Project Saysay inaugurates exhibit, new prints in Cubao

From 11-25 June 2019, the public may view for free the exhibit named Diwa ng Bayan (Sense of Nation), a collaboration between Project Saysay and Gateway Gallery, at 5th Floor, Gateway Mall, Araneta Center in Quezon City. The exhibit was launched last 11 June in celebration of the 121st anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine independence and the 6th anniversary of Project Saysay.

The exhibit features different prints Project Saysay is distributing to different schools nationwide and foreign diplomatic posts abroad. The said prints are curated to complement the paintings of Sining Saysay: Philippine History in Art of the University of the Philippines Diliman and the Gateway Gallery.

Former Project Saysay Executive Director Ian Christopher Alfonso curated and wrote the exhibit text reminiscing the story of the Philippines as Asia’s first democracy. This collaboration with Gateway Gallery is much awaited as Project Saysay and Sining Saysay share common name, saysay (sense, value, essence, worth, root word of kasaysayan or history).

Department of Education (DepEd) Undersecretary for Finance-Budget and Performance Monitoring Annalyn Sevilla served as the guest of honor of the event. In her speech, she highlighted the role of Project Saysay in instilling in each and every Filipino student the nation’s history and values.

Meanwhile, J. Amado Araneta Foundation Executive Director Diane Romero joined Usec. Sevilla in handing over 200 Project Saysay prints to four beneficiary schools of the foundation. Joining them were Project Saysay Executive Director John Paul Abellera and Ibarra Watches President & CEO Francisco Moreno.

Also gracing the event were Melissa Dona, a descendant of Emilio Jacinto; Dr. Roque Morales, Commissioner of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos; Marissa Huertas-Albarece, Community Relations Officer of Mama Sita Foundation; singer-songwriter Girl Valencia; and Jojo Bragais, designer of the footwear of Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray.

Also launched in the event was the new set Project Saysay prints featuring playwrights Francisco Baltazar, Magdalena Jalandoni, Isabelo delos Reyes, Vicente Sotto Sr., Carlos Bulosan, and Cesar Adib Majul. Their portraits were painted by Mark Villanueva and unveiled by their respective descendants and representatives: Carl Vincent Quitoriano unveiled the portrait of his forebear de los Reyes while Mr. Ganny de Leon of Orion Historical Council for Baltazar.

Eric Dasig Aguilar of University of the Philippines Iloilo unveiled the portrait of Jalandoni, and Moreno the portrait of Sotto. Majul’s portrait was unveiled by Dr. Morales, and Albarece that of Bulosan.

#DiwangBayan #GatewayGallery #SiningSaysay #DepartmentofEducation #AnnalynSevilla #JAmadoAranetaFoundation #IbarraWatches #JohnPaulAbellera #FranciscoMoreno #EmilioJacinto #MelissaDona #MarissaHuertasAlbarece #MamaSitaFoundation #GirlValencia #JojoBragais #CatrionaGray #FranciscoBaltazar #MagdalenaJalandoni #IsabelodelosReyes #VicenteSotto #CarlosBulosan #CesarAdibMajul #GannydeLeon #OraniHistoricalCouncil #MarkVillanueva #CarlVincentQuitoriano #EricDasigAguilar #UniversityofthePhilippinesIloilo