The marker on his grave identifies him as Joaquín María Herrer: “pintor y professor de la Escuela de Bellas Artes de Manila” (painter and professor at the Bellas Artes school of Manila), born in Madrid in 1838 and died in Manila in 1917.

Herrer “was recognized in his homeland as a master and an award-winning painter and instructor. He was widely known for his landscape paintings and trained under Carlos Mugica and Federico de Madrazo. His works were exhibited as far as the Exposicion universal in Panama.”

Herrer “arrived on Philippine shores between 1893 to 1895 to teach at the Escuela Superior de Pintura Grabado then later at the School of Fine Arts of the University of the Philippines. Among his students was National Artist Fernando Amorsolo. We also learn from his biography that the bust on his grave at the La Loma Cemetery was made by Vicente Francisco, and was a tribute from his many admirers.”