UP Fine Arts Alumni Gather for “Old Iskul, Old is Cool” Exhibition

More than a simple reunion, the exhibit serves as both a look back and a celebration of the alumni’s artistic journeys.

Words by Mikaelah Bianca Panopio
Photo courtesy of by UP College of Fine Arts
October 16, 2025

Alumni of the UP College of Fine Arts (CFA) reunited for Parola’s latest exhibition, titled “Old Iskul, Old Is Cool,” showcasing works by 75 Fine Arts graduates from the 1970s to the 1990s. The event transformed the Parola Atrium into a vibrant space filled with students, artists, and art enthusiasts.

Born from a day of casual conversation and reminiscing among friends, a project that brings together CFA alumni’s past student plates and present-day creations was conceived.

“Old Iskul, Old Is Cool,” organized by Paul Albert Quiano and curated by Jim Orencio, is a colorful canvas that revives stories of memory, transformation, and legacy. More than a simple reunion, the exhibit serves as both a retrospective and a celebration of the alumni’s artistic journeys, threading together their creative beginnings with the growth that has shaped their work over the decades.

Elmer Borlongan, Untitled (Plate for Roberto Chabet's Class), Oil on Canvas, 1986

Across eras

In the exhibit title, the word “old” pays tribute to the rich history of the UP College of Fine Arts (CFA), the oldest arts and design institution in the Philippines, established in 1908.

The participating artists include those who attended Gonzalez Hall in the 1970s, studied at Bartlett Hall in 1991, and lived through pivotal historical moments such as the Marcos dictatorship, the Aquino assassination, the People Power Revolution, the Asian financial crisis, and the turn of the millennium.

The featured artworks are a blend of old and new, spanning 15 to 30 years between their dates of creation. The earliest piece, by former Dean Nestor O. Vinluan, dates back to 1971, while the most recent was completed just weeks ago, reaffirming CFA’s enduring spirit and responsiveness to a call for collective expression.

Nestor Olarte Vinluan's recent work, “Looking through for the Love of Trees,” Acrylic on Canvas

What's next

The successful opening, marked by an energetic reception, highlighted the impact of the UP CFA community, which continues to bring together artists and guests who reconnect over shared histories and rediscover how the past transforms the present.

And the excitement doesn’t end on opening night as participating artists shared the stories behind their works through walk-throughs and artist talks.

Located at the Atrium, the UP Fine Arts Gallery (Parola) presents “Old Iskul, Old Is Cool,” which freely embraces the present while honoring a deep sense of nostalgia.