BAGUIO CITY – More than 500 works of art, artists, artisans and cultural workers will be featured in the week-long Ibagiw Arts Festival in the city as part of the celebration of Baguio City as a Creative City for crafts and folk arts by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The Baguio Arts and Crafts Collective, Inc. (BACCI), the city government and concerned stakeholders will formally open the Ibagiw Festival 2019 Saturday which will be followed by a series of art and culture-related activities during the 9-day period to aggressively promote the works of art at the Diplomat Hotel.
One of the highlights of the 9-day event is an exhibit featuring Baguio and Angono, Rizal artists in an exposition dubbed as ‘Salubong’ within the rooms of the former hotel that have been converted to exhibition areas for over a dozen arts groups and individuals. Further, 4 installations will flank the Diplomat Hotel area with Ana Cecilia Schmidt’s art deco piece that stands at about 14 meters in diameter, described to be a large textile installation that unfolds as it is stretched out and tensioned to give the illusion of a levitating structure that appears solid and with the help of a few black lights the sculpture will start to grow as day turns to night.
On the other hand, Raquel Diokno’s installation will show infusion and involvement into the healing process through their words of encouragement to make them whole again.
‘Bantay’ by solo artist Jake Espiritu and Iya Regalario, a 10-foot sculpture of a human head representing Baguio people seen looking at the sky, alluding to protecting the mountains, will also form part of the exhibition within the premises of the city’s arts and creative center.
Another installation on the Filipino trait crab mentality by Sonny Balanga, will also be part of the 9-day art exhibit to help in enticing art enthusiasts to visit the creative center.
The festival will end with the announcement of winners from 32 artisans who participated in the 4 expert categories to inspire a new generation of craftsmen, women and folk artists.
Finalists for backstrap weaving, Benita Naces and Carenia Amsawen, both from Paracelis, Mountain Province, the Montanosa Weavers Association from Sagada represented by Rose Wangdali, John Rae Guimbungan and Maria Kinggingan of Ifugao, Lily B. Bimuyag, Divina Calingayan and Benita Balangto, Antonia C. Daguyen and Catherine E. Domigyay will be part of the participants in one of the 4 core aspects of the exhibition.
For basketry, the competition finalists include Johnny D. Bangao and Mason Maleptey, Rovilyn Mayat-an and Romeo Mayat-an, Henedina Lota A. Bacani and Eric M. Arguelles, Randy Gawwi Bulayo, Pelin Ekin Contades, Jason Domling, Minda Catong Ciano and Mary Joy Tabanda.
The wood carving competition finalists are Clinton Aniversario, Edralin Galuten, Matchok Charles Aliguyon Gano, Christopher Atiwen, Alex Ognayon, Adriano Binwag Mahiwo and Randy Lang-odan.
The metalcraft competition finalists are Lito F. Malaggay, Jenny Timbol, Rommel Marcelo, Clinton Aniversario, Pamela Lefeber, Bongbong C. Sanchez, Marla Sylvanna Navida Soriano, Tara Lalaine B. Natividad and Ayna Luisa Galang.
By Dexter A. See
Photo by Armando M. Bolislis
