UE elementary, high school graduations set April 3, 11
HOW CAN the history and traditions of an institution such as the Benedictines in the Philippines be told appealingly and interestingly to today’s visual information age audiences?
Aelred Nilo, OSB ingeniously answers this question in his book “Benedictine Story in the Philippine Islands,” his first venture as a Benedictine monk of Manila in the world of art publication and as an author. Alongside with the launching of the book is also the inauguration of the art exhibit by artist Francesco Giannini.
The book launch and the art exhibit is the first of its kind that ever happened in San Beda Manila in its century presence in the Philippines. The event introduces to the public a first timer author-monk side by side with an Italian artist whose work is documented in the book. The book is a visual treat especially for art lovers and artists alike because it chronicles in the span of more than two years the execution and progress on the narrative paintings by Francesco Giannini, commissioned by the Benedictine monks of San Beda College for the wall of the Abbey church.
“I worked closely with Francesco to oversee the paintings we commissioned him to do,” Fr. Aelred says. “During this period I received photos of updates from the artist which we discussed over e-mails, Skype and phone calls. So I took this opportunity to come up with a unique coffee table book that not only document the birth of a masterpiece but also account the story behind the art.”
The preparation, sketches and development of the paintings are chronicled photographically in the book. It is an unusual book because it is the first of its kind since it reveals the painter’s secret, which could be traced back to the height of the European Middle Ages (11th century). “I would like to tell you something of the technical methods and procedures I have followed, and reveal a few secrets to you, those which artists do not usually disclose to anyone,” Giannini said.
Francesco Giannini lives and works in Peschiera del Garda, near Verona, Italy. During the course of the years, his works have been displayed in many different collective and personal exhibitions. He has won many awards for his paintings, which are sought by art collectors in Italy and in various other European countries.
Fr. Aelred Nilo, OSB is a monk of Our Lady of Montserrat, Manila. He took his License in Theology with specialization on Monas- tic Studies at the Pontificio Ateneo San Anselmo, Rome, Italy. He met Francesco during the summer of 2006 in Assisi, Italy. They worked together for the realization of the narrative painting called “The Benedictine Story in the Philippine Islands.” At present, Fr. Aelred is the chaplain of the Basic Education Department of San Beda College in Taytay, Rizal. THE 2012 commencement rites of University of the East’s basic education departments will be on April 3, 2 p.m., at the UE Theater, UE Manila. The Elementary and High School Department (EHSD) will be hold their graduation ceremonies on April 11, 2 p.m., at UE Caloocan, while the Elementary and Secondary Laboratory Schools (ESLS) will observe their commencement rites at on April 11, 2 p.m., at UE Manila. Featured speakers of the commencement rites are business executive Jose N. Romblon, a 1986 UE Caloocan High School graduate, for the UE Caloocan EHSD; and lawyer Siegfried B. Mison, a 1982 Secondary Laboratory School graduate, for UE Manila ESLS. Romblon is the chief executive officer of JN Romblon Management Consulting (an accounting, audit and taxation service firm). Mison is an associate commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration. Leading this year’s batch of academic awardees are valedictorians Kesia F. Desuasido (Elementary) and Dhanna Patricia Bautista (Secondary); salutatorians are Samantha Seno (Elementary) and Sophia Mae E. Paderanga (Secondary) for UE Manila’s ESLS; and the valedictorians Elijah Ericson G. Del Rosario (Elementary) and Rojeena Gail R. Rubio (High School) and salutatorians Marion Abilene R. Navarro (Elementary) and Audrey Mae D. Geolagon (High School) for UE Caloocan’s EHSD.