BAGUIO CITY – Around 400 beautiful paintings created by 99 talented artists from the Cordillera can now be viewed at the launched SM Art Market at the Mall Atrium, SM City Baguio, from July 31 to August 13. The art market was graced by Engr. Marc Jansen Pe, SAVP-Operations; Pasakalye Group of Artists founder Maricar Docyogen; City Tourism Officer Alec Mapalo; Venus Tan, chair-Creative Baguio Council; Ferdie Balanag, Founder & Director Montanossa; Judge Ruth Bawayan, Presiding Judge of Branch 6 MTCC-Baguio; Ed Canta, head of Consular Office-DFA Baguio; RD Juliet Lucas, DTI-CAR and Engr. Doy Tabilog. SM City Baguio’s long-standing commitment to the local art scene, highlighted as one of the successful art events such as Cordillera Hueniverse, Art in Bloom, Pandegka Series, and Impakabsat, reached new heights with the launch of the SM Art Market. The Art Market, was organized by Pasakalye Group of Artists founder Maricar Docyogen and SM City Baguio, to promote talented artists to show their talents in the field of artistic expressions to the public. Expect paintings, photographs, prints, illustrations, digital art, mixed media, and sculptures to be found at the Art Market, all created by talented Filipino artists. This exciting initiative, which will be launched in SM Malls nationwide, strengthens SM Supermalls’ commitment to up-and-coming local artists by giving them a platform to showcase their creative works. and reach a wider audience. Photos by Zaldy Comanda  

  A historical painting recognizing the life of an Overseas Filipino Worker in France, was presented to the Philippine Embassy of France by the well-known self-taught Filipino Artist Myse Salonga. According to Salonga, her painting entitled “Marriane” was personally brought to the Philippine Embassy in France and has now been added to the Embassy’s collection, after it was accepted by Ambassador Junever Mahilum-West. “This piece is a tribute to the resilience and dedication of our OFW in France and I really heartfelt thanks to the Embassy and to Ambassador West for graciously accepting my painting,” said Salonga. Additionally, Salonga was among 50 artists from 20 different countries who came together at the exhbit to raise funds for children from the Philippines, Uganda and Uganda, and Tanzania. Beautiful paintings, sculptures, photography, and digital arts were displayed on May 30 from June 2 held at Mayenne,Laval France, in celebration of the 21st edition of “RENDEZVOUS aux JARDINS,” a project of the French Minister of Culture. Salonga explained that the painting she created recognizes a pharmacist Marianne Tan in the Philippines, who sacrificed to abandon her profession and dared to venture to the country of France, who is an undocumented worker and face odd jobs, only to meet her daughter’s request to study law. In recent years, France recognized OFWs for their sacrifice for their family in the Philippines, so Marianne was one of those who was granted a working visa and was allowed to be with her family in the Philippines and now her daughter is just waiting its bar examination. The importance of the life of an OFW pushed Salonga to draw their life so that it can be acknowledged and recognized by the whole world. The Marianne painting has a size of 24×24 inches, done on a high cotton canvass stretched on a wooden frame. The artist employs a variety of brushstrokes to create a smoky effect background and texture. She markets her artwork both locally and internationally and sold over 100 unique pantings. By Zaldy Comanda