Oblation (statue)
14°39′17″N 121°3′53″E / 14.65472°N 121.06472°E
The Oblation (Filipino: Pahinungod, Oblasyon) is a
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
In fields of battle, deliriously fighting,
Others give you their lives, without doubt, without regret;
Where there’s cypress, laurel or lily,
On a plank or open field, in combat or cruel martyrdom,
If the home or country asks, it's all the same--it matters not.
The concrete sculpture painted to look like bronze, measures 3.5 meters in height, symbolizing the 333 years of
The completely nude figure of a young man with outstretched arms and open hands, with tilted head, closed eyes and parted lips murmuring a prayer, with breast forward in the act of offering himself, is my interpretation of that sublime stanza. It symbolizes all the unknown heroes who fell during the night. The statue stands on a rustic base, a stylized rugged shape of the Philippine archipelago, lined with big and small hard rocks, each of which represents an island. The “katakataka” (wonder plant) whose roots are tightly implanted on Philippine soil, is the link that binds the symbolized figure to the allegorical Philippine Group. “Katakataka” is really a wonder plant. It is called siempre vivo (always alive) in Spanish. A leaf or a piece of it thrown anywhere will sprout into a young plant. Hence, it symbolizes the deep-rooted patriotism in the heart of our heroes. Such patriotism continually and forever grows anywhere in the Philippines.
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
Several replicas of the Oblation were made for the various campuses of the University of the Philippines, some by National Artist
The University of the Philippines Open University 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 .[6]
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.
The director-actor
Oblation Run
The Oblation Run at University of the Philippines Diliman is an annual tradition inspired by the Oblation[10] done by the members of the Alpha Phi Omega, one of the prominent and influential U.P. fraternities. Members of the fraternity run around the campus naked (a concept known as streaking) to protest their sentiments about a current political or economic situation.
"100 Nudes/100 Years"
Inspired by the
See also
- Oblation
- Katakataka
Notes
- ^ Michael Tan, The Oblation, Pinoy Kasi. Retrieved October 6, 2007.
- ^ Brief History of the Oblation, Oblation.com.ph Retrieved October 6, 2007.
- ^ Exodus Marker, Quezon Hall, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City. Retrieved October 6, 2007.
- ^ "Oblation: The Truth beneath the Leaves". Oble. March 2, 2011. Archived from the original on January 9, 2012. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
- ^ "Rizal Pen & Ink / Oblation / Female Oblation Run / College Schoolplates". glenlorn.multiply.com. Archived from the original on 2012-02-20.
- ^ "Abueva Ancestral Houses - National Artist of the Philippines in the field of Vis".
- ^ a b University of the Philippines Diliman Office for Initiatives for Culture and Arts. (2004). Pasyal: walking around U.P. Diliman. Quezon City : UP Diliman-OICA.
- ^ "UP Class of 2011 is over 6,500-strong" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-19. Retrieved 2011-07-22. Romulado, A.V.P. (2011, May). Tales from up diliman: fact or fiction. U.P. Newsletter, p. 7.
- ^ Feliciano, Gloria (ed). (1984). The University of the Philippines: a university for Filipinos. Quezon City : UP-Communication Research and Development Foundation.
- ^ "100 UP fratmen, alumni join Oblation Run for centennial celebration". gmanews.tv. Archived from the original on 2011-05-22.
- ^ newsinfo.inquirer.net, 100 NUDES/100 YEARS, Exhibit showcases UP's best artists in last 100 years Archived 2012-06-09 at the Wayback Machine