and in front of many U.P.'s satellite campuses. It is also located in the Abueva Ancestral House in Bohol which is the ancestral home of two notable UP alumni, former UP President Jose Abueva and National Artist Napoleon Abueva .
Model
The identity of the person who served as the model of the sculpture has been long been the subject of speculation.
University literature records the names of two persons who served as a model for the oblation: Tolentino's student assistant Anastacio Caedo, and Tolentino's brother-in-law, Virgilio Raymundo. Specifically, Tolentino used Caedo's physique and Raymundo's proportion for reference.
[University of the Philippines Diliman Office for Initiatives for Culture and Arts. (2004). Pasyal: walking around U.P. Diliman. Quezon City : UP Diliman-OICA.][ Romulado, A.V.P. (2011, May). Tales from up diliman: fact or fiction. U.P. Newsletter, p. 7.] Caedo would later become a professor of Fine Arts in the university himself, succeeding the deceased Tolentino. His works now form part of the University Collection,
and one of his monuments of
Jose Rizal
Jose is the English transliteration of the Hebrew and Aramaic name ''Yose'', which is etymologically linked to ''Yosef'' or Joseph. The name was popular during the Mishnaic and Talmudic periods.
* Jose ben Abin
* Jose ben Akabya
*Jose the Gali ...
for the German government was installed in an eponymous Park in
Wilhelmsfeld,
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
. Caedo was the one who created the U.P. Baguio Oblation.
A persistent urban legend has it, however, that director-actor
Fernando Poe, Sr. was the model, as he was a student at the university at the time the Oblation was being made. Other names that have said to pose for the sculpture include a friend of Tolentino, Ferdinand Glenn Gagarin and fireman June Villanueva.
[Feliciano, Gloria (ed). (1984). The University of the Philippines: a university for Filipinos. Quezon City : UP-Communication Research and Development Foundation.]
Oblation Run
The Oblation Run at
University of the Philippines Diliman
, image = University of The Philippines seal.svg
, image_size = 175px
, caption = Official Logo of UP Diliman
, motto = Honor and Excellence
, established = February 12, 194 ...
is an annual tradition inspired by the
Oblation
Oblation, meaning "the act of offering; an instance of offering" and by extension "the thing offered" (Late Latin ''oblatio'', from ''offerre'', ''oblatum'', to offer), is a term used, particularly in ecclesiastical use, for a solemn offering, sa ...
done by the members of the
Alpha Phi Omega
Alpha Phi Omega (), commonly known as APO, but also A-Phi-O and A-Phi-Q, is a coeducational service fraternity. It is the largest collegiate fraternity in the United States, with chapters at over 350 campuses, an active membership of over 25,0 ...
, one of the prominent and influential U.P. fraternities. Members of the fraternity run around the campus naked (a concept known as
streaking
Streaking is the act of running, often naked, through a public area for publicity, as a prank, a dare, or a form of protest. Streaking is often associated with sporting events, but can occur in more secluded areas. Streakers are often pursued b ...
) to protest their sentiments about a current political or economic situation.
"100 Nudes/100 Years"
Inspired by the
U.P. Oblation, the University of the Philippines Alumni Association (U.P.A.A.) launched an art exhibit, "100 Nudes/100 Years" featuring the works of nine U.P. alumni national artists.
newsinfo.inquirer.net, 100 NUDES/100 YEARS, Exhibit showcases UP's best artists in last 100 years
See also
* Oblation
Oblation, meaning "the act of offering; an instance of offering" and by extension "the thing offered" (Late Latin ''oblatio'', from ''offerre'', ''oblatum'', to offer), is a term used, particularly in ecclesiastical use, for a solemn offering, sa ...
* Katakataka
''Kalanchoe pinnata'', commonly known as cathedral bells, air plant, life plant, miracle leaf, and Goethe plant is a succulent plant native to Madagascar. It is a popular houseplant and has become naturalized in tropical and subtropical areas. T ...
Notes
External links
History of Oblation
Oblation - iskWiki
{{DEFAULTSORT:Oblation (University Of The Philippines)
Concrete sculptures in the Philippines
Nude art
Statues in the Philippines
University of the Philippines
Alpha Phi Omega
Public art in Metro Manila