Manolito Tolentino Mayo

Manolito Tolentino Mayo (December 17, 1955 – May 4, 1983) was a Philippine artist. He won several major competitions while in UST (University of Santo Tomas) including the 1973 Sculpture and Graphics Awards, 1977 AAP Graphic Arts Competition, and the 1980 Critic's Choice Awards for Graphic Arts.

His early works in college was heavily inspired by Cubism, wood print blocks and sculptures. The artist established himself in graphic arts with Print Plate Etching as major technique. Intaglio, xerographics, silkscreen processes were also incorporated in his early works. Business Day writer Angel G. De Jesus wrote that he was 'a surrealistic expressionist with satiric sense of humor'.

Manolito Mayo was born in Lipa City in Batangas, the eldest son and second child of entrepreneur Sebastian Mayo and Belen Tolentino Mayo. He studied at La Salle De Lipa in high school. Eventually, he enrolled in the University of Santo Tomas where he befriended some of the most talented artists of the 1970s – Fernando Modesto and Omi Velasquez.

His subjects and composition usually embodied magical themes, amulets, animal people, and subconscious wonderings. In his work "Pula Puti", he depicted a cockfight scene with roosters having human forms. The two gladiatorial roosters have muscular and strong physique.