HISTORY

 

BuklodSining Art Organization, the home of art visionaries

Three years after the historical PEOPLE POWER REVOLUTION in 1986, the first-ever art organization at the University of the East was established. “BUKLOD” a Tagalog word which means “united” was used to represent the oneness of ideas and creativity of all the art visionaries in the College of Fine Arts and “SINING” a Tagalog word for art, a product of human emotions and expressions. The two words combined to create a powerful name that holds the vision of different artists from all walks of life for three long decades.

In 1989, the combined efforts and dreams of the founders, headed by Ricky Aragon, Jonet Carpio, Joel Cruz, and Chito Iscala emanates into reality. Prof. Florencio B. Concepcion, the Dean of the School of Fine Arts (now UE-CFAD) approached Prof. Edgardo G. Garcia, the nominated and selected Head Adviser of the Buklod Sining and told him that he will facilitate the application and approval of the group if he can promise that the organization will last long as there is an arts program in the University which Prof. Garcia responded that as long as he is in the University the organization will be productive, fruitful and successful.

Buklod started the painstaking struggle that created projects to enhance the members’ ingenuity, creativity, and freedom, to appreciate and recognize the vital meaning of art and to express their emotions through various artistic practices. In the first quarter of the 1990s, Buklod organized art exhibitions in major galleries all over the country.  It serves as the emblem of UEnian artistry which elevated the UE College of Fine Arts in the pedestal as one of the top-notch art institutions in the country (and now internationally). After numerous exhibitions at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), Phil-AM Life Foundation, UP-Ishmael Bernal Gallery, Museo Valenzuela, and other major galleries in the country, Buklod also initiated PERFORMANCE ART in UE.  It is a validation that art is never-ending self-expression.

Performance Art, a Buklod Sining’s distinction was established by one of the pioneers, Ronaldo Ruiz.  Much effort was exerted to propagate this art expression.  Every year, the chosen members of Buklod conquered the UE center field to present various and memorable performances using their bodies, painted in diverse colors, also known as “The Human Canvass”. Buklod was also invited in different artistic and cultural events because of this remarkable performance that leads Ruiz in an International Fame as a world-class Filipino Performance Artist.

Buklod remains modest with all its glory and magnificence. We owe this to all the members and alumni who are still at hand to support their beloved BUKLOD despite the different challenges throughout the years. The organization is a trailblazer in creating more projects in the context of multi-disciplinary art approaches, from advertising (visual communication), film, painting, literature, television, and community based-art initiatives.

The Buklod Sining has not centered anymore on the concept of a typical four-year student organization, that after their university life, everything will end; instead, the organization’s core gyrates in the notion of “community building”.  Prof. Ronwell Jason L. Bacani former Buklod Sining Student-President and now the Buklod Alumni Society Chairman Emeritus believes that if art is a continual process of knowledge-sharing then Buklod is beyond that. It is more than a space for artists even without a physical space nonetheless it is a community of visionaries who are willing to give back to the community through art.

In 2013, under the presidency of Shaira Falcutilla, now the Chair of Buklod Alumni Society, Buklod Sining started the concept of Arts for Social Change, the brand, and the guiding light of Buklod Sining in all its projects. This was inspired by the program of the University of Ideas – Italy where filmmaker Richard Soriano Legaspi, a scholar and now an Alumnus of UNESCO Ashberg Grant, Dir. Legaspi is the current Buklod Sining Student OrganizationFaculty Adviser.

Conducting events have been a vital role for the UEnian artist’s progress, aiding them to be successful in their field of expertise. In line with these are events like art talks, exhibitions, forums, and socially engaged art projects which aim to impart knowledge and develop skills necessary for the intellectual growth of each individual and for the members to learn the most significant core of art which is to have a “Great interest in Humanity”.

Some of the remarkable projects of Buklod Sining that connects to social sphere are Alay Kulay: Art Workshop, Buklod Art Series Workshop for High Schools, Brigada Eskwela, IndieKnow: SinEdukado, Salin Sining: the Art of Leaf fronds folding, Burda: Weaving through the contemporary Philippine fashion realm, Bayani Ba’ To, Heroism X Pagibig Forum, Buklod Sining, Project Saysay and Passion Project in Mayoyao, Ifugao, PinaEBA Art Exhibition series at the NCCA Gallery and Lung Center of the Philippines, Mula Quiapo hanggang Caloocan: An Afternoon with Ricky Lee, Sining sa Pader, Pelikulay: a Tribute to Philippine Cinema Art exhibit series at Phil-Am Life Foundation Gallery, NCCA Gallery and UP-Ishmael Bernal Gallery, DisKURSO #1; International Performance Art, and the Art Camp Series. Buklod Sining also coagulates partnership with national, school and community-based organizations such as the Federation of Advertising Organizations (FAO), DAKILA – Philippine Collective for Modern Heroism, Project Saysay, UE-CFAD Academic Guild, LibisTalisay Elementary School, Perpetua R. Sandiego Elementary School and Green Space Artist Village.

The group is also continuously producing award-winning and notable individuals in the world of painting, graphic design, advertising, brand communication, leadership, fashion design, performance art, print, literature, and filmmaking. Undeniably, this is the oldest ART Organization in the College of Fine Arts, Architecture and Design (UE-CFAD) which produced art movers and visionaries in the local and international arena. “Excellence” in all the projects that we do is the philosophy that we learned from the founders since the beginning. Buklod is a consistent home of UE-CFAD pride and we owe this to our advisers with the guidance and blessings from God.