Malolos: A Home to Philippines’ Biggest Mural
The Definition of a Mural
Mural is a kind of art painted directly on the wall’s surface or a ceiling.“Mural” is a Spanish adjective that simply means attached to a wall. The word was first used in the 20th Century and just like other artworks, a mural can be formed from various techniques such as encaustic painting, tempera painting, fresco painting, ceramics, liquid silicate, fired porcelain enamel, and lastly, oil paint on canvas.
Who is Amadeo Manalad?
The creator of the biggest mural is Amadeo Manalad, a well-known artist who started creating masterpieces at a very young age. With Manalad’s golden hands, he filled the dull walls with his amazing artworks where Philippine History is displayed. He made different sceneries (seascapes and landscapes) and one of them is the “Kasaysayan ng Bulacan” —- the biggest mural in the Philippines located in the City of Malolos.
The Kasaysayan ng Bulacan Mural
The biggest mural titled “Kasaysayan ng Bulacan” was created in 1976 and is made from oil in plywood by a famous muralist named Amadeo Manalad. The biggest mural was displayed on August 30, 1976, to commemorate Marcelo H. del Pilar’s 126th birth anniversary. It is considered the biggest mural in the old times due to its dimensions that is 23 ft by 74 ft. You will see this beautiful and enormous mural from the staircase railings of The Gat. Blas F. Ople Hall, MacAthur Highway, Malolos, Bulacan. The mural depicted the brave heroes in our country and the home of the “Pambansang Alagad ng Sining” or National Artists who contributed to Music, Dance, Theatre, Architecture, and other kinds of arts. In addition, the famous traditions like fiestas showed how colorful Bulacan can be seen in the masterpiece. Around 1991, the Bulacan Capitol was renovated and the mural was transferred to the Hiyas ng Bulacan Cultural Center and restored again to the Bulacan Capitol in 2018.
The Kasaysayan ng Bulacan Mural is a big tableau where you will see the different people, places, traditions, and cultures in the Bulacan Province and the Philippines itself during the Pre-Colonial Period in one enormous piece. The mural has three panels and each of them represents a story. The left side of the mural represents the Philippine Colonizers: The Spaniards, Americans, and the Japanese and Filipinos who are trading with foreign sellers. The center part of the mural shows the different important Bulakenyos through the centuries. The right part of the mural showcases the progress of Bulacan.
References
According to WordPress. (October, 2016). Places You Must Visit in Bulacan “Experience Bulacan” https://beautimarkspotmalolos.wordpress.com/2016/10/19/
Lizaso. (February, 2021). Bulacan: A Cradle of Heroes and Artists https://mb.com.ph/2021/2/24/bulacan-a-cradle-of-heroes-and-artists
Phacto BHH. (September, 2020). Amadeo Manalad at ang Mural ng “Kasaysayan ng Bulacan” https://www.facebook.com/PhactoBHH/posts/salikasaysayanamadeo-yabut-manalad-at-a ng-mural-ng-kasaysayan-ng-bulacanang-kama/173836181012160/
Wandering Caloy. (October, 2011). Malolos City: Bulacan’s Mural of History - Wandering Caloy http://wanderingcaloy.blogspot.com/2011/10/malolos-city-bulacans-mural-of-history.html ?m=1