Beyond Dinagyang: Exploring Iloilo's Vibrant Art Scene
The province of Iloilo is known for its various attractions—its heritage sites, the annual Dinagyang Festival, its rich culinary delights, beautiful natural landscapes, and bustling urban centers. Recently, however, the City of Love has been gaining recognition for another aspect—its vibrant arts and culture scene.
Esquire Philippines was among a select group of media outlets recently invited by the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) to cover "Pasinaya: The CCP Open House 2024" in Iloilo City. The event, aptly themed "Sulong," marked a significant milestone as the country's largest annual multi-arts festival expanded beyond Metro Manila for the first time on its 20th anniversary. On February 3 and 4, events took place simultaneously at the CCP Complex and its partner museums, the Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art (ILOMOCA) in Iloilo City, and in Tagum City, Davao del Norte.
At the third floor of ILOMOCA is the Adoracion Valencia Gallery which features art works from the collection of Edwin Valencia, the primary patron of the museum
Festival director and CCP vice president Dennis Marasigan revealed that the 2024 edition saw the participation of 57 embassies and consulates, 16 museum partners across Metro Manila, Pasay, and Iloilo, 87 artists and performers from Western Visayas, and more than 3,000 artists and performers in Metro Manila. Over a hundred shows, workshops, and other activities in music, theater, dance, visual arts, film, and literature were provided to the attendees.
A performance by Bereber Dance Theater at the Pasinaya event in ILOMOCA
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Maricel Montero, the director of ILOMOCA, expressed her delight at the success of the very first Pasinaya in Iloilo. "We welcomed around 800 people into the museum during the Pasinaya weekend, which is quite impressive for its first celebration in Iloilo. It was heartening to witness the attendance of individuals who had never visited the museum before yet thoroughly enjoyed their Pasinaya experience. Seeing the museum burst into life with dance, music, and poetry performances was truly exhilarating," she said.Â
Bereber Sayaw PD, a non-profit organization holds dance classes for people with Parkinson's Disease
Montero said that based on feedback, attendees thoroughly enjoyed the performances, demonstrating significant engagement and participation. She expressed gratitude for the support from different sectors in Iloilo that made Pasinaya at ILOMOCA possible. "We would like to thank the CCP for trusting and choosing us as a venue, Megaworld for believing in this project, and most especially the artists who gave their best in their performances and workshops," said Montero.
The spoken word program held at the Hulot Gallery in ILOMOCA
The arts and culture scene in Iloilo has experienced a remarkable transformation in recent years, Montero observes. "We have so many museums here in Iloilo, and most of the heritage houses have also been restored and opened to the public. I remember when I was in grade school, it was only Museo Iloilo where I got to see the works of Nelfa Querubin, Ed Defensor, and all the other Ilonggo artists," she said.
Before working at ILOMOCA, Montero was the executive director of Museo Pambata from 2007 to 2021. "I went back home to Iloilo during the pandemic to be with my mother, who is already 88 years old, with plans of retiring and planting vegetables. But when I was asked to visit ILOMOCA and invited to join as a consultant, I was amazed by the collection and the engaging interest of young people visiting the museum. My heart could not say no, knowing that the potential of a museum as a tool to educate and transform communities can impact so much in the generations to come," she said.
A performance by the University of San Agustin Little Theater
Presently, Iloilo is home to a variety of galleries and museums. These include the National Museum of the Philippines-Iloilo; Art Deck Gallery by the John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University (JBLFMU); Ceramico Arts and Crafts by Nerissa Luger; Cinematheque Iloilo, Film Development Council of the Philippines; Galerie De Arsie by Arsenio Rafael III; Guevarra Gallery Arts and Antiques; UPV Cinematheque Film Museum, University of the Philippines-Visayas; UPV-MACH Museum of Art Culture and Heritage at UP Visayas; Thrive Art Gallery; Puluy-an Art Gallery; Omriel Art Gallery; Molo Mansion Gallery by SM City Iloilo; Museo Iloilo Art Gallery Section; and the ILOMOCA by the Megaworld Corporation.
Entrance to ILOMOCA
The establishment of ILOMOCA is a standout development in the city's cultural scene, said Montero, as it is the first museum in the Visayas region dedicated to modern and contemporary art. The project was made possible by the generosity of Megaworld and the major art patron Edwin Valencia, who lent most of his extensive contemporary art collection to the museum. "It is also important to note that the local government is very much into promoting and developing the arts and culture sector of the community," Montero added.
FDCP Cinematheque Centre Iloilo, Iloilo City
Montero also observes that there are quite a significant number of young people across various art disciplines. These burgeoning talents are making their mark, with young writers publishing books in local languages like Hiligaynon and Kinaray-a. Additionally, the museum scene in Iloilo is attracting a young crowd that is not only keen on appreciating art but also investing in it.
"What really fascinates me is that there are a number of young students who would come and visit the museum on their own," observes Montero. "For me, this is a step in the right direction. We need more people to appreciate and talk about art. I find that with ILOMOCA here, it is a great opportunity for the art and the academic community to enhance their art programmes, give Ilonggo artists a chance to share their art, and highlight the Ilonggo artists in the national and even global art scene."
