Pablo Antonio, National Artist in Architecture

Pablo S. Antonio, National Artist in Architecture (1976) pioneered modern Philippine Architecture. His architecture adapts the Art Deco techniques which is dominant motif during his time. His design is based on simplicity and clean structural design. The lines are clean and smooth, and where there are curves, these are made integral to the structure. He believes that function come first before elegance. Antonio's design focus on the maximum use of natural light and cross ventilation, He strives to make each building unique, avoiding obvious trademarks. Antonio himself has been quoted as stating that "buildings should be planned with austerity in mind and its stability forever as the aim of true architecture, that buildings must be progressive, simple in design but dignified, true to a purpose without resorting to an applied set of aesthetics and should eternally recreate truth".

Antonio was born in Binondo, Manila in 1901, orphaned by age of 12 and did part time job in daytime to supplement his study at night. He studied architecture in Mapua Institute of Technology and later transfer to University of London after securing scholarship from Ramon Arevalo, the engineer in charge in Legislative Building (now National Museum of the Philippines where Antonio assist in the design and construction). He graduated in 1927 for only three years of study (normal is 5 years).

In 1933, he designed the Ideal Theater in Avenida, Rizal Avenue which is one of his major works that made him prominent in architecture. The founder of Far Eastern University, Nicanor Reyes, deal with him to make several buildings in the campus. The FEU campus is considered as the largest ensemble of surviving Art Deco architecture in Manila, and in 2005, it received an Honorable Mention citation from the UNESCO for the body's 2005 Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards for Culture Heritage Conservation.

Antonio's other major projects includes Manila Polo Club in 1950, Lyric Theater, Galaxy Theater, Life Theater, Scala Theater, Ramon Roces Publications Building (now Guzman College of Science and Technology), Capitan Luis Gonzaga Building, Boulevard-Alhambra apartments in 1937 (now Bel-Air) and White Cross Sanitarium in 1938.

In 1976, he was he was named National Artist of the Philippines, he was only the second architect so honored, after his contemporary, Juan Nakpil.

Ideal Theater in 1930s design by National Artist Pablo Antonio in 1933

Ideal Theater on the left designed by Pablo Antonio and on the left is State Theater designed by Juan Nakpil

Far Eastern University designed by Pablo Antonio in the late 1930s

Facade of White Cross Sanitarium designed by Architect Pablo Antonio in 1938

Image Source
Manila Polo Club by Pablo Antonio

Guzman College of Science & Technology formerly Ramon Roces Publications Building

Boulevard-Alhambra (now called Bel-Air) Apartments Building in Roxas Boulevard designed and built in 1937

Life Theater in Quezon Blvd. Manila

Lyric Theater along Escolta Manila

Galaxy Theater by Pablo Antonio

National Artist of the Philippines Award in Architecture

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).

Kaganapan, 1953 by Napoleon Abueva

Kiss of Judas, 1955 by Napoleon Abueva

Transfiguration, 1979 at Eternal Gardens Memorial Park

Fredesvinda,1981 at Fort Canning, Singapore

Nine Muses at the UP Faculty Center, 1994

Sunburst, 1994 at ThePeninsula Manila Hotel

The Bataan Memorial Cross designed by Napoleon Abueva
and Lorenzo del Castillo

A mural depicting the Death March at the colonnade

The Crucifix  with Double Corpora depicting both a suffering and a risen Christ

The Altar of Parish of the Holy Sacrifice by Napoleon Abueva

Tribute to Higher Education in UP Diliman by Abueva

Sandugo Monument (Blood Compact) in Tagbilaran City, Bohol

Balangiga Monument depicting the Balangiga heroism

Ang Diwata ng Dagat symbol College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences and UPV

Napoleon Abueva's "Magdangal" sculpture

Neptune and Aphrodite at MWSS Lamesa Eco Park

The statue of Fr. Delaney by Napoleon Abueva at the Garden of Communions

Mural of Abueva at National Center for Mental Health

Allegorical Harpoon by Napoleon Abueva

Napoleon Abueva Sculpture at Ayala Museum

death masks of Benigno Aquino Jr. and Fernando Poe Jr.
as cast by National Artist Napoleon Abueva

Rizal Monument in Legazpi City by Napoleon Abueva

The Spirit of Business by Napoleon Abueva

The Flag Weavers by Napoleon Abueva

The Pegaraw-pegasus and tamaraw by Napoleon Abueva

Facade of Insular Building with Sculptures of Napoleon Abueva

Woman, bronze, 1966 by Napoleon Abueva

Sculpture of Abueva,1978 , hardwood, 15.9 x 11.8 in. 40.5 x 30 cm 

The Evelio B. Javier monument at the EBJ

Silhouette of Tres Marias in UP Diliman

Mother and Child by Napoleon Abueva

Mother and Child,1953 by Napoleon Abueva

Mother and Child by Napoleon Abueva

Napoleon Abueva's Marble Sculpture

Pieta in FEU by Napoleon Abueva

Rizal And Josephine by Napoleon Abueva

Wheel of Happiness, College of Fine Arts, UP Diliman

Abueva's work

Another sculpture of Abueva

bas-relief by Napoleon Abueva

Statue of Father Diego Cera in St Joseph Church

Abueva's works in 100 nudes 100 years

1976 Artwork by Napoleon Abueva

Three Graces buy Napoleon Abueva

sculpture by Napoleon Abueva made for Bismac in the early 60's

sculptures made by Napoleon Abueva

UP Seal by Napoleon Abueva

Mother and Child by Napoleon Abueva

Abueva's Work on Wood