Sculptures of Service and Sacrifice

I cannot pass up this opportunity to write about these two wonderful sculptures to include in my list of ten articles for the October special. Firstly, I love works of art. Secondly, they hold meaning in my life. Thirdly, I just passed by these statues before I got stuck in traffic at nearby Katipunan Avenue. What better way to keep my cool, than to write, write and write about them!

The University of the Philippines (U.P.) Oblation Statue

I sometimes pass by the U.P. Oblation statue and imagine it asking me inquisitively, “Have you been serving your country well, Likha?” The U.P. Oblation serves as the major symbolic link of its alumni to its Alma Mater. This landmark in every campus of the University symbolizes academic freedom and an offering of service to country and humanity. It is a masterpiece of Filipino sculptor Guillermo E. Tolentino. Above, is the 9 foot tall bronze statue that was cast in Italy, and now stands in front of the administration building of the U.P. main campus in Diliman, Quezon City.

The original statue which stands 3.5 meters tall was fashioned out of concrete but painted to appear like bronze. It was unveiled and dedicated to the national heroes on National Heroes’ Day in 1939. It is now located at the 3rd floor of the U.P. Main Library in Diliman, Quezon City.

This silhouette of the U.P. Oblation at sunrise seems to be echoing the words of Filipino national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal in a challenge to the youth of the land: “Where are the youth who will consecrate their golden hours, their illusions and their enthusiasm to the welfare of their native land? Where are the youth who will generously pour out their blood to wash away so much shame, so much crime, so much abomination?”

The Statue of St. Ignatius of Loyola

My youthful idealism after college led me to teach as a volunteer in war-torn areas in Mindanao under the Jesuit Volunteers Philippines (JVP). Inspired by St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, each volunteer ventured to be a “man for others” through teaching.

St. Ignatius of Loyola was from a noble Basque family who was a courtier of the Spanish court. While defending Pamplona from the invading French, a cannonball shattered his leg which led him to reconsider his way of life that was then given over to wordly things. He resolved to follow the examples of the saints and serve Christ.

This statue at the Ateneo de Manila University campus relives the time when St. Ignatius gave up his knightly arms to Our Lady at her shrine in Montserrat. Today, there are Jesuit priests and volunteers in every continent who give up worldly comforts to accomplish a noble mission: “To seek the greater glory of God and the good of all humanity.”

Man and saint—two sculptures that have blessed my life. They are constant reminders of the biblical teaching that “faith without works is dead.”

More on the University of the Philippines in:

One Hundred Years of Excellence

Running Naked for a Cause

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