Si MAGDANGAL ay isang bagong rebulto na likha ni Napoleon Abueva, ang ating
Pambansang Alagad ng Sining para sa Eskultura para sa pagdiriwang ng sentenaryo ng ating
unibersidad. Ang rebulto ay isang diwatang pinakikinang ng naisalbang dangal, na
umusbong mula sa mapanganib na dagat ng kasakiman at kurapsiyon. Ang isang kamay
niya ay nakahanda upang harapin ang anumang panganib at ang isa naman ay nakabukas,
handang umalalay at mag-alay ng pagmamahal at pag-aaruga. Ang kanyang mga mata ay
mulat na mulat nakatingin sa isang magandang bukas. Ang militanteng hubog ng rebulto
ni Abueva ay isang alegorikong oposisyon sa mater dolorosa at sa tradisyonal na dalagang
bukid. Ang pangalan ng rebulto, na isang pandiwa ay nagsasaad sa patuloy na pagtuklas at
pagbuo ng isang pambansang dangal. SI Magdangal ay unang ipinakilala sa kolehiyo nung
ika-26 ng April 2008.
Magdangal
Magdangal, another of Abuevas work is dubbed as Obles muse. The sculpture is among
the latest additions on campus, keeping vigil infront of the Arts and Letters building (CAL).
During its public inauguration in 2008, former CAL dean Virgilio Almario said the sculpture
stands for our countrys great national will to free itself from the shackles of history and
create a new horizon of hope.
A plaque on Magdangals pedestal was contained the words from Almarios poem bearing
her name as title.
Magbangon ka, aking Mutya,
Mula dagat ng dalita;
Pairalin mo sa lupa
Ang tarong, ragsak, at laya."
Almario said, in the poem, the speaker calls on his beloved Mutyaa native name for a
precious pearlto rise from the sea of sorrows and bless the land anew.
The last three words come from three language in the Philippines describing the poets hope
for the countrys future. Tarong is Bisaya for straight, the root-word of katarungan
(justice). Ragsak is Ilocano for joy, and laya is the Tagalog root-word of kalayaan
(independence).
On August 8, National Artist for the Visual Arts Napoleon V. Abuevas latest
creation, Magdangal, was unveiled at the College of Arts and Letters (CAL)
grounds. Dubbed by Abueva himself as the Oblations companion, the new
statue is located in front of the CAL New Building.
Accompanied by a troupe of dancers, UP President Emerlinda R. Roman led the dramatic
unveiling of the statue, while UP Diliman Chancellor Sergio S. Cao participated in the offering
of flowers.
Abueva spoke briefly during the ceremony about the genesis of Magdangal, revealing that
it was National Artist and CAL Dean Virgilio S. Almario, who suggested to him that he might
create a female companion to the Oblation.
The concrete figure of Magdangal
The Oblation has gone too long without a companion, Abueva said, adding that while
Magdangal is located far from Quezon Hall, where the Oblation is located, Magdangal
nonetheless looks in his direction.
The unveiling of Magdangal was followed by the blessing of two other CAL landmarks: the
CAL Secretarys Office, otherwise known to students as CAL 101, which was relocated from
Palma Hall to the basement of the Faculty Center, and the newly-renovated Pulungang Claro
M. Recto.
Sculptures of Napoleon Abueva
Napoleon V. Abueva is known as the "Father of Modern Philippine Sculpture" and recipient
of the most prestigious award, National Artist of the Philippines in 1976 in the fields of Visual
Arts (sculpture). He is known also as master of both academic representational style and
modern abstract.
Abueva was born in Tagbilaran, Bohol in January 26, 1930. In 1951, he won the Pura
Villanueva-Kalaw scholarship and finished Bachelor of Arts in Sculpture in University of
the Philippines in 1953. He was mentored by another National Artist, Guillermo Tolentino,
who is famous in Oblation and Bonifacio Monument. He won several competition in Art
Association of the Philippines such as "Kaganapan" in 1953. In 1954 he recieved the
Fullbright-Smith Mundt Scholarship and finished Master of Fine Arts in Cranbrook Academy.
He later took graduate units in Ceramics at the University of Kansas and Art History at
Harvard University. In 1976, he received the National Artist award and consider as the
youngest who received this prestigious award at age of 46. In 1978, he was appointed Dean
of the College of Fine Arts at the University of the Philippines, a position he held until 1989.In
1993, he was given an honorary doctorate in humanities and was promoted to University
Professor. He retired from the University in June 1995, and was given the status of Professor
Emeritus in April 2003.
Abueva utilized almost all kinds of materials from hard wood (molave, acacia, langka wood,
ipil, kamagong, palm wood and bamboo) to adobe, metal, stainless steel, cement, marble,
bronze, iron, alabaster, coral and brass.
Among the major works of Abueva are as follows: Kaganapan (1953), Kiss of Judas (1955);
The Transfiguration at the Eternal Garden Memorial Park (1979); Fredesvinda in Fort
Canning, Singapore (1981); Nine Muses at the UP Faculty Center (1994); Sunburst at the
Peninsula Manila Hotel (1994); the bronze figure of Teodoro M. Kalaw in front of National
Library; Murals in Marble at the National Heroes Shrine, Mt. Samat, Bataan; 14 Stations of
the Cross at the EDSA Shrine; Sandugo or Blood Compact shrine in Tagbilaran, Bohol. He
also performed the death mask procedures to the late Cardinal Sin and Fernando Poe Jr.
Some of his honors and awards are: Awardee, The Unknown Political Prisoner, in the
International Sculpture Competition by the Institute of Contemporary Arts, London (1953);
First Prize and Special Award, Kaganapan (Marble), in the Semi-Annual Art Exhibition by the
Art Association of the Philippines (1953); First Prize, Kiss of Judas (Wood), in the Religious Art
Exhibition in Detroit, Michigan, USA (1955); First Prize, Water Buffalo (Marble), in the Annual
Show, at St. Louis , Missouri, USA (1956); First Prize, Figure (Wood), in the Annual Show of
the Art Association of the Philippines (1957); Most Outstanding Alumnus of the School of Fine
Arts, U.P. Golden Jubilee (1958); Republic Award for Sculpture (1959); Ten Outstanding Young
Men of the Philippines (TOYM) Awardee in Sculpture (1959); Winner, Cultural Heritage Award
(1966); ASEAN Awards for Visual Arts in Bangkok (1987); Fourth ASEAN Achievement Award
for Visual Arts in Singapore (July 1995).
