A visual art exhibit that showcases the beliefs, faith, ancestry, customs, and traditions of Mabalacat City and Pampanga Province. This event is set to coincide with the Balacat Festival and the grand opening of Tabnuan Cultural Center at the old municipio of Mabalacat City on February 28th.
The exhibit will feature the artistic creations of renowned local artists and hobbyists, including Dodjie Aguinaldo, Arnel Garcia, Jojoy Zabala, Noel C. Calma, Rod Siron, and Noel G. Tulabut. Most of these talented individuals have a strong connection to Mabalacat, either being born or raised there or still residing in their beloved city. The city government of Mabalacat has also invited surprise guest-artists to add to the excitement.
Dodjie Aguinaldo’s Letras Y Figuras painting will be a highlight of the exhibition. Each of the nine letters of Mabalacat is beautifully depicted in colorful, 19-inch x 25-inch paintings, capturing the rich history and traditions of the town and province. Aguinaldo’s work has been featured in the “Matenakan Kapampangan: The Arts and Artists of Pampanga” coffee table book published in 2023 by the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Arnel Garcia’s sculpture, a 24-inch x 24-inch polyester resin piece on a brass plate, will showcase Kapampangan myths and beliefs. Self-taught and now commissioned for life-size statues, Garcia’s art can be found in churches, schools, and government buildings. His smaller statuettes are gifted to diplomats and foreign dignitaries.
Noel C. Calma, an advocate for traditional attire and crafts, will pay homage to the works of Frida Kahlo in his fashion clothing exhibit. In addition to his artistic pursuits, Calma promotes Kapampangan heirloom recipes and offers consultancies on personality and image enhancement.
Rod Siron, an expert in portraits, uses vibrant colors and realistic compositions in his paintings. With a global perspective infused with Filipino sensibilities, Siron’s unique style was honed during his 23-year tenure as a mural artist in the Middle East.
Jojoy Zabala’s abstract paintings have been praised for their multilayered, angular, and futuristic compositions. Fresh from exhibitions in Vietnam and Italy in 2023, Zabala is a multi-award-winning artist, including the International Prize Pegasus for the Arts and consistent top prizes in the Pupul Ning Banua Award for Visual Arts.
Lastly, Noel G. Tulabut’s photographic exhibit will feature images captured in Mabalacat City, including Aetas and their way of living, the Caragan head dress, churches, and a tribute to the Balacat tree. Tulabut’s work has been displayed in various exhibitions, including a solo show in New York City in 2014 during his coverage of the United Nations General Assembly.
The Tabnuan Cultural Center’s visual art exhibit will run until March 2nd, 2024, and is spearheaded by the Mabalacat City Government Tourism Office. The event will also showcase the traveling exhibit featuring the Order of the National Artists and Gawad ng Manlilikha ng Bayan awardees in cooperation with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.
