To the head Tamaraw's lair: inside the FEU Administration Bldg.

We are now approaching the final leg of our little virtual FEU tour. So I thought it would be appropriate to end it in the FEU Administration, another Art Deco masterpiece from Pablo Antonio which was completed in 1949.

Once at the lobby, you will notice yourself being surrounded by artwork, a series of 4 carved artworks to be specific, created by Italian sculptor Francesco Monti. Yes, the same Francesco Monti who designed some of the sculptures at Metropolitan Theater.

What’s nice and cool about these artworks is how they are “framed.” There’s no actual frame that surrounds each of them. What does the “framing” for them are the benches at the lobby which form part of a hollow squared space that gives off an illusion of a frame from afar. Kinda hard to describe; here is a picture below to show what I mean.

Pretty cool huh? And look! More “find the FEU” goodness in the building too!

As you’ve seen, there’s no denying the FEU flavor in the building with the domination there of the school’s colors of yellow/gold and green. Did I also mention that the marble used on the floor is expensive Carrara type of marble? The same type of marble which is used in works like Michelangelo’s David. Colors and marbles aside, the lobby is an absolute charm.

The Art Deco influence of the building is prevalent as you make your way to the upper floors of the building.

Not to mention some notable artwork like this mural from Antonio Dumlao.

And some stained glass artwork also from Antonio Dumlao inspired by the culture of Filipino Muslims in Mindanao, particularly the Maranaos.

Also found in the Administration Building is the FEU Auditorium, an Art Deco-influenced venue for the performing arts which also served at one time as Manila’s premiere venue for the performing arts during the postwar years (1950’s-late 1960’s), at a time when the Metropolitan Theater was heavily damaged by the war and long before the Cultural Center of the Philippines in the late 1960’s. While it longer holds the distinction of being such a premiere venue, it’s comforting to know that the FEU Auditorium has not lost its appeal, nor has it been a victim of neglect unlike a number of venues today.