Backpacking Philippines: Manila: Fabulous FEU Art Deco Walking Tour

Manila: Fabulous FEU Art Deco Walking Tour

Throughout his college days, Tutubi passed by Espana and Lerma streets on his way to school and each time got amazed at the unique letters used in the Far Eastern University building visible from Quezon Boulevard. The name of the university emblazoned bearing a likeness to baybayin (wrongfully called alibata), the ancient script of forefathers of present day Filipinos.

This time, Tutubi joined a tour of the sprawling campus of FEU: its art deco gems, works of various national artists and a bonus trip to nearby Gota de Leche.

Tutubi arrived at FEU with J, and RM (of Project Manila) in J's black altis but their guide for the day, Ivan ManDy, didn't notice Tutubi and waited for him to arrive even if he's already inside taking some pictures.

The tour started with Ivan becoming "historical" again narrating various events that led to the introduction of Art Deco architecture in the Philippines in the roaring 20s.

One of four bas relief by noted Italian sculptor Francesco Monti. Other works include Quezon Memorial, Metropolitan Theater, Sto Domingo, Bonifacio Monument, Manila Central Post Office and University of Visayas

FEU campus is a complex of art deco buildings by Pablo Antonio with Nicanor Reyes Hall, the Girls High School (now called the FEU-East Asia College) and Boys High School (now called Law Building).

Nicanor Reyes Hall, with the baybayin-looking letters

Statues by National Artist Vicente Manansala

Merriam and Webster defines art deco as "a popular design style of the 1920s and 1930s characterized especially by bold outlines, geometric and zigzag forms, and the use of new materials (as plastic)." (Etymology: French Art Déco, from Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes, an exposition of modern decorative and industrial arts held in Paris, France, in 1925)

Chapel designed by Felipe Mendoza

Stations of the Cross inside the FEU chapel by National Artist Carlos "Botong" Francisco

FEU auditorium

Mural by Antonio Dumlao

Noticed the letters looked like Baybayin (alibata), the ancient script of the ancestors of Filipinos that Tutubi uses to sign his photographs?

Owing to the exemplary conservation work done by the university, UNESCO awarded the university the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Award in 2005.

During World War 2, the campus was used as a concentration camp by the Kempeitai and where Josefa Llanes Escoda, the founder of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines, was executed.

After the FEU tour, Tutubi suggested visiting the nearby Gota de Leche building on S.H. Loyola St (formerly Lepanto), a request acquiesed by the gracious guide.

The university produced many outstanding graduates in it's existence but the greatest of them all, according to Tutubi graduated in 1967 with a degree in accounting.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tutubi's own eyes saw these other Art Deco Structures in Manila and other parts of the Philippines:

1. ~~Jai Alai Fronton on Taft Avenue~~ (Welton Becket, demolished 2004)
2. ~~Avenue Theater~~ (Juan Nakpil, demolished 2006)
3. Metropolitan Theater (The Met)(Juan Arellano, undergoing renovation)
4. Perez-Samanillo Building on Escolta (Andres Luna de San Pedro, good condition)
5. Rizal Memorial Stadium (Juan Nakpil, extant but neglected)
6. Capitol Theater on Escolta (Juan Nakpil, forlorn)
7. Quezon Bridge
8. Meralco Building on San Marcelino St
9. St. Cecilia Hall of St. Scholastica College (Andres Luna de San Pedro, excellent)
10. Sariaya, Quezon Municipal Hall (Juan Arellano, in use)
11. Nielson Tower now Filipinas Heritage Library
12. Orchid Garden Suites on Vito Cruz (Pablo Ocampo) in Malate, Manila

Note that most of Manila's art deco structures were reduced to rubble by the howitzers of Gen. MacArthur during the Liberation of Manila, by the order of the former Manila Mayor Lito Atienza in the case of Jai Alai or by demolition by the owners unable to find adaptive re-use of the edifices.

