THE UNIVERSITY is in the final stretch of restoring its iconic “History of the University of Santo Tomas” mural, with the last two panels now reinstalled at the Main Building lobby ahead of the structure’s centennial in 2027.
Comprising the first portions of the chronological mural, the two panels depict the foundation of UST in 1611 through a bequest by Archbishop of Manila Miguel de Benavides, O.P. in 1605, and its elevation from college to university in 1645 by Pope Innocent X.
This restoration of the four-panel Antonio Garcia Llamas mural by the UST Museum conservation team, led by Prof. Bernardita Maronilla-Reyes, took four years to complete.
UST Museum Asst. Director Carlo Sayco said the restoration project could serve as a reference for future conservation efforts.
“The UST Museum is currently in the process of collating all the documented information about the restoration efforts of the murals, which may be used as a future reference for conservation activities,” Sayco told the Varsitarian.
Llamas’s four-panel mural is about 70 years old, dating back to 1952 to 1954.
Each panel took six to eight months to restore, with the first two remounted in March 2024.
Those earlier panels depicted milestones such as the declaration of UST as a Pontifical University by Pope Leo XIII in 1902 and the graduation of male and female students under the co-educational system.
“There was visible deterioration on the murals. Molds were present and are consuming the surface of the paintings. There are also traces of dirt, grime, and bird/bat droppings that, if not treated soon, could contribute to the painting’s final loss,” Sayco said.
The restoration was initiated by UST Museum Director Fr. Isidro Abaño, O.P., with the help of art conservator Ma. Concepcion Reyes, lab assistant Alain Manalo, and the museum’s maintenance staff.
As UST prepares to mark the Main Building’s centennial, Sayco hinted at a formal unveiling of the restored mural.
“There might be a formal gathering in the near future, as we look forward to the centennial of the Main Building,” he said.
