In the Philippines, resilience and faith are deeply woven into the cultural fabric, shaped by a history of natural disasters, colonization, and social upheaval. These shared experiences have profoundly influenced the collective psyche, fostering a remarkable ability to adapt, heal, and thrive through community connections and shared identities. Central to this exhibition is the Filipino concept of loob—an inner being that nurtures relationships through pakikipagkapwa, or shared togetherness.

This exhibition draws inspiration from grassroots artistic interventions in disaster-affected communities, serving as both an exploration of personal narratives and a reimagining of ancient communal practices. It bridges the tangible and intangible through storytelling, ritual-making, and placemaking, creating a space where grief, joy, love, and spiritual transcendence converge.

At the heart of the exhibition is the immersive spiral altar, symbolizing the cyclical nature of healing, growth, and interconnectedness. This altar anchors the mystical experience, inviting participants to explore ecological belonging and emotional transformation. Visitors are encouraged to engage in Pangalap (a Visayan tradition meaning "to gather something"), contributing to the creation of installation art, visual works, and performances that culminate in powerful rites of passage rituals. These acts celebrate intergenerational healing and the preservation of sacred traditions amidst the challenges of modernization.

The exhibition reflects on the "intergenerational motivation" and "intergenerational struggle" of healers who strive to protect and pass down traditional wisdom. By amplifying these narratives, participants are invited to reconnect with the unseen world, addressing collective grief and envisioning a beloved community where cultural and ecological belonging are restored.

This sacred and reflective space transforms art into a vessel for storytelling, healing, and cultural continuity. It allows audiences to engage with the enduring relationship between the Filipino spirit and the mystical forces that guide it, offering a path toward shared resilience and renewal.

On this process, artist propose community involvement on co-creation and installation of the spiral altar with objects that mimics the archaeological narrative related to Filipino sense of togetherness using printmaking, pottery and found objects, assemblage place making of visual elements and poetry from the workshop and perform rites of passage ritual, offertory, and "Pangalap" (to gather something) process as Spiral Journey inspired by Work that Reconnects and Joanna Macy in local context with collaborating artists Raz Salvarita, Opaline Santos, Sasa Cabalquinto, Ziela Santilan, Maky Angeles, and Ylona Dela Cruz. 

The project title refers to the Bisayan language “Mga Pamaagi sa Pagtinabangsa Nagkahi-usa para sa Kalubutan” (Ways of shared togetherness with unseen world)  — a term that reflect on the Filipino experience of “loob” inner being which translates in the concept of “ways of belonging.”

Location(s): Main Installation at Siquijor Sunset Glamping Shore Line; Performances at Balete Tree Tubod, Siquijor; Butterfly Sanctuary Lazi, Siquijor; Mt. Bandilaan Site, Siquijor; Siquijor Sunset Glamping Main Stage, San Juan Siquijor

Works: Site Installation of Unseen World Portal

    Carved objects and images in Ceramics Tiles

    Sound Performance Loop "Circuit Experiment and Poetry"

    Bolo-Bolo Ritual Soundscape

    Assemblage of found natural objects in Mandala

    Collaborative Performances; Trancendental Dance of Intention Setting for Opening Ritual;

    Rites of Passage Ritual "Paglalakbay ng Bayani", Sacred Light Attunement for Closing Ritual

Curatorial Statement Written by John Deyto

Documentation: 

Workshop with the Community

Sining-Luntian at Mamala Park, the avian biodiversity of Quezon Province was highlighted. The park’s wall served as a big coloring book, with young people outlining birds such as Chestnut munia, Olive-backed sunbird, and Blue-tailed bee-eater, among others. Kids, cheered on by their parents and teacher, did not hesitate to show their painting skills once instructed that they could already start. They worked together, sharing brushes and cups filled with paint, taking turns to make the wall their own. 

Care and appreciation for the environment and using art as a medium for a better world are legacies we should pass on to the next generation. Sining-Luntian accomplishes these and more: it brings the community together, and plants seeds of happiness and hope through brushstrokes and colors. 

Words by Pat Labitoria and Steve Manzano

Published: Climate Tracker Asia, Online Exhibition

Exhibited: Site-specific Installation in Mammala Park, Quezon Province

Coastal communities in Cavite face ongoing modernization due to its growing economy. This development, however, will affect the lives of locals as well as lead to biodiversity loss and rising sea levels. Climate change is also aggravating the impacts of this development, affecting the adaptive capacities of communities

The artists and advocates behind the project aim to empower the coastal community by reclaiming their identity as custodians of the environment and develop the youth’s potential through art and poetry to become agents of change in their communities.

Providing creative spaces for the youth helps them express their narrative, and realize their dreams. The youth’s creativity is essential as a tool for meaningful change. It encourages civic participation and sociocultural involvement.

Tanaga ng mga Alon is made possible by the collaboration of Save Your Dreams Ph, and the local residents of Rosario, Ternate, Bacoor, and Naic Cavite, and media partners Green Dreams of Generation, Pilipinas Journal, and with the support of cultural organizers, Climate Tracker Asia and Oxfam Philippines.

Words by Save Your Dreams Ph

Published: Climate Tracker Asia, Online Exhibition

Exhibited: Site-specific Installation in Coastal Community in Cavite

A film that tribute to Human Rights Day. When the Supreme Court has declared two provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 (Republic Act 11479) unconstitutional but ruled that the other provisions that were challenged by several petitions were constitutionally sound.

*Malinaw na sumasangayon ito sa layunin ng 37 petisyon laban sa ATL na protektahan ang ating karapatan sa pagpapahayag at pananalita. You can download the copy of Anti-Terror Law at this link: https://bit.ly/3gglxlS 

Words by Steve Manzano

Published: Online Exhibition