Paul M.

De Asis TTH 11:30am-1pm

BSA 1B Art Appreciation

Activity SCULPTURE
(Search in the internet for pictures of architectures choose one and answer the following
items concerning the structure)

Name of the Structure:

THE OBLATION
Location:
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, in front of many U.P.'s extension schools, and at the
Abueva Ancestral House
Materials used for its construction:
The cornerstone was placed on November 30, 1931 at the U.P. Padre Faura,
headed by Mrs. Aurora Quezon. The original material when it was created in
1935, was reinforced concrete (metal) that was painted to look like bronze.
Art Era it belongs to:
Spanish era- The artist, Guillermo Tolentino built The Oblation to dedicate it to
our national heroes. The Oblation is a tangible representation of Tolentino’s
interpretation of two of Jose Rizal’s writing’s—Mi Ultimo Adios and A La Juventud
Filipina. 
Types of Construction used:
Additive and the techniques used was Modeling- using cement and concrete,
Guillermo Tolentino construct the complete nude  figure of a young man with
outstretched arms and open hands, with tilted head in the act of offering himself.
Function of the Structure:
The Oblation has been the major rallying point for dissent, protest actions, and
social criticism, expressions of public service, nationalism, and patriotism. Its
presence in all the U.P. autonomous units and other campuses symbolize unity
in mission, vision, and traditions and has since become a symbol of academic
freedom in the campus.
Brief History of the Structure:
The Oblation (Filipino: Pahinungod, Oblasyon) is
a concrete statue by Filipino artist Guillermo E. Tolentino which serves as
the iconic symbol of the University of the Philippines. It depicts a man facing
upward with arms outstretched, symbolizing selfless offering of oneself to his
country.  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
Originally, the statue was completely naked, but, as morality was prevailing at
that time, it was modified by former U.P. President Jorge Bocobo with the
addition of a fig leaf to cover the genitals. The sculpture was funded by the U.P.
students of 1935-1936, and was presided by Potenciano Illusorio and Jose B.
Laurel, Jr., presidents of the student council during the first and second semester
respectively and was dedicated on March 1939 at the University's Manila campus
where it stayed until February 1949, when the main administrative offices of the
university moved to the new Diliman campus in Quezon City. The transfer of the
Oblation to its new home served as the highlight of the move from Manila, which
is historically referred to as the Exodus. The sculpture in front of the Quezon Hall
at Diliman was installed facing west, purportedly a tribute to the American roots
of the University. Today, that sculpture is only a bronze replica (which was recast
from the original in Italy in 1950, under the supervision of Tolentino himself)
dedicated on U.P.'s Golden Jubilee on November 29, 1958. The original
sculpture is being kept at the Main Library (Gonzalez Hall), the former site of the
U.P. College of Fine Arts.
Several replicas of the Oblation were made for campuses of the University of the
Philippines. That of the U.P. Visayas campus in Iloilo City was made by
Professor Anastacio Caedo.  University literature, states that Anastacio Caedo,
Tolentino's student assistant, and Caedo's brother-in-law, Virgilio Raymundo
both served as the model for the Oblation, using Caedo's physique and
Raymundo's proportion.
Picture of the Structure: