The Bulwagan ng Dangal University Heritage Museum recently concluded the ABUEVA IKOTOUR: Whom Art Should Serve, a roving survey showcasing the public artworks of Napoleon V. Abueva across the UP Diliman campus. Utilizing the iconic UP Ikot jeepney, the tour combined walking and riding experiences to provide participants with an immersive encounter with the artist’s works.
The ABUEVA IKOTOUR was organized to commemorate the golden jubilee of Abueva’s conferment as National Artist for Sculpture and formed part of the UP Diliman Arts and Culture Festival 2026 (UPDACF 2026). The festival, themed “Isang Unibersidad para sa Isang Inklusibo at Mapagkalingang Lipunan,” celebrates initiatives within and beyond the UP Diliman campus that value diverse forms of knowledge, experience, and expression that shape our community.
Held on February 9, 16, and 23, 2026, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, the tour welcomed a total of 49 participants across three runs: nine participants during the first tour, 15 during the second, and 25 during the final tour. Strong public interest prompted the addition of a second Ikot jeep to accommodate more participants during the final run. The itinerary included eighteen select public artworks by Abueva located across the campus: University Gateway (1962), Tribute to Higher Education (1966), Merry-Go-Round (N.d.), Art, Heart, and Hearth (1979), Bench (2006), Beta Gate (1969), Play Sculpture (N.d.), Viewing Tower (N.d.), Three Women Sewing the First Philippine Flag (1997), Fredesvinda/The ASEAN Boat No. 2 (1984), Magdangal (2008), Siyam na Diwata ng Sining (1991), Spirit of Business (1979), Tribute to the Filipino Entrepreneur (N.d), Cristy (1954), The Crucifix (1957), Marble Altar (1979), and the Bust of Fr. Delaney (1998). Each stop invited reflection not only on the aesthetic but also the social significance of these works, reinforcing the overarching question: whom should art serve?
The presence of Abueva’s family further enriched the tour. The first run featured Abueva’s youngest son, Duero, whose childhood experiences offered a more intimate dimension to the works. The second run included grandson, Isabelo Sandino Lanoy, who shared his grandfather’s life and creative vision. The final tour on February 23 welcomed Abueva’s daughter, Amihan, whose stories added warmth and further context.
Participants came from a wide range of sectors, including students, faculty, REPS, staff, alumni, and members of the general public. The participants ranged from a grade 1 student to senior citizens, reflecting the broad intergenerational appeal of Abueva’s works and the accessibility of public art within the university environment.
Notable attendees included the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), UP Diliman Office for Initiatives in Culture and the Arts (UPD OICA), UP College of Fine Arts Parola Gallery, Quezon City Tourism Department (QCTD), Quezon City Public Employment Service Office (QC PESO), UP Diliman Information Office (UPDIO), and DZUP 1602.
The tour was conducted by five undergraduate students from the UP Department of Art Studies, UP College of Arts and Letters, who served as the official tour guides: Mara Cabigas, Franzine Cea, Bella Cosare, Queen Masilungan, and Abigail Ravalo. Through their guided discussions, participants were introduced to the historical context, artistic merits, and cultural significance of Abueva’s works across the campus landscape.
The Bulwagan ng Dangal University Heritage Museum expresses its gratitude to the offices and individuals whose support was instrumental in realizing the ABUEVA IKOTOUR, including the UP Diliman Office for Initiatives in Culture and the Arts (UPD OICA), UP Office of the Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs (UP OVCCA), UP Diliman Campus Maintenance Office (UPD CMO), UP Diliman Transportation Management Office (UPD TMO), UP College of Fine Arts (UP CFA), PAUW-UP Child Study Center, UP Theater Complex, Jorge B. Vargas Museum and Filipiniana Research Center (UP Vargas Museum), UPD College of Arts and Letters (UPD CAL), UPD Cesar E.A. Virata School of Business (UPD VSB), UP Institute for Small-Scale Industries (UP ISSI), UP College of Law, and Parish of the Holy Sacrifice.
Through the ABUEVA IKOTOUR, the Bulwagan ng Dangal University Heritage Museum reaffirms its dedication to preserving and promoting the university’s cultural heritage. The tour provided participants with a rare opportunity to engage directly with public art and to consider its relevance in shaping communal identity and values. It demonstrated how public art like Napoleon Abueva’s continues to resonate across generations, embodying a vision of art that serves the community and inspires appreciation, reflection, and dialogue.
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