Philippine Pavilion unveiled at World Art Dubai 2025

Mariecar Jara-Puyod, Senior Reporter

Inspired by a space through which colour nor creed pollutes; where hollowness dissipates; and the nurture for even the lowliest and the humblest births; 45 visual artists - from a variety of backgrounds and orientations -- have come together to the UAE for the landmark Philippine Pavilion at the “World Art Dubai (WAD) 2025.”

“It is a privilege to be among the chosen at an international platform for those who have made it,” said Kolor Han Biswal Art Nga Waraynon (Leyte Province) founder mixed artist Dante Enage.

He described youngest member, surrealist Keenan Garrido, 21, second-time exhibitor, “a fast learner.”

Describing the Philippine arts market as “excellent” whereby primera clase connoisseurs “are very supportive of the local talent,” Ouvre Gallerie (Metro Manila) curator of 13 multi-awarded artists Mariya Anna Mata, fashion designer-cum-third generation artist, had eyed Dubai as the next stop after her first international market try in Jakarta because “Michael Cinco is an inspiration and every opportunity spells success.”

“The exhibition ignites my passion to share stories of my personal journey and the Philippine cultural heritage,” said long-time UAE resident, Susan Villanueva de Guzman. Her Higher Colleges of Technology Art & Design mentees have qualified for the Emirates Skills-GCC Skills-World Skills Asia-World Skills International technical and vocational skills competitions.

UAE-based friends of third culture Italy-born “Kayumanggi” series acrylic painter, Kath Magpantay, encouraged her to try her luck at the largest contemporary/pop/fashion art fair in the Middle East and North Africa.

She, who has found herself interpreting her own poetry of the “Brown Filipina,” was overjoyed: “Good thing the jury selected me.”

Profuse expressions of gratitude too, to the leader of the band, Carlo Garrido, art collector of the unsophisticated to the most brain-piercing, since his 2005 UAE residency, that spawned the establishment of his own Dubai-based art studio, Spectro Lucid, leading to the WAD 2024 engagement.

Garrido was the “lone Filipino gallery.” Independent exhibitor was Filipina contemporary artist Gene Villasper, famous for her cubist and surrealist interpretations of women.

“I was truly amazed at the pavilions of other countries. I felt that our country was very under-represented,” said the businessman-psychologist, adding that the six-figure UAE Dirham sale of the 4 feet by 5 feet “First Steampunk Rebellion” in oil - the Philippine Arts Awards 2018-Metro Manila first prize - by Cavite-Province-based surrealist Nestor Perez Ong, was another sign for the Philippine Pavilion 2025. For the historic unified Philippine representation, centerpiece is the 5 feet X 9 feet oil on wood and canvas “Pecto’s Inferno,” akin to the Italian narrative poem, “Dante’s Inferno,” and the seven-layered hell.

Except that it has clowders of cats, illustrative of the “main artist” Ong, who lives with 12 cats.

The art work, which Philippine Ambassador to the UAE Alfonso Ferdinand Ver and Ong’s Sharjah resident eldest, Nigel, unveiled during the April 16 “VIP Night,” was completed within six months and 6,000 hours, with the assistance of five engineers.

Count in the artistic contributions of Garrido, himself an artist, and that of nurse/University of the Philippines-Diliman Campus (Quezon City) Bachelor of Fine Arts in Sculpture student, Ding “Dingroy” Royales, recognised for his “vivid, mural-sized works” at the Manila Ocean Park (Manila) and Santuario de San Pedro Bautista (Quezon City), among other public areas in his motherland.

MENSA International member Ong who used to be a regional art director in Dubai is the “the lead and primary focal artist in Spectro Lucid, so-called because this art gallery is home to the neuro-divergent and those in the autism spectrum, including myself,” according to Garrido.

Inclusivity and universal appeal determined the over 45 Filipino obras, also from the USA and Canada.

Dive into the coloured pencil “Through My Eyes, The World Dances” panoramas of Filipino-Swiss non-verbal autism spectrum young man, Thierry Bouvard, who begins his well-defined impressions of his surroundings, from one corner of his canvas sans the aid of instruments.

Architecture graduate contemporary artist-gallery owner Ombok Villamor, who once manufactured side cars for survival in Samar Province, brought with him two of his metal undersea-inspired sculptures.