III. SCULPTURE
CHAPTER XVII
Monumental Sculpture, Rizal Monuments, Other Monuments,
Like painting, sculpture re-emerged after the Philippines revolution of 1890 as
soon as architectural structures featured in the rehabilitation of the country. After
normalcy was restored, the people began to express their patriotic feelings and
veneration of “those who felt in the night” by erecting monuments. Monuments honoring
the national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, were constructed in plazas all over the archipelago,
Among the first Rizal Monuments are those in Daet, Camarines Norte, and in Paete,
Laguna. The fact that there was no Rizal figure there was no Rizal figure involved, Of
Portland cement and galvanized iron sheet, its base was shaped like a haystack; a
quadrangular sub-base was surmounted by a galvanized iron sheet cut out in the form
of a disc with eight rays. Painted on the base of the disc were eyes, nose and mouth.” It
was patterned after the run on the revolutionary flag approved in the Nale Convention of
March 17, 1987. Possibly, there was no sculptor available, at the time in Daet to
execute a figure of Rizal for the monument. However, in the same year 1903, n,
monument. honoring Rizal, Bonifacio and Mabini was erected in Paete Laguna, The
figures of the three heroes were done by Mariano Madrinan and Jose Caancan, cancan,
a wood carver without any experience working with cement, made the bust of mabini
directly on Portland cement without even a preliminary modeling in clay, Madrinan a
renowned sculptor, did likewise with the bust of Rizal.
*Described by Fernando C, Amorsolo, who had lived in Daet Camarines Norte
at the time.
From an interviewer with the elderly Paete Carver,Jose Caancan in December
of 1958.
98
, In 1905, construction of the first full figure monument in reinforced concrete was
undertaken by Ramon Martinez , a former student and later professor of the defunet
Academia de Platura, the Supremo of the Katipunan. It was erected in the vicinity of the
“Cry of Balintawak” of August 26, 1896. This monument also honored the other heroes
of 1986, although it has been popularly identified as the “Bonifacio Monument,” The
single figure had unpraised arms. The left hand held the katipunan flag and the right
hand a bolo. Movement was portrayed in the figured, a defiant artist be in the act of
shouting. This was the “cry” the call-to-arms. The figured used to be very impressive
and forceful but decades later due to repeated application of paint, the features became
indistinct, for some time it was painted in only one color, ivory: But then a committee on
Bonifacio Day fesitivities decided to appruce it up and had it polychromed. The
polychroming made it folkish in appearance. This figure of Bonifacio had been copied
and installed in other towns and places. In one commercial building, the Aguinaldo
Building, On Juan Luna Street in Binondo, It even served as an ormamental item.
At the turn of the second decade an international competition for the design of a
Rizal Monument was held. Carlos Noli an Italian Sculptor, Garnered the first prize,
However, It was entry of of a Swiss national, which won the second prize that was finally
chosen to be erected at the Luneta. This disemprancy was explained by the
unfortunate fact that the first prize winner had insufficient money to post the required
performance bond. The Monument was completedand inaugurated on December 30,
1913, From a distance, the monument has the appearance of an inverted top with a flat
end . The Figures are in bronze and their dark finish contrast too harshly with the light
tone of the obelisk and base. The figure of Rizal, standing with a book held in the left
hand faces west. On the opposite side of the four sided obelisk. Facing North is a
mother cradling an infant, The construction of this monument was made feasible by
funds solicited through public subscription.
The Rizal figure with book and topcoats became the prototype of Rizal monuments all
over the Philippines, However, the
99
CHAPTER XVII
Monumental Sculpture, Rizal Monuments, Other Monuments,
Like painting, sculpture re-emerged after the Philippines revolution of 1890 as
soon as architectural structures featured in the rehabilitation of the country. After
normalcy was restored, the people began to express their patriotic feelings and
veneration of “those who felt in the night” by erecting monuments. Monuments honoring
the national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, were constructed in plazas all over the archipelago,
Among the first Rizal Monuments are those in Daet, Camarines Norte, and in Paete,
Laguna. The fact that there was no Rizal figure there was no Rizal figure involved, Of
Portland cement and galvanized iron sheet, its base was shaped like a haystack; a
quadrangular sub-base was surmounted by a galvanized iron sheet cut out in the form
of a disc with eight rays. Painted on the base of the disc were eyes, nose and mouth.” It
was patterned after the run on the revolutionary flag approved in the Nale Convention of
March 17, 1987. Possibly, there was no sculptor available, at the time in Daet to
execute a figure of Rizal for the monument. However, in the same year 1903, n,
monument. honoring Rizal, Bonifacio and Mabini was erected in Paete Laguna, The
figures of the three heroes were done by Mariano Madrinan and Jose Caancan, cancan,
a wood carver without any experience working with cement, made the bust of mabini
directly on Portland cement without even a preliminary modeling in clay, Madrinan a
renowned sculptor, did likewise with the bust of Rizal.
*Described by Fernando C, Amorsolo, who had lived in Daet Camarines Norte
at the time.
From an interviewer with the elderly Paete Carver,Jose Caancan in December
of 1958.
98
, In 1905, construction of the first full figure monument in reinforced concrete was
undertaken by Ramon Martinez , a former student and later professor of the defunet
Academia de Platura, the Supremo of the Katipunan. It was erected in the vicinity of the
“Cry of Balintawak” of August 26, 1896. This monument also honored the other heroes
of 1986, although it has been popularly identified as the “Bonifacio Monument,” The
single figure had unpraised arms. The left hand held the katipunan flag and the right
hand a bolo. Movement was portrayed in the figured, a defiant artist be in the act of
shouting. This was the “cry” the call-to-arms. The figured used to be very impressive
and forceful but decades later due to repeated application of paint, the features became
indistinct, for some time it was painted in only one color, ivory: But then a committee on
Bonifacio Day fesitivities decided to appruce it up and had it polychromed. The
polychroming made it folkish in appearance. This figure of Bonifacio had been copied
and installed in other towns and places. In one commercial building, the Aguinaldo
Building, On Juan Luna Street in Binondo, It even served as an ormamental item.
At the turn of the second decade an international competition for the design of a
Rizal Monument was held. Carlos Noli an Italian Sculptor, Garnered the first prize,
However, It was entry of of a Swiss national, which won the second prize that was finally
chosen to be erected at the Luneta. This disemprancy was explained by the
unfortunate fact that the first prize winner had insufficient money to post the required
performance bond. The Monument was completedand inaugurated on December 30,
1913, From a distance, the monument has the appearance of an inverted top with a flat
end . The Figures are in bronze and their dark finish contrast too harshly with the light
tone of the obelisk and base. The figure of Rizal, standing with a book held in the left
hand faces west. On the opposite side of the four sided obelisk. Facing North is a
mother cradling an infant, The construction of this monument was made feasible by
funds solicited through public subscription.
The Rizal figure with book and topcoats became the prototype of Rizal monuments all
over the Philippines, However, the
99
