IP Philippines Opens Diwang: Celebrating Creativity Exhibition

From left to right – Mr. Virgilio S. Almario, National Artist for Literature; Professor Napoleon Abueva, National Artist for Visual Arts; Atty. Adrian S. Cristobal, Jr., Director General of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IP Philippines) and; Mr. Eddie Romero, National Artist for Film during the diwang anniversary exhibit launch at the Alab Art Space.

IP Philippines opens diwang: Celebrating Creativity exhibition

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IP Philippines) opens today diwang: Celebrating Creativity, the 10th anniversary exhibition at Alab Art Space. Diwang is a play on two Filipino terms – diwa refers to the essence or meaning of an idea while diwang denotes celebration.

“Diwang, the 10th anniversary exhibition of IP Philippines, merges content and form,” Atty. Adrian S. Cristobal, Jr., Director General of IP Philippines, said. “Diwa represents the office’s fundamental commitment to support the creative industries as indicated in our vision and mission to foster creativity and competitiveness for national development. Diwang, on the other hand, celebrates this essence. It also celebrates the essence of the artworks and the overall genius of the Filipino artist,” he added.

Diwang is part of IP Philippines’ activities to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Intellectual Property Code or Republic Act Number 8293, the law that created IP Philippines.

Mideo M. Cruz, 2003 Thirteen Artists Awardee of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and 2006 Ateneo Art Awardee, participated in and curated Diwang. Cruz’s works are entitled Asoge, Superpower. The exhibition will run until August 10, 2007.

The rest of the participating visual artists and their respective works include: Benjie Torrado Cabrera (Masquerade of Enlightenment); Noel Soler Cuizon (Act of

Contrition); Rene de Guzman (Prusisyon/Crucifixion); Antipas Delotavo (Dambana, Tansong Tala); Gene de Loyola (Anihan); Racquel de Loyola (Left Over Project Series); Boy Dominguez (Karagdagan, Pitong Ritwal); Brenda Fajardo (Apokalipsis: Puting Kabayo, Apokalipsis: Pulang Kabayo, Apokalipsis: Itim na Kabayo, Apokalipsis: Maputlang Kabayo); Karen Ocampo Flores (Kagitingan), Emmanuel Garibay (Goddess); Mark Justiniani (Epilogo); Iggy Rodriguez (Elegy for the Disenfranchised); Don Salubayba (How the Carabao Learned English); Wire Tuazon in collaboration with Tanke Reyes (After a Lost Original) and; Yko Umadhay (Fragile). Earthfishfish, Butong Pakwan, and Racquel De Loyola performed during the opening of the exhibit.

Professor Napoleon Abueva, National Artist for Visual Arts; Dean Virgilio S. Almario, National Artist for Literature and; Mr. Eddie Romero, National Artist for Film, were the guests of honor of the event.

Proceeds of the artworks for sale will be used for art-based service projects for children of Hands on Manila (HOM). HOM is a non-profit organization that provides volunteer opportunities for community service in Metro Manila. It recruits, coordinates, and educates volunteers for other non-profit organizations.

The opening of diwang: Celebrating Creativity was made possible through the help of Bounty Agro Ventures, Inc. (Bounty Fresh), Figaro Coffee Company, Market Reach Distributors (Novellino wines), San Miguel Corporation, Splash Corporation, Zenzest, and TP Health Foods Inc. (X24).

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For more information or to arrange for interviews, please contact Betty Uy-Regala, betty.regala@ipophil.gov.ph, (0917) 859-1872; Trina Samaniego, trina.samaniego@ipophil.gov.ph,

(0918) 906-9371; Dona Corado, dona.corado@ipophil.gov.ph, (0915) 241-3848; or Aneka Rodriguez, aneka.rodriguez@ipophil.gov.ph, (0917) 574-4072; 752-5450 local 610 (telephone line), 890-4862