People are often drawn to each other by what they have in common. They discover more ways they are alike and delighted with that discovery and connection become friends, find ways to stay together and work with each other. Like the friendship that sprung between San Juan, Batangas of the Philippines and Hong Cheon of South Korea, two cities who are culturally different on the surface but underneath share similar core values.

Hong Cheon County is known as the “County of Culture and Tourism” represented by an emblem which is a simple depiction of a leaf and dew, symbolizing a clean environment, patriotism, and love of one's hometown. Agriculture is one of the main livelihoods of the county which lies on the northern bank of the Hong Cheon River with a terrain that is mainly mountainous.

San Juan is also a tourist destination famous for its white-sand beaches and its virgin forests and mountains. The tourism and aquaculture industries provide livelihood to the town's people and support the municipality’s economy. Because of its fertile land fed by the Malaking Ilog River, the municipality is one of the top suppliers of agricultural products in the province of Batangas.

The friendship between Hong Cheon and San Juan started when San Juan deployed more than 700 seasonal farm workers (SFW) from San Juan to Hongcheon which constitutes more than 58 percent of the total seasonal workforce of the county. It was a boon to many farmers of San Juan many of whom have been sidelined by an economy that is veering more towards tourism. Hong Cheon itself cheered the entry of Filipino workers to the county to support its labor work force that its officials are now considering the permanent deployment of SFW to the county. The deployment filled in gaps in the delivery of economic and social services in both cities that to ensure good working conditions for our farmers, local officials of San Juan led by Mayor Beebong Salud went to South Korea to discuss the strengthening of the delivery of SFW to Hong Cheon. Hong Cheon County Mayor Shin Young-jae himself committed they will do their best to support farm management and ensure stable deployment of Seasonal Farm Workers.

By the time the mayor of Hong Cheon also honored San Juan with a visit, Hong Cheon and San Juan have become sister cities, executed a formal sisterhood agreement with a view to pursue common goals. One of the goals set by the sisterhood agreement is to enrich the state of arts and culture in both cities through mutual cultural and art exchanges. The goal was immediately realised with an agreement of friendship exchange on arts and culture signed between the San Juan Artists Group led by its chairperson Atty. Sylvia Marasigan and the Federation of Cultural and Artistic Organization of Korea (FACO) led by its chairperson Geumsun Baek.

Inspired by the 500-strong artists membership of FACO from many areas of art disciplines, the San Juan Artists group convened and went to work to tap and organise the rich artistic talents in the community the way Hong Cheon has successfully mobilized, motivated and supported its art sector. The brainchild of their joint effort is Silid: Celebrating Creative Spaces for Cooperation.

The exhibit was organized into ‘silids’ or rooms showcasing art works and crafts from different sectors of the art world from painting, fashion, pottery, urban sketches, arts and crafts and a whole room devoted to art exchange between FACO and the San Juan Artist’s Group.

The exhibits objectives were: (1) To foster mutual understanding and appreciation between the Municipality of San Juan, Batangas and Hong Cheon, South Korea by showcasing their unique traditions, arts, and heritage. This exhibition aims to promote the cultural dialogue, enhance cultural awareness, and build bridges of cooperation and friendship between the two city/ municipality. (2) To showcase the artistic and cultural products and traditions of San Juan through visual arts, crafts and product display for the appreciation and enjoyment of the general public. (3) To encourage community members to participate in the Council activities and programs in order to strengthen cultural identity of the town in particular and the province of Batangas in general, by expressing their artistic talents and entrepreneurial spirit. (4) To enhance awareness and foster a deeper appreciation for the culture and arts of San Juan, thereby supporting the continuity and balanced development of Batangueño cultural heritage and finally, (5) as the Council’s contribution to the Diwang Kapeng Barako, to support and promote its objective of driving among the various publics across the province and the country, especially among the youth, that KAPENG BARAKO is of Batangueño heritage, innate, originally rooted, began, nourished and made famous in the province of Batangas and by the Batangueños.