SAF 44 mural in VP Binay’s TSONA to be installed at Coconut Palace

Vice President Jejomar Binay III has decided to give the mural depicting the SAF 44—and which was used as a backdrop during his "true" state of the nation address—a pemanent home at the Coconut Palace.

The vice president's spokesperson Joey Salgado confirmed this to GMA News Online on Tuesday.

The mural titled "Tagaligtas 44" was created by the artists of the Erehwon Center for the Arts.

It was installed at the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) in Silang, Cavite on March 14 during the annual alumni homecoming. It was Binay who unveiled it during the event.

The project was in collaboration with the PNP.

However, Salgado said that the artists' group had it pulled out in April.

"They were told by PNPA officials that the mural had upset higher-ups. Visitors and cadets were having selfies taken with the mural as background. We borrowed it for the event. VP has decided to have it installed at the Coconut Palace," he added.

GMA News Online has reached out to Erehwon founder Rafael Benitez for comment but he has yet to give his response.

The PNP has yet to give a comment as of posting time.

"Tagaligtas 44" is a seven feet by 26 feet work that depicts each of the fallen heroes of the Mamasapano incident in January.

The 44 fallen commandos of the PNP-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) are depicted in full combat gear in their various unit configurations.

The mural also shows the commanding officers and senior inspectors in front, middle ranking patrolmen in the middle, and junior-ranking patrolmen at the rear.

The painting was executed within three weeks by the following artists:

Professor Grandier Gil Bella (head artist)
Jerico De Leon
Professor and former UP Fine Arts Dean Leonilo “Neil” Doloricon
Camille Dela Rosa
Lourdes Inosanto
Jonathan Joven
Othoniel Neri (assistant head artist)
Emmanuel Nim
Dario Noche (head researcher and photo documentor)
Eghai Roxas

The collective also tapped Professor Reuben Ramas Cañete, curatorial consultant of the Asian Center in University of the Philippines-Diliman for conceptualization and design of the piece. -NB, GMA News