UE CFAD - College of Fine Arts, Architecture and Design

🔴⚪️BRIDGING ACADEMIC RESEARCH AND LOCAL HERITAGE 🔴⚪️

​The University of the East – College of Fine Arts, Architecture and Design continues its active commitment to community development by sharing academic research with the local government!

​Just yesterday, June 18, our newly graduated architecture alumni formally presented their thesis findings to the Malabon City Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office (CTCAO), through Ms. Catherine J. Larracas (Officer-in-Charge) and her dedicated staff.

​Having just walked the graduation stage last June 9, alumni Mark Genesis A. Nerida, Allyson T. Oyangoren, and Klein Homer U. Uy returned to serve the community with their study, "ASSESSING THE INFLUENCE OF FOOD HERITAGE ON THE ADAPTIVE REUSE OF HERITAGE HOUSES IN MALABON CITY." Their research explores how Malabon's legendary culinary identity—celebrating icons like Pancit Malabon and Sapin-Sapin, among others—can drive tourism and the adaptive reuse of deteriorating ancestral houses.

​✨ Key Highlights of the Turn-over:

​Essential Insights: Ms. Larracas highly commended the study, noting that the graduates' outputs are essential and deeply beneficial to their office's ongoing programs. She warmly welcomed their innovative architectural frameworks for future city development.

​A Lasting Gift to Malabon: To further support local awareness and tourism, the architectural presentation boards and the intricate scale model designed by the alumni were officially donated to the LGU for public display.

​This academic summary was shared purely as a public service to serve as a meaningful informational reference for the Malabon LGU's future cultural conservation and heritage tourism campaigns.

​Guiding our outstanding alumni through this rigorous academic milestone were:

📐 Ar. Jan Michael H. De Olazo (College Secretary & Architectural Design 9 Adviser)
🏛️ Ar. Art G. Barroca (Department Chair)
🎨 Ar. Mikaela D. Burbano (Architectural Design 10 Adviser)

​We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Ms. Larracas and the entire Malabon CTCAO team for their warm reception and for giving our alumni a platform to contribute to the long-term protection of Malabon’s rich cultural and historical identity! 🏗️🍲🌸

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UE CFAD Celebrates Alumni Finalists in the 2026 GSIS National Art Competition

The University of the East, College of Fine Arts, Architecture and Design (UE CFAD) proudly congratulates two of its distinguished alumni for being named finalists in the 2026 Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) National Art Competition.

Former UE CFAD faculty member, multi-awarded painter, and Neo-Folkloric iconographer Ernesto “Aris” Bagtas earned a place among the finalists with his acrylic painting, "Lingkod Bayan".

The artwork brings the theme of public service to life through the image of a jeepney, the iconic “king of the road,” transformed into a temporary home for those who dedicate their lives to serving others. Inside the jeepney are the nation's everyday heroes: doctors and nurses who make sacrifices in hospitals, teachers who shape young minds, farmers who provide food for their communities, soldiers and police officers who safeguard peace, workers who sustain the economy, and mothers who nurture their families. Amid the smoke and bustle of daily life, they quietly fulfill their duties with dedication and compassion.

Mr. Bagtas earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts major in Advertising Arts, now known as Visual Communication, from the University of the East–Caloocan. Throughout his career, he has received numerous local and international accolades, including the Grand Prize at the Spanish Embassy’s Letras y Figuras in 1998, Third Place in the Non-Representational Category of the GSIS National Art Competition in 2011, and an Honorable Mention in the Sculpture Category of the GSIS National Art Competition in 2016.

His works have been exhibited both in the Philippines and abroad, including in China, Germany, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic (Prague), and Switzerland.

Meanwhile, alumnus Leo T. Santos III was recognized as a finalist for his acrylic painting, "Apoy at Tapang". The artwork depicts two firefighters working together amid a raging fire. Standing back-to-back and holding hoses aimed in opposite directions, the figures symbolize teamwork, coordination, and mutual trust in the face of danger. Its vivid red background conveys the heat, urgency, and chaos of a fire, while the detailed firefighting equipment, including helmets, masks, and air tanks, highlights the realities and risks of the profession. Their posture and protective gear reflect courage, discipline, and readiness.

