Painting a Legacy: Batch 21 Graduates Design School’s First Mural

As their final legacy at MGC New Life Christian Academy (MGCNLCA), students from the Batch 21 Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) and General Academic Strand (GAS) designed the school’s first mural at the backdoor area near the Early Years (EY) Department.

This project, which began last February and was completed in May, was piloted by Teanna Jan Ang, Vaughn Uriel Cawaon, Mayumi Kairee Dadap, Annika Ysabelle Hsu, and Jadyn Paulin Pin. This served as part of their culminating activity for the Community, Engagement, Solidarity, and Citizenship (CESC) subject in Grade 12 last school year. “We realized we [could] ‘work closer to home’ and give back to the community that raised us,” shared the group.

The students decided to renovate the vertical garden of MGCNLCA’s backdoor area by designing an 83-foot length by 11-foot height mural along with a school-sponsored wall climbing area. “We decided on this project when we found out that many younger batches [use the] backdoor area for their classes,” Ang added.

After completing their assistant teaching project at the EY Department, the HUMSS and GAS students expressed how close they became with their young pupils.

After getting the approval of School Principal Evangeline Co and General Services (GS) Head Ralph Anog—as well as the help of the Information Technology Department, GS Department, and DonPin Corporation—the students sourced the necessary materials and began the mural's construction.

The process began with flattening and priming the wall, followed by the painting of the design made by the HUMSS and GAS students. InkHead stickers were then placed on top before DonPin Corporation applied a clear protective coating to seal the mural. The wall climbing feature, on the other hand, is set to be installed in the following school year by Anog and his team.

Aside from enhancing the visual appeal of the area, the recent graduates also hope to encourage the younger MGCNLCA students to spend more time outdoors. Ang expressed, “Even though we won’t be in school with them anymore, we hope to leave a lasting impact and enrich their future learning experiences.”

“[The CESC subject], I [believe], inspired [them] to address a need that they see in the closest community that the students have, which is the school,” reflected project adviser Kenno Jan Caballero. “In the midst of an urban jungle like BGC, [the mural] could be a place for fun and play that is both creative and bright.”