THREE THOMASIAN painters from the renowned Blanco family of artists will paint a mural marking the 60th anniversary of the Faculty of Arts and Letters (Artlets).
Michael (literature), Glenn (journalism), and Noel Blanco (communication arts) — all Artlets graduates — will create the mural to be installed at the lobby of St. Raymund de Peñafort Building in April.
The brothers were born to an all-Thomasian family of artists led by their late father and National Artist nominee Jose “Pitok” Blanco. They have four other siblings Joy, Jan, Gay, and Peter Paul.
“As proud alumni of (Artlets) the three brothers not only bring exceptional artistic talent but also a deep personal connection to UST,” Joel Macanaya, co-chairman for the anniversary celebration, told the Varsitarian.
“Their shared legacy and commitment to excellence make them the perfect choice to create a mural that celebrates the faculty’s vibrant history and innovative spirit,” he added.
The 8×24-ft. mural will feature elements and scenes depicting the history of Artlets over the past six decades or since it emerged from the old Faculty of Philosophy and Letters (Philets).
Artlets reckons its history from the establishment of Philets in 1896, which makes it the oldest and biggest liberal arts college in the country. The college marked its 125th founding anniversary in 2022.
What is being celebrated this academic year is the establishment of Artlets as a result of the merger between the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters and Bachelor of Arts programs from the defunct College of Liberal Arts in 1964. The Bachelor of Science programs remained and that college became what is known today as the College of Science.
Macanaya said the painting would blend “modern artistic expression” and traditional art, reflecting the theme of the anniversary celebration, “From Pen to Pixels: Honoring the Past, Embracing the Future.”
“The concept of the mural reflects the enduring Artlet spirit and culture by highlighting the Faculty’s commitment to both tradition and innovation,” he said.
“The mural not only celebrates the evolution of art and communication but also reflects the dynamic spirit of the (Artlets) community — one that values its history and continuously adapts to the changing landscape of creativity, inspiring future generations to innovate while remaining rooted in their foundational values,” he added.
Artlets will culminate its 60th year celebrations on March 1 with a gala night at Manila Hotel.