Overall, "Apoy at Tapang" serves as a powerful tribute to firefighters, honoring their bravery, unity, and unwavering commitment to protecting lives even under the most challenging circumstances.

Mr. Santos is an award-winning artist whose recognitions include being named a finalist in the 1992 PLDT Painting Competition, the 1990 Shell Painting Competition, the 1990 Philippine Red Cross Red Crescent Day Art Competition, and the 1989 Manila Medical Center Poster-Making Contest. He also won First Place in the Painting Category during the 1990 UE Foundation Day Art Competition and was a finalist in both the 2024 Manila Bulletin Digital Poster Competition and the 9th Tarlac National Art Competition (TNAC) Craft Category.

As finalists in the 2026 GSIS National Art Competition, Mr. Bagtas and Mr. Santos received certificates of recognition, and cash prizes.

UE CFAD takes pride in the achievements of its alumni, whose artistic excellence and commitment to meaningful storytelling continue to inspire future generations of artists and designers.

UE CFAD Faculty Member and Alumnus Jose “Joey” C. Mariano Receives Honorable Mention at GSIS National Art Competition 2026

The University of the East – College of Fine Arts, Architecture and Design (UE CFAD) proudly congratulates Mr. Jose “Joey” C. Mariano for receiving an Honorable Mention at the recently concluded Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) National Art Competition for his watercolor painting entry, "Hanap Buhay". As one of the competition’s finalists and awardees, Mr. Mariano received a certificate of recognition, a commemorative medal, and a cash prize of ₱200,000.

"Hanap Buhay" is an artwork that illuminates the silent heroism of firefighters, portraying their work not only as a profession and means of livelihood but also as a relentless search for life and hope amid tragedy and disaster. The piece powerfully captures the extraordinary dedication of Filipino firefighters, who risk their lives in service to others, embodying this year’s competition theme, “The Filipino Public Servant.”

Currently teaching in the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Communication program at UE CFAD, Mr. Mariano is a multi-talented artist whose practice spans character design, illustration, painting, and visual effects. A proud graduate of UE CFAD’s Advertising Arts program, now known as Visual Communication, he has established himself in both traditional and digital media.

His professional portfolio includes contributions to television series, films, and commercials, notably the acclaimed live-action adaptation of Voltes V: Legacy. As a 2D compositor and 3D visual effects artist, he combines technical expertise with a distinctive artistic vision that continues to shape imaginative visual worlds.

Beyond his professional achievements, Mr. Mariano remains committed to mentoring the next generation of artists as an instructor at UE CFAD, where he emphasizes innovation, creativity, and strong artistic foundations. Outside the classroom and the studio, he is also an avid toy collector and designer, drawing inspiration from nostalgia and contemporary culture to create unique works that bridge the past and the present.

Once again, congratulations to Mr. Mariano on this well-deserved recognition. The UE CFAD community celebrates his achievement and takes pride in his continued contributions to Philippine art and creative education.

UE CFAD Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Communication Film Finalist at the 6th Festival de Curtas-Metragens – FUN FEST in Portugal

The University of the East College of Fine Arts, Architecture and Design (UE CFAD) continues to gain international recognition as "KimKim" (international title: Kept Beneath the Skin), an experimental short film written and directed by Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Communication (BFA VisCom) student Marinelle L. Bico, has been selected as a finalist in the 6th Festival de Curtas-Metragens – FUNFEST International Video Competition on Madeira Island, Portugal.

The selection marks another significant international milestone for "KimKim", following its world premiere at the Cinephilia Flair Film Festival in Pakistan earlier this year. Chosen from 512 entries representing 90 countries, the film stands among a select group of works recognized for their artistic merit and compelling storytelling.

Organized by the Conservatory – Escola Profissional das Artes Eng.º Luiz Peter Clode (Madeira Conservatory – School of Arts), FUN FEST returns this year under the theme “Small Great Gestures,” inviting filmmakers from around the world to explore how simple everyday actions can transform relationships, inspire hope, and shift perspectives. Festival screenings commenced on June 11 at the Conservatory’s Main Hall in Madeira, Portugal.

