Institute Seals

A name that is closely associated with FEU is Galo Ocampo, who served as the first associate dean of the university’s Institute of Architecture and Fine Arts. He became head of the Department of Fine Arts in 1971. Prior to this, Ocampo was a professor at the University of Santo Tomas for a lengthy period from 1940 until 1971. Counted among his achievements are a number of “firsts”: together with Victorio Edades and National Artist Carlos “Botong” Francisco, he worked on the first Philippine mural painted in 1935 for the Capitol Theater; the three were known as the “Triumvirate.” In 1938, Ocampo painted the first Philippine version of the classic subject Mother and Child. He was also the first, and only, Filipino to study heraldry abroad, and was made a member of the International Institute of Genealogy and Heraldry in Madrid. Heraldry, an encompassing term which goes back to antiquity, is the study and design of armorial bearings and coat of arms signifying ceremony

and pedigree.

Not known to many is that Galo Ocampo did the stained glass windows in the reconstructed Manila Cathedral and the Santo Domingo Church in Quezon City. He also wrote the Portfolio of Philippine Churches and Other Scenes and co-authored The Art of the Philippines, the first art book in the country. From 1962 to 1968, Ocampo served as Director of the National Museum.

Not surprisingly, Galo Ocampo, the heraldry expert, designed the now iconic FEU coat of arms with the unique Baybayin-inspired typography.