Security Bank contributes to the Arts!

The National Museum of the Philippines invites you to a new and improved exhibition, entitled “Eskultor ng Bagong Lahi: Pagpupugay sa Buhay at mga Likha ni Guillermo Tolentino” / Sculptor of the New Spirit: Honoring the Life and Works of Guillermo Tolentino” at the Security Bank Hall, Gallery XII, of the National Museum of Fine Arts. 

This permanent exhibition, which was first launched in May 2013 as “Eskultor ng Lahing Filipino: Honoring the Life and Works of Guillermo Tolentino”, pays tribute to the artistry and contribution of Guillermo Tolentino in Philippine Art. This upgraded exhibition features works by and about Guillermo Tolentino, including the 14 sculptures of Tolentino donated by the Security Bank Corporation as Gifts to the Nation. 

This upgraded exhibition includes new acquisitions which form the National Fine Arts Collection and some entrusted to the Museum by donors and lenders. One of our newest acquisitions, The Bust of José Corazon de Jesus, popularly known as “Huseng Batute”, was completed sometime in the 1930s, and whose poem “Bantayog ng mga Bayani” describes Tolentino as “Eskultor ng Bagong Lahi.” Tolentino and De Jesus are good friends and the heirs of José Corazon de Jesus surmise that this bust was a gift of Tolentino to De Jesus. The poem written in Filipino, and translated into English by Marne Kilates is displayed in the hall. Tolentino’s medals and awards from the 1950s to the 1970s and pieces of his sculpting tools are a new addition to this upgraded exhibition. 

We express our sincere gratitude to Mr. Frederick Dy, Mr. Sanjiv Vohra, and the Security Bank Corporation as well as to our other donors and lenders for their continued support of our programs.

View this exhibition and more when you visit us! We are open from Tuesdays to Sundays between 9 AM and 6 PM. See you at your #NationalMuseumPH!

Article by the NMP Fine Arts Division

Photos by the NMP Museum Services Division