What began with one painting acquired by a young man during a vacation abroad has grown into a university’s vast collection.  The artworks are enjoyed not only by the school’s students but also by the public through the recently inaugurated Fatima University Gallery (FUG) on Fatima’s new campus in Antipolo City.

To know the history of FUG is to also get glimpses of the life of its progenitor, gallery director Robert Bjorn Santos.

Robbie, as the scion of the Santos clan that owns Fatima University is called by friends, used to prefer leisurely sipping  coffee over studying and earning his college degree.  A generous allowance allowed him to splurge on the luxury.

But his mother decided to give him a waker-upper.  He was sent abroad to study and experience a life not as cushy. And learn lessons he did, finishing college and doing chores he had not done before, such as scrubbing his bathroom.

Santos learned to scrimp and was able to buy his first painting in 2001 while in the country on school break.  After graduating the following year, he came back home and was offered a job by his mother, who was executive VP of what was then Our Lady of Fatima College.

Robbie took the job and settled into the family’s academic business, even joining the faculty and teaching Basic Communication Skills to college freshmen.

Consumed by painting

Because he was earning his own money, Robbie treated himself to a second acquisition. He bought a watercolor piece.

“I felt consumed by a painting,” he said, “thinking of it at work, in the car, and even in the bathroom!”

His father was sick and Robbie kept him company. In between, “I would visit art galleries in and around the metropolis. It became evident to my family, relatives, and friends that art—chasing after it and collecting it—was fast becoming a passion, and they recommended me to other artists, art collectors, dealers and galleries.”

While he nurtured his newfound love by frequenting as many museums and galleries as he could and voraciously reading all sorts of books on art, the Commission on Higher Education elevated Fatima to a university. It came to be known as Our Lady of Fatima University (Olfu).

Further immersing himself in art, Robbie enrolled in the Managing the Arts (MAP) program at Asian Institute of Management, hoping to open his own commercial gallery.

But his mother cautioned him against joining the art business and prevailed upon him to consider running instead a non-selling-exhibit space on campus, which would benefit the school and its students.

His father’s passing in 2003 strengthened his resolve to run the campus art space because he was sure his dad would have been proud of it and “any effort meant to improve a student’s stay in Our Lady of Fatima University was lauded” by his parents.

In fact, it was in art that  Robbie found solace amid the grief over the death of his father.

Santos  made friends in the industry, some of whom gave him very friendly payment terms. He also reconnected with an old friend whose family allowed him access to their private collection and easy payment terms. It was through them that he was able to painstakingly include in the Fatima collection works by late Filipino masters.

In 2004, the board of trustees of Olfu allowed the use of a classroom on the Valenzuela City campus as a gallery. Robbie was overjoyed since this was the period of the “Nursing boom” and each room was precious. As a result, Humanities classes of both Olfu Valenzuela and Quezon City were bolstered by the inclusion of the exhibits in their modules. After all, the gallery yearly had five major and five minor shows even with an area of only 57 square meters.

In 2010, the board granted him larger gallery space on the ground floor of St. Catherine Building at the new Antipolo campus.

Topnotchers of art

“Our Lady of Fatima University is known for producing Medicine board topnotchers,” said Santos. “It is but fitting that the institution also showcases the mastery of topnotchers of Philippine art.”

While Fatima University has yet to offer a Fine Arts or Design program, the students are already privileged to have exposure to Philippine fine art, he added.

It seems that much of Robbie Santos is embodied by the new FUG.  The well-appointed art space is a reflection of the always dapper Robbie, from the uncluttered façade to the cool interiors.

Upon entering the foyer, viewers are greeted by National Artist Arturo Luz’s linear abstraction.  To the right, an off-center aisle cuts through three octagonal sections such that the concave walls on which works are hung flank the viewer.

To the left is a deeper, cove-like enclave that accommodates sculptures and functional art such as benches on its bigger floor area.

On the right are also smaller sculptural pieces and console tables on which can be found material about what is currently on view.

The maiden exhibit is aptly titled “Breaking New Ground.” It is an impressive portion of the collection and quite a summary for introducing students to genres in the visual arts.  The presentation sweeps through a wide range of works and is accompanied by the exhibit pamphlet adequate in its inclusion of a short profile on the artist and each artwork.

Thirty-four artists’ works constitute what Santos simply refers to in his exhibit note as  “works of talented and multi-awarded past, modern, and contemporary Filipino artists.”

Among them are stalwarts and luminaries such as Anastacio Caedo, Teodoro Buenaventura, Gabriel Custodio, Manuel Rodriguez Sr., Nena Saguil, Lyd Arguilla, Solomon Saprid, Sym Mendoza, Federico Aguilar Alcuaz, David Medalla, and National Artists Fernando Amorsolo, Vicente Manansala, Jerry Elizalde Navarro, José Joya, Arturo Luz and Abdulmari Asia Imao.

Santos said he had a vision for the gallery.

“It is important that even upon my demise the Fatima University Gallery continues to educate and enchant the university’s community of learners,” he explained. “As a collector, I have sold and upgraded my collection through the years.  I will continue to do this as I see fit.

“As an educator, what will remain in my collection shall all go to the university for its future board of trustees to utilize and maximize in the spirit of educating the Filipino youth about their heritage and culture and in maintaining the legacy that I will have created by then.”

The Fatima University Gallery is at the Saint Catherine’s Hall of Our Lady of Fatima University, Sumulong Highway, Antipolo City. Call 4322809. Log on to www.fatima.edu.ph.