Kasaysayan ng Bulacan Mural Restoration 2018

Photographed by Edgar Santiago

At the age of 71, Al Perez took part in the restoration of the Kasaysayan ng Bulacan mural painting designed by renowned muralist Amadeo Y. Manalad. First unveiled on August 30, 1976, to commemorate the 126th birth anniversary of Marcelo H. del Pilar, the massive work—measuring about 23 feet by 74 feet—was painted in oil on plywood and is regarded as one of the largest historical murals of its time. Installed at the grand staircase of the Bulacan Provincial Capitol, now known as the Gat Blas F. Ople Hall, the mural honors the province’s heroes and National Artists who advanced the nation’s cultural heritage in music, dance, theater, architecture, and the visual arts. It also captures Bulacan’s vitality by portraying iconic festivals, traditions, and the spirit of its people.

During the 1991 renovations at the Capitol, the mural found a temporary home at the Hiyas ng Bulacan Cultural Center. In 2018, after years away from its original location, the mural was finally restored and reinstalled at its rightful place.

The restoration project was spearheaded by Lakan Sining ng Bulacan, a collective of Bulakenyo artists from various towns including Malolos, Hagonoy, Sta. Maria, Paombong, Obando, Bulakan, and more. It was organized by the late Danny Pangan and was proposed by former Governor Wilhelmino Alvarado Sy. Each artist was assigned different portions of the mural to restore. Manuel Sintos served as the head restorer of the project, overseeing the restoration efforts and ensuring the preservation of the mural’s artistic integrity.

Artists were assigned specific parts of the mural, each representing a different historical period to restore Photo by Edgar Santiago

According to Edgar Santiago, a renowned Bulakenyo artist from Bulakan, Bulacan—famous for his paintings of ancestral houses and for designing the Philippine Centennial logo in 1998—it took them around two and a half months to complete the restoration, which was finished in June 2018.

Through his participation in the restoration with fellow members of Lakan Sining ng Bulacan Artists, Perez reaffirmed both his artistic mastery and his lifelong commitment to preserving Philippine heritage art for future generations.

Photograph and Poster by Edgar Santiago

2018 Kasaysayan ng Bulacan Mural Restorers: Manny Sintos (Head Restorer), Jade Alfonso, Rey Bautista, Melchor Bernaldo, Ardee Binalangbang, Cee Cadid, Cesar Cruz, Ed Estrada, Onel Fojas, Dan Macapugay, Nemi Macapugay, Ricky Mandilag, Mario Nolasco, Henry Ordoña, Danny Pangan, Freddie Pelipada, Al Perez, Goding Reyes, Danny Rodriguez, Vince Roque, Alex Roxas, Rene Taping Salamat, Edgar Santiago, Seng Santiago, Salvador Sierra, Rex Tatlonghari, and Ernie Velasquez.