Guillermo Estrella Tolentino (July 24, 1890 – July 12, 1976)
Sean Henry F. Caras Stem 9
A Filipino sculptor and professor of the University of the Philippines. He was designated as
a National Artist of the Philippines for Sculpture in 1973, three years before his death.
Tolentino was born on July 24, 1890 in Malolos, Bulacan. He was the fourth child in his family
and had seven siblings. Before being interested in sculptures, he learned how to play the guitar,
a skill which he inherited from his father. The young Tolentino showed an early talent in
sculpting, having been able to mold figures of horses and dogs out of clay.
Tolentino started studying in Malolos Intermediate School and continued his high school years
in the same city. After studying in Malolos, Tolentino went to Manila and attended classes in
the School of Fine Arts of the University of the Philippines.
In 1911, Tolentino made an illustration of prominent Filipinos posing for a studio portrait.
Among those included were national heroes, revolutionaries, and politicians. The illustration
was lithographed and published in a weekly magazine called Liwayway under the name "Grupo
de Filipinos Ilustres" and became popular among homes in the 20th century.
Tolentino, a student at the university when he made the illustration, didn't earn any money
from it but didn't seem to mind about it.Tolentino graduated in 1915 with a degree in Fine Arts.
Bonifacio Monument
Other works include the bronze figures of President Quezon at Quezon Memorial, life-size busts
of Jose Rizal at UP and UE, marble statue of Ramon Magsaysay in GSIS Building; granolithics of
heroic statues representing education, medicine, forestry, veterinary science, fine arts and
music at UP.
He also designed the gold and bronze medals for the Ramon Magsaysay Award and did the seal
of the Republic of the Philippines.
List of Awards of Guillermo Tolentino:
1959 – UNESCO Cultural Award in Sculpture
1963 – Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan Award
1967 – Republic Cultural Heritage Award
1970 – Presidential Medal of Merit
1972 – Diwa ng Lahi Award
1973 – National Artist of the Philippines for Visual Arts in Sculpture
Guillermo Estrella Tolentino is a product of the Revival period in Philippine art. Returning from
Europe (where he was enrolled at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Rome) in 1925, he was
appointed as professor at the UP School of Fine Arts where the idea also of executing a
monument for national heroes struck him. The result was the UP Oblation that became the
symbol of freedom at the campus. Acknowledged as his masterpiece and completed in 1933,
The Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan stands as an enduring symbol of the Filipinos’ cry for
freedom.