Labels: Architecture, Manila, Metro Manila, National Artists, National Capital Region, UNESCO, Universities

posted by GingGoy @ 1:23 PM,

27 Comments:

At Aug 6, 2007, 8:35:00 PM, admindude said...: wow. never realized that FEU had that many works of art. it's good and encouraging that unesco has recognized what the school is doing to preserve these artworks.
At Aug 7, 2007, 5:43:00 AM, Anonymous said...: yipee naunahan mo pa ako mag post. =) nice seeing you there. =)
At Aug 7, 2007, 9:58:00 AM, Anonymous said...: I never knew that there are so many works of art in that university. It's wonderful, di ba?

One thing I love about Pinas is the history and arts, really beautiful!

Now I truly understand the signature in your photos. At first I thought it was some form of Arabic words.

;)
At Aug 7, 2007, 10:10:00 AM, Anonymous said...: Off topic; I've added you on Friendster. Do approve me, okay ba?

;D
At Aug 7, 2007, 11:28:00 AM, carlotta1924 said...: onga pala, why is alibata the wrong way to refer to baybayin? what's the difference?
At Aug 7, 2007, 11:42:00 AM, Anonymous said...: bill, people should also strive to preserve other buildings and architectural heritage. remove the mindset that the old must give way to the new in the name of "progress"

carlotta, di ka kasi nagpakilala. didn't hear your name called or maybe i was just too busy taking pictures.

kyels, wonderful campus, I tell you. Regarding history, Malaysia anf the Philippines share a common ancestry, we all know that. Will access friendster one of these days

carlotta, baybayin is really the name of the ancient script said to bear slight resemblance to Kavi script of Java. Baybayin means to "to spell" in Tagalog.

The name Alibata only was invented, erroneously, in 1914, referring to it's alleged origins from Maguindanao (no evidence though) and from the Arabic letters alif, ba, ta (something like a ba ka da) even, again, if it's not related to Arabic.
At Aug 7, 2007, 12:48:00 PM, Resty Odon said...: eeek, mali pala yung alibata? :o homaygolay!
At Aug 7, 2007, 2:15:00 PM, Anonymous said...: i've learned some of these in architecture class but didn't know the works of art are that extensive and magnif. i'd love to experience this walking tour some day.

alibata is really baybayin? wow. so much of our history is his (made-up) story. sad.
At Aug 7, 2007, 5:46:00 PM, Anonymous said...: ang comprehensive, ah? :) galeng!
At Aug 7, 2007, 6:51:00 PM, Nick Ballesteros said...: Wow tutubi you'll never realize our rich art history until you make an effort to discover it, and what pleasant surprises they are!
At Aug 7, 2007, 7:59:00 PM, Anonymous said...: Naku. Dyan pala napupunta yung tuition fee namin dyan. Pagkamahal na rin dyan. Tawag nga namin sa FEU is "Fast Earning University" hahaha.

Well at least ngayon nakikita naman kung saan sila gumasta.
At Aug 7, 2007, 9:06:00 PM, Anonymous said...: Tutubi,

Thanks for the clarification on Alibata and Baybayin! If I may ask, where is your source on this? Would love to check it out. Btw, that pic of the guy with hat is scary!
At Aug 8, 2007, 5:44:00 AM, Photo Cache said...: yeah a number of bloggers have showcased FEU, and it's wonderful that you do that. thanks.
At Aug 8, 2007, 6:48:00 AM, Anonymous said...: It was either FEU or Adamson for me in the late 60's. Went there for one day to check the place but was too damn hot and humid I scurried back to the University of Baguio pronto, hehe....nice to know it's still standing.

