Anastacio Caedo

Anastacio Tanchauco Caedo (14 August 1907 – 12 May 1990) was a Filipino sculptor. His style of sculpture was classical realist in the tradition of his mentor, Guillermo Tolentino.

His best known works include the MacArthur Landing site in Palo Red Beach, Leyte; the Benigno Aquino Monument which was originally at the corner of Ayala Avenue and Paseo de Roxas in Makati; the Bonifacio Monument in Pugad Lawin, Balintawak; and numerous statues of Jose Rizal, most notably the ones displayed in Philippine embassies throughout the world. He produced numerous commissioned representational sculptures mainly monuments of national heroes and successful Filipino politicians, businessmen, and educators.

Caedo is also notable for having refused the honor of being awarded a National Artist of the Philippines - in 1983, 1984, and 1986.

Family and Early Life

Professor Anastacio T. Caedo was not born in Macao, China. According to Florinda Caedo Wagner, when their mother, Genoveva Tanchauco died at an early age, his uncle decided to take Anastacio T. Caedo, being the youngest of sibling to Macao, China and there at an early age he studied and learned to speak fluent Chinese and became very well in mathematics. At the age of fourteen his uncle brought him back to Philippines to join his other siblings and stayed in Batangas with his parents Arsenio Caedo and Genoveva Tanchauco. His widowed father then have remarried and had five more children on his second marriage. Anastacio T. Caedo siblings, were Esteban Tanchauco Caedo and Marcial Tanchauco Caedo.

Education

At the age of 14, Elementary education at Calaca Elementary School in Batangas. In 1925, he entered the University of the Philippines (UP) School of Fine Arts. Even though lacking the required High School diploma in order to enter the university, Caedo made it to the UP College of Fine Arts through the direct recommendation of Professor Guillermo Tolentino. Thus, Caedo studied night high school while taking up Fine Arts at the UP.

Career

Caedo's career as a sculptor began in the year 1925 when he worked with Guillermo E. Tolentino's atelier as student-assistant and protégé. He assisted Tolentino in creating most of his landmark commissions like: the UP Oblation; the Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan City; the Rizal Monument in front of the Rizal Provincial Capitol; and the Shaw Monument at Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong to name a few.

He graduated in 1932 from the UP College of Fine Arts

The U.P Oblation statue was actually modeled after the physique of Caedo because of his lean and muscular body (he was an amateur bodybuilder). Tolentino later relegated the task of building the other Oblation figures in U.P. Baguio and Manila to Caedo.

After World War II, Caedo was able to establish himself as a sculptor on the commissions from the Jesuits. He executed at least eight major works for the Jesuits. He was also commissioned to build the MacArthur Landing site in Palo, Leyte, as well as other monuments of Philippine national heroes. Caedo was known for injecting vitality and breathing life into his sculptures, which became the hallmarks of his style. He was also commissioned to build the monuments of Bonifacio in Balintawak, Rizal in Germany, Juan Luna in Madrid, Apolinario Mabini in Manila, and Chief Kipua in Guam. He ultimately became known as a monument builder, and he built more monuments around the world than any other Filipino sculptor. For his lifelike bust of Rizal and his numerous monuments on Rizal, he was conferred the title "Knight Grand Commander" by the Order of the Knights of Rizal.

In 1951, he became a faculty member of the UP School of Fine Arts where he served for 20 years. He was appointed as Head of the Sculpture division of UP Fine Arts from 1957 to the early 1980s. His students and apprentices included Eduardo Castrillo, Abdul Mari Imao, and Ross Arcilla. Caedo's son, Florante Caedo, also learned sculpture from him, and became a noted sculptor in his own right.

Professor Caedo is also known as a meticulous portrait sculptor. His clients included Presidents Aguinaldo, Quezon, Osmeña, Quirino, Aquino, and Marcos. He also created several portrait busts of famous movie stars, politicians, and businessmen.

Achievements and Famous Sculptural Works

José Rizal statue in Wilhelmsfeld

- Araw ng Maynila Award for his sculpture "Andres Bonifacio"

Professor Caedo refused several times the nomination to become a National Artist in 1983, 1984, and 1986. He died in 1990 at the age of 83.

Personal life

Professor Caedo was married in 1937 to Ms. Florencia Beltran (1921–2003 ) of Bicol. They had six children, one of whom -Florante Caedo- became a noted sculptor in his own right. Professor Caedo was known as a philanthropist, regularly donating portions of his earnings to charity. He was an active member of The Lion's Club and The Order of the Knights of Rizal. Frederic Caedo is one of Anastacio Caedo's grandson that continue the legacy of their family, he is also one of the notable Filipino's sculptors that is making a mark as a filipino artist in his country.

References

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 9/6/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.