Dumlao and Manansala – A Story of Friendship

Cover Story – Publics (Philippine National Bank Quarterly Magazine)  September 1988

by Jessica Parina

Crystal castles, sugar-coated houses, kings and queens. These are the stuff childhood dreams are made of.  Do we ever really outgrow them as we mature? For visual artists with ageless imaginations, these dreams are a constant source of both subject matter and inspiration.

As early as the 1920s, Vicente “Enteng” Manansala and Antonio Dumlao already shared those visions. As childhood friends along Calle Real in Intramuros, they would explore the outdoors, sharing jokess and weaving youthful fantasies together. It was during these times thay they discovered their fascination and talent for drawing. Through charcoal sketches, they interpreted what they saw, felt and heard around them. Drawing started out as a leisurely exercise, then a habit hard to break and eventually a lifetime career for both of them.

As teenagers, Enteng and Antonio followed largely similar directions. In 1926, Enteng, already a gawkish 16 year old, droppped out of Manila South High School to pursue his studies at the U.P. School of Fine Arts. It was an institution where his creative energies were properly hined. Antonio, two years youngers, completed high school but did not pursue higher education.

It was apparent that Enteng has the academic advantage over Antonio. During his four years at the School of Fine Arts, he underwent formal training with such painting maestros as Pablo Amorsolo, Teodoro Buenaventur and Fabian de la Rosa. This exposure certainly helped him win various awards for anatomy, landscape as well as portrait painting. But Antonio had that restless, inner drive to create his own niche in the art circle. Aside from his inborn talent, he had a business sense whcih earned him various contact not only within the art industry but within the elite social circles as well.

Sculptured Glass

Dumlao developed an art which he called “Sculptured Glass”  using pounded varicolored glass braced with polymer in wrought-iren frame to give vent to his fancy. It has the effect of stained glass windows.

Samples of this art are the panels at the Moslem Mosque in Quiapo whose design was conceived by Dumlao. He has also decorated the Marcos house at Batac, Ilocos Norte and done retouching jobs at Malacanang Palace.

Antonio Dumlao – Restorer

One of Dumlao’s specialties was the art of restoration. When Juan Luna’s Spoliarium was shipped over from Spain, the canvas was rolled in three portions so that the oil cracked and the work was badly mutilated. Dumlao took up the major restoration job from July 1960 to 1961 at the Foreign Affairs Department on Padre Faura.

Dumlao also restored several other Lunas, Hidalgos, and Amorsolos.

Dumlao Logo/Monogram

Antonio Dumlao used this monogram early in his career. The design shows a heavy beaux arts influence, and the draftsmanship is quite remarkable. He began his career in the arts at the Antonio Garcia engraving firm, then worked at the Jean Bisson Advertising Company from 1935 to 1940.

San Juan House

We lived in 17 J. Montoya st. san Juan

Philippine Dances

Dumlao went to New Orleans, Lousiana, USA in 1979 upon the invitation of Capt. William Ayers.  He was requested by Capt. Ayers put his signature on a mural he did entitled “Philippine Dances.” This mural was exhibited in the 1964 New York World’s Fair, originally commissioned by Don Andres Soriano of San Miguel Corporation.

Photo shows an advertisement at the back page of a Reader’s Digest issue in the 1960s. The Dumlao mural was considered the dominant decor of the San Miguel Beer Lounge at the International Plaza at the 1964/1965 New York World’s Fair held at Flushing Meadows, New York, USA.

After the 1964 World’s Fair, the mural was acquired by Capt. Ayers and was situated proudly in the board room of their corporate offices in New Orleans.

Twenty years later in 1984, during the New Orlean’s World’s Fair, the mural was again exhibited through Capt. Ayer’s efforts. It now has the distinction of being the only artwork exhibited in two different World’s Fairs.

Antonio Dumlao Bio

Dumlao, Antonio
Year of Birth: 1912 -1983
Place of Birth: Intramuros. Manila
Education: UP.SFA. 1923
Selected Awards and Recognition:
1936 – Gold Medal. Metropolitan Theater Art Competition • 1941 – 2nd Prize. UST Nat’l Art Competition. Filipiniana Category • 1952 – 3rd Prize. Best female figure and Best Landscape. AAP • 1954 – 3rd Prize. AAP. Conservative Painting