FACULTY of Civil Law (Civil Law) students now have a reason to look up upon entering the Faculty’s lobby: murals that depict the history of Law in the University and in general.
“The Faculty wanted to show the history of Law. But instead of confining it to the history of law in UST, we also included its background which is natural law. That’s why there are biblical and human figures in the mural,” Civil Law Dean Augusto Aligada Jr. said.
Rendered by College of Fine Arts and Design Professor Danilo Santiago, the first of three murals was placed on the lobby’s center wall above the entrance of the Faculty’s Dean’s office last June 9 to add interest to the once bare walls of the lobby.
The mural depicts biblical and allegorical figures on the history of Law like Abel and Cain, Adam and Eve, King Solomon with the two mothers, Moses, the last judgment and more.
Santiago said the painting, with God at the top and human figures like Jose Rizal, Maria Clara, and St. Anne at the lower portion, was patterned after a masterpiece of the Italian master, Rafael.
Santiago also said the murals which costs at P500,000 each were products of research and the integration of the ideas of Aligada, former dean Amado Dimayuga, Secretary General Fr. Isidro Abaño, O.P., Vice-Rector Fr. Juan Ponce, O.P. and Civil Law Regent Fr. Javier Gonzales, O.P.
The other two paintings will be placed on the left and right walls of the lobby. One mural will contain outstanding alumni like Dr. Jose Rizal and the Thomasian Justices, and the other, the Honorary Doctor of Laws degree recipients. Both are still being finished by the artist.
The murals, all oils on canvass, were financed by Honorary Law degree recipient Don Emilio Yap, who also donated the lobby chandeliers.
