OTTAWA—The Philippine Embassy celebrated Buwan ng Wika, or National Language Month, with the launch of Alamat: An Art Exhibit of Philippine Mythical Creatures by renowned children’s book illustrator Frances Alcaraz.
The weeklong exhibit opened on August 1 to an audience of about 150 at the embassy’s Sentro Rizal Ottawa.
The guest’s curiosity was piqued with Alcaraz’s intricate interpretations of 10 well-known characters from Philippine mythology. Using pen, ink and acrylic on boards, the artist portrayed modern versions of creatures from Filipino folk stories, including the kapre (tree giant), tikbalang (half-man, half-horse), manananggal (flying blood-sucker), diwata (fairy) and nuno sa punso (old man of the mound). Each piece was accompanied by a story of the characters’ background and their role in society.
Alcaraz sent a video message as she thanked the guests at the reception for visiting the exhibit.
“We all know the stories,” she acknowledged. “Every Filipino child will tell you about their [dreams and fears through the] mythical creatures and magic that we all grew up with. So I hope when you go through the exhibit, you will learn more about our culture, and more about my country.”
Ambassador of the Philippines to Canada Petronila Garcia welcomed the guests and thanked Alcaraz for sharing her art. The former noted that the illustrated mythical creatures in the exhibit have remained in the Filipino consciousness and psyche for hundreds of years, as they formed an integral part of Pinoy culture. She reminded the audience of the stories of their childhood and invited them to revisit the way early Filipinos perceived the world around them.
The guests, some of whom came all the way from Montreal and Toronto to attend the reception, admired the vibrant colors and intricate patterns of Alcaraz’s works, then expressed appreciation for the subject matter she tackled.
For guests of Filipino descent, it was an opportunity to reminisce about their childhood and the stories from their elders, while Canadian guests enjoyed seeing another aspect of the Philippines’s rich culture. DFA
Image credits: Ottawa PE