Guardians of the Standing Past: A Commemoration of the 81st Battle for Manila

 

After the bombing…only the façade remained.

In this year’s 81st Anniversary of the Battle for Manila, we pause not only to remember the ruins of war, but also the resilience of faith, identity, and the Filipino spirit.

The Art Camp Philippines (ACP) recently returned to the Chapel of the Crucified Christ at St. Paul University Manila—an architectural masterpiece by Andres Luna, and the only surviving Art Deco chapel of its kind in Malate.

Andrés Luna y Pardo de Tavera (September 9, 1887 – January 22, 1952) was a French-hispanofilipino architect Upon return to the Philippines, he served as the architect of the City of Manila from 1920 to 1924. who built the Chapel of the Crucified Christ, 

St. Paul University Manila 1927.

Andres Luna de San Pedro y Pardo de Tavera was born on the 9th of September, 1887, in Paris, France. His parents are Juan Luna de San Pedro y Novicio and María de la Paz Pardo de Tavera y Gorricho. 

Sacred Space Access: It is rare for campuses to allow outsiders such intimate access for documentation. Highlighting their "open-handedness" encourages other institutions to follow suit.

This collaboration proves that when art and sacred spaces meet, we do more than just draw; we ensure that the "spirit of place" is never forgotten.

Its façade stands like a miracle: a remaining witness to the devastation of World War II, and a sacred reminder that remembrance is a form of responsibility.

Through live plein air painting and cultural documentation, we affirm that history must never fade into silence. Art becomes reflection, memory, and tribute—especially in the darker chapters of our nation’s past.

We extend our deepest gratitude to St. Paul University Manila, to Sister Evangeline “Eva” Anastacio, SPU President, and Dr. Cesar Anastacio, for welcoming ACP and allowing this meaningful return.

(L-R) Sister Evangeline “Eva” Anastacio, SPU President, and Dr. Cesar Anastacio

It is truly rare and inspiring to find leaders like Sister Evangeline “Eva” Anastacio and Dr. Cesar Anastacio, whose sibling bond serves as a foundation for supporting both faith and the arts. Their combined support creates a bridge between the spiritual and the creative, proving that history is best preserved when it is fueled by both heart and mind.

May this commemoration guide us toward peace, healing, and unity—so that the sacrifices of our heroes remain forever in the heart of the nation.

The Art of Vigilance

Today, as Art Camp Philippines (ACP) stands before the Chapel of the Crucified Christ at St. Paul University Manila, we are reminded that survival is a creative act. This chapel—the only surviving Art Deco sacred landmark by the visionary Andrés Luna de San Pedro—is more than a structure. It is a miracle of endurance. Its façade, marked by time but still standing, serves as the ultimate canvas of Filipino resilience.

 JORGE MILANTE @work

 The Watercolor Medium: Watercolor is often seen as a medium of "transparency and light," much like the transparency of history and the light of faith found in a chapel.

We do not gather here merely to sketch or paint; we gather to testify. In the observance of National Arts Month, ACP reaffirms its core mission: Culture is protected not only by ideas but by the careful arrangement of meaning. As Guardians of Culture, we recognize that memory is fragile. If we do not draw, the lines of the past fade. If we do not document, the voices of our ancestors are muted. If we do not travel to these sacred sites, the roots of our identity wither. Our art is our vow. We paint so that the ruins of 1945 do not become the forgotten shadows of 2026.

Emmanuel Robles @ Work medium acrylic on canvas

Eduardo "DOODS" Busmente @ Work medium soft pastel pencil 

History survives only when culture refuses to forget. Through our pens and brushes, we ensure that the legacy of Manila—and the soul of the Filipino—remains etched in the consciousness of the nation.

🎨 The Gift of Gratitude

In the heart of Manila, where history and faith intersect, the St. Paul University Manila campus stands as a sanctuary for both the soul and the arts.

"A gift for a Guardian. 🎨 Today, I had the honor of donating my watercolor painting to Sister Eva of St. Paul University Manila. Her generosity allowed Art Camp Philippines to enter this sacred landmark and document its history

 The Act of Giving: By donating the piece, you are practicing what you preach—you are not just "taking" a photo or a sketch; you are "leaving" a piece of your group’s soul in the institution you admire.

Art Camp Philippines expresses its profound gratitude to Sister Eva for her graciousness and vision.

As a token of our appreciation, I have donated my watercolor painting of the Chapel of the Crucified Christ to Sister Eva. This gift represents more than just pigment on paper; it is a symbol of our shared commitment to cultural preservation. By opening the gates of this sacred ground to us, Sister Eva has allowed our artists to enter, document, and immortalize a landmark that holds the very soul of the city.

We paint to preserve, and we give to remember. Thank you, SPU Manila, for being a home for the arts this National Arts Month.

Mahalin natin ang Sining at Kultura... ALRIGHT!

#81stBattleForManila #StPaulUniversityManila #ArtAsMemory #NeverForgotten #ArtsMonth #ArtCampPH #GuardiansOfCulture #SPUManila #ArtsMonth2026 #NationalArtsMonth"