The film was realized through the collective efforts of a dedicated team composed entirely of UE BFA Visual Communication students. Alongside writer-director Marinelle Bico, the production team includes CK Arguelles, who served as actor and editor, and Aim Grace V. Acain, who worked as director of photography.

"KimKim" explores life through the perspective of a child navigating fear within a space meant to be called home. In a household where a father’s inexplicable emotional outbursts are normalized, the child learns to tread carefully, constantly walking on eggshells to avoid triggering anger. Unable to escape this environment, the child develops harmful coping mechanisms, inflicting wounds that are repeatedly and painfully self-healed.

The international recognition of KimKim not only highlights the growing achievements of UE CFAD students on the global stage but also underscores the potential of young Filipino filmmakers to contribute powerful and socially relevant narratives to contemporary cinema.

UE CFAD Alumnus WIPO Opens Fifth Solo Exhibition, LAMPAS-TAO, at Blanc Gallery

UE CFAD Fine Arts former faculty member and Advertising Arts (Visual Communication) alumnus WIPO will present his fifth solo exhibition, LAMPAS-TAO, at Blanc Gallery from June 13 to July 31, 2026.

Drawing from memories of Valenzuela’s industrial and flood-prone landscapes, WIPO explores the fluid nature of existence through works shaped by rainwater, rust, factory dust, carbon pigment, and chance. Across eight contemplative bodies of work, the exhibition reflects on impermanence, transformation, faith, memory, and the unseen forces that continuously shape becoming.

Marking a decade of collaboration with Blanc Gallery, LAMPAS-TAO extends beyond the measure of the human, inviting viewers to contemplate the porous boundaries between disappearance and persistence, accident and inevitability, and the visible and the unseen.

For inquiries, visit Blanc Gallery or contact +63 920 927 6436 / +63 2 8442 5262.

To the CFAD Graduates,

Today, you stand at the threshold of a world waiting to be reshaped by your vision. As artists, architects, and designers, you wield a unique power – the power to give form to the invisible, to build spaces for human connection, and to color the canvas of our collective future. As you step into your respective creative industries, remember that your true calling goes far beyond aesthetics or individual accolades. Instead, carry with you the profound spirit of the "bagani" and "wani," which remind us that true courage and leadership are measured not by raw strength, but by a steadfast devotion to the community.

As Ar. Jesuben Bongolan said, "Instead of asking, 'What do I want to become?', perhaps ask, 'What kind of life do I want to live?' because purpose is not found in titles or achievements... your purpose is not simply what you do; your purpose is what happens when you do what you do!"

Congratulations CFAD Batch 2026, Igma Kadima!

ESTEEMED CFAD WARRIOR GRAD IS 78TH UE YEAREND COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER

Congratulations to our Warrior Candidates for the 78th Yearend Commencement Rites for the University of the East’s Manila and Caloocan Campuses – whose graduation unfolds at noontime this Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at the PICC Plenary Hall in Pasay City.

This year's program features one of the youngest tertiary Commencement Speakers in UE history, Ar. Jesuben Angel Sadiwa Bongolan. A 2018 cm laude graduate of the UE College of Fine Arts, Architecture and Design (CFAD). Ar. Bongolan was a consistent scholar and the first architecture graduate to receive the College Distinguished Graduate Award. He pursued graduate studies in Urban and Regional Planning at the University of the Philippines-Diliman, graduating as batch valedictorian, earning a stellar 1.02 GWA and the Dean's Medallion for Academic Excellence.

Driven by a passion to place arts and heritage at the center of national development, he joined the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), where he helped establish the Regional Exchange Unit under the Planning and Policy Office. Today, as the Head of the Unit, he leads initiatives promoting cultural governance and creative placemaking across various regions of the country. His outstanding contributions earned him the NCCA's Career and Self-Development Award in both 2024 and 2025 under the Civil Service Commission’s PRAISE program, as well as the Quadricentennial Service Award from the Municipal Government of Boac, Marinduque.

As a licensed architect, master plumber, and educator, Ar. Bongolan's journey stands as a powerful testament to purposeful leadership. His insight-filled speech promises to deeply inspire our graduates as they step out into the world.

Kudos, Warrior Graduate Jesuben Bongolan! Cheers, Graduating Warriors!