Forgotten wall is reborn

The 50-foot by 50-foot mural facing the entrance of the Rizal Memorial tennis courts across a walkway has become a favorite photo stop for fans. It was painted on a bare surface at the back of the scoreboard of the baseball stadium. The idea came from PSC chairman Patrick Gregorio who described the transformation “from a forgotten wall, taken for granted, to a colorful life…a must-see to appreciate.”

The mural was part of a major facelift that Rizal has undergone. “Let’s all be honest,” said Gregorio. “We had all given up on Rizal. My late father Papa Mart loved Rizal and I remember basketball and baseball weekends. We now realize we can resurrect the iconic Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.”

Visual artist Archie Oclos, a UP cum laude graduate in fine arts, was tapped to execute the mural. Oclos, 36, recently completed an art residency with the Asian Cultural Council in New York and is a CCP Thirteen Artists awardee, Ateneo Art Awards winner and a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree. Known for large-scale murals delving into the everyday realities of Filipinos, Oclos took 20 days to finish a 25-floor mural at the De La Salle-College of St. Benilde with a theme addressing the displacement in Mindanao, particularly the experiences of Lumad communities and evacuees. In over 20 years, Oclos has done over 300 murals, mostly large-scale. One of his murals depicts billiards legend Efren (Bata) Reyes in Los Baños, Laguna.

For the PSC mural, Oclos used roughly 30 gallons of outdoor elastomeric and acrylic paints which are durable and weather-resistant, consisting of six to eight core colors. “It was inspired by the legacy of Philippine sports and the athletes who shaped the country’s sporting identity today,” said Oclos. “The goal was to highlight athletes whose achievements contributed significantly to Philippine sports history and national pride.” Portrayed in the mural are Robert Jaworski, Hidilyn Diaz, Manny Pacquiao, Carlos Yulo, Alex Eala and representative athletes in football, swimming and baseball. Five artists, including Oclos, were mobilized to finish the mural in four days, working 10 to 12 hours each day.

On the mural wall is a gateway leading to the baseball stands. “The gateway element was part of the existing architectural structure,” he said. “I worked around it and incorporated it into the composition so that it would function as part of the visual experience rather than as a distraction. Instead of competing with the mural, it helped frame the artwork as viewers approached the stands.”

Oclos said public art tied to national institutions carries a responsibility and the opportunity to contribute to a space dedicated to Philippine sports history was meaningful. “Many of my murals deal with social history, labor and communities so each project has its own significance,” he added. “The PSC mural is special because it contributes to preserving and celebrating the legacy of Philippine sports and the athletes who have brought pride to our country. Being able to translate those achievements into a public artwork that people encounter daily gives the mural a cultural value beyond the visual.”