Off topic: Have some friends there in Paete with Cagayat and Sandino last names. Maybe you also remember Jean Henry, she was gunned down in Laguna in the 80's. Her dad and siblings were my neighbors in Baguio..Cheers and goodhealth.......
At Aug 8, 2007, 4:17:00 PM, kegler747 said...: Parati ko rin dinadaanan yung FEU on my way to UST but I never thought na its very beautiful pala inside. Want to explore it too. Very good pictures :)
At Aug 8, 2007, 8:02:00 PM, Anonymous said...: Never been to FEU & good thing is,we have a curious explorer like yourself who never fails giving us infos in a different light.Thanks for sharing tutubi! Loved your photo with native hat! cutey!
At Aug 9, 2007, 2:18:00 PM, Anonymous said...: baldagyi, tama ka nga. product lang ng isang dean yung word na yun e na-publish sa dyaryo kaya sumikat :(

bohol republic, a made up word by a dean

rick, sama uli tayo sa ibang tour :)

watson, buti nga may tour si ivan there kaya ako nakapasok. dati ko pa gusto pumasok dun. yung tour nga pala is gratuities only courtesy of ivan

ferdz, bago yan a from an feu grad :)

ivan, click this link and read the various top search entries. looking forward to other tours :)

photo-cache, i noticed that too since FEU opened up to the world. Bloggers though have different "eyes," like photographers who see things differently :)

trueblue, the cagayat clan may be relatives of mine. Sandino, i don't know. They're not common Paete surnames to me :)

kegler747, buti nga nag-open up sila after that UNESCO award. Syempre to show the world

cheh, that photo is of ivan man dy, our tour guide. visit his website at www.oldmanilawalks.com :)
At Aug 11, 2007, 12:04:00 AM, Anonymous said...: That's their auditorium? Ang ganda! I have always taken FEU for granted, simply because of its not so inviting facade. Pero ang ganda pala ng campus! I will make sure to visit this school soon!
At Aug 11, 2007, 7:34:00 AM, Gita Asuncion said...: i have never been to FEU before. ang ganda ganda pala inside...
you take amazing fotos, tutubi!
At Apr 5, 2008, 9:12:00 PM, Anonymous said...: hello! i'm a current 2nd year tourism student in FEU and clarify ko lang po na the FONT style used by the university is not baybayin or alibata., it's SPECIFICALLY made by the university FOR the univeristy, so FEU can lay claim that these are their own and no one else's is.,but yes they do look like some other fontstyles.,
At Apr 5, 2008, 9:16:00 PM, GingGoy said...: anonymous, yep not baybayin. I only said they look like baybayin. noticed I use baybayin on my photos? i can read baybayin, btw. thanks for the visit
At Sep 16, 2008, 10:54:00 PM, Anonymous said...: Hey can I ask, where can I get FEU's font?
At Sep 17, 2008, 9:41:00 AM, GingGoy said...: anonymous, sorry but i don't know. maybe FEU admin or some students need to create installable fonts we can use :P
At Sep 27, 2008, 1:06:00 AM, Anonymous said...: hi...unang tapak ko pa lang sa school na yan nagustuhan ko na agad dahil sa magandang kapaligiran, that is one of the reason i decided to study there...parang wala ka sa manila pag nasa loob ka ng FEU... sayang nga lang at nung time namin hindi sila basta-basta nagpapapasok ng mga turista... sobrang higpit sila noon... mabuti naman at ngayon they allow outsiders to see the beauty of FEU inside para marami naman ang maka-appreciate ng ganda nito... BTW nung time namin "FAST EARNING UNIVERSITY" din ang tawag namin jan kasi every year nagtataas ng tuition... pero i think sulit naman kasi mas gumanda pa ngayon ang FEU...
At Nov 11, 2008, 9:56:00 PM, sue.trout said...: Tutubi, I am using your photos to study my dad's story of the battle at Far Eastern University. I am researching the battle at FEU because I am convinced that battle prevented the massacre of the POWs at Santo Tomas and the liberators who went to STIC.
Do you have more pictures of Reyes Hall? Would you consider sharing them?
Thanks, Sue

http://www.cnac.org/emilscott/lewey01.htm
At Nov 11, 2008, 10:04:00 PM, GingGoy said...: sue, what's stic? should you use the photos, please link back to this site. the POWs in UST were rescued the same day the POWs were rescued in cabanatuan and los banos.
At Jan 29, 2012, 4:31:00 PM, ken said...: salmt dito .pero wala pngaln yung relief n sculpture s taas

Manila: Fabulous FEU Art Deco Walking Tour

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