Rare Manansala murals on display at the National Museum

Following the sale of Philam Life’s old headquarters on UN Avenue, the fates of seven rare murals commissioned by the insurance firm from National Artist Vincent Manansala were uncertain. That is, until a chance conversation between a trustee of the National Museum and a Philam Life Foundation executive led to the opening of the latest gallery at the Museum last week.

The new Philam Life Hall now features the unique series of seven works on scenes from Filipino life and culture, painted in Manansala’s “transparent cubism” style. The paintings are on indefinite loan to the Museum and in addition, the firm will donate P1M a year for five years to the Museum for its operations.

An additional donation to a fund for rebuilding school houses in Leyte (in lieu of naming rights fees) was announced at last Wednesday’s ceremonies.

In an interview with journalists prior to the exhibit, Philam Life president and CEO Rex Mendoza said, “We’re doing this because we would rather have it here where the public could see it than keep it within the realms of our office [building], where only a few people can see it every day.”

Mendoza also confirmed that these murals will not be the only works in the firm’s substantial art collection to go on loan, saying that “works by other masters” will be eventually put on display at the third floor hall.
 

“Being in a place for fifty years [means] somehow you neglect your artwork,” Mendoza said. “So we are in the process of restoring many of them.”

Mendoza admitted that over the years, there were offers to purchase the works. “There is a uniqueness to these panels,” he said, “and you cannot sell them one panel at the time, because the signature is just on one of those panels.” He described the offers as “jaw-dropping,” with the lowest offer being at an undisclosed nine-digit amount.

The National Museum welcomed the loan. “These paintings were a feast for the eyes,” museum director Jeremy Barnes said, recalling past visits to the Philam Life Theater on UN Avenue near where the murals were installed.

He added that the loan will secure the preservation and conservation of these rare paintings. Also speaking at the program that afternoon were former finance secretary Ramon del Rosario, chairman of the Museum’s board of trustees, Philippine ambassador to the US (and former Central Bank governor) Jose Cuisia, who also sits on the board of Philam Life, and Maritess Pineda, of the Museum Foundation of the Philippines and the Friends of Manansala.

The Manansala works are now on display at the third floor of the National Museum, near the old Senate chamber. As for the fate of the Philam Life Theater on UN Avenue, another work of built heritages, the company says that it is up to the building’s new owners, the SM Development Corporation. The latter promised to preserve the theater following an online petition last year.

Philam Life is now based in the Bonifacio Global City area, where they intend to display other works from their extensive art collection. — VC, GMA News