University of Santo Tomas College of Fine Arts and Design

The University of Santo Tomas College of Fine Arts and Design, popularly known as UST–CFAD, is the fine arts school of the University of Santo Tomas, the oldest and the largest Catholic university in Manila, Philippines.

University of Santo Tomas
College of Fine Arts and Design

Former names	1946 – College of Architecture and Fine Arts
Established	2000
Dean	Asst. Prof. Mary Christie B. Que, MS
Regent	Rev. Fr. Edgardo D. Alaurin, OP, SThL-MA
Students	2,131 (as of 2011)[1]
Location	Beato Angelico Building, Tamayo Drive, UST, Sampaloc, Manila
Patron saint	Blessed Fra Angelico
Colors	Maroon and green

History

The college originated from the original College of Architecture and Fine Arts (CAFA) founded in 1946. In 1785, the Dominicans made the first attempt to invest art and painting with academic value and formal presence and not merely an accessory to missionary work. That year when Fr. Juan Amador was Rector-chancellor of the university, the Academia de Bellas Artes was opened. The school, however, was not firmly established and its influence was not far-reaching for it was founded as an experiment. Its training on painting functioned only for a short time because there were few enrollees to that course. The Academia later became one of the Estudios de Adorno that existed in the University of Santo Tomas, Ateneo de Manila, and Colegio de San Juan de Letran. Thus in 1935, the Dominicans merely reestablished the fine art school with the primary goal of meeting the ever-present and increasing demand for good catholic artists. It was to be an institution designed to conform to the latest and most advanced artistic theories and practices.^[2]

From 1935 to 1939, students chose from two areas specialization, interior design and public school arts. Interior design was offered in order to meet the demands for professional interior designers due to construction and remodeling activities that were greater than ever. Public school art, according to Victorio Edades (the first school director), an answer to the immediate need of preparing future teachers of arts for private and public schools.^[2]

UST was the first Philippine school to introduce interior design as a fine arts major in 1954.^[3]

In 2000, the Department of Fine Arts separated from the College of Architecture. In 2002, the two colleges transferred to the Beato Angelico Building.^[4]

Academic programs

• Undergraduate programs^[5]
  • Bachelor of Fine Arts (major in advertising arts, industrial design, and painting)
  • Bachelor of Science in Interior Design
• Graduate programs
  • Master of Fine Arts

Notable people

The college has produced numerous national artists like Victorio Edades, Jerry Navarro Elizalde, and Ang Kiukok for Visual Arts. Ildefonso Santos Jr, Juan Nakpil, and Leandro Locsin for Architecture. Ronnie del Carmen, codirector of the Pixar film Inside Out, is an alumnus of CFAD.^[6]

References

1. Bulauan, J.A.A. & Garcia, J.C.V. (January 26, 2011). "Too many students, so few classrooms". The Varsitarian. Retrieved June 6, 2011.
2. Carado, Hannibal. "History of University of Santo Tomas School of Fine Arts". Retrieved July 15, 2021.
3. "History: The Post-War Period: Reconstruction and the Establishment of Interior Design in the Philippines (1946-1963)". Philippine Institute of Interior Designers. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
4. Alarcon, Norma (February 19, 2010). "UST Archi: Mighty at 80". The Philippine Star. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
5. "College of Fine Arts and Design Degree Programs". University of Santo Tomas. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
6. Nepales, Ruben (August 11, 2015). "UST honors Filipino director of 'Inside Out'". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved July 16, 2021.