■ EXHIBIT DEDICATED TO CHILD JESUS TO OPEN IN SM CITY ART CENTER

23 creative Filipinos put their interpretation of the Sto. Niño to life through artworks for exhibition “Sto. Niño: A Homage” aims not only to showcase the creativity of Filipinos but also their religiosity

SM City Cebu Art Center has gathered 23 artists in Cebu, Manila, and Mindanao in an exhibit called “Sto. Niño: A Homage.” The exhibit presents visual images that help the viewing public understand the roots of their faith and devotion to the Holy Child. The exhibit, says its organizers, also entices the public to nurture the importance of prayer and elicit public support for creating art that reflects the Cebu a n o s ’ deep religiosity. The exhibit will open on Jan. 13 at 6 p.m. The show will run until Jan. 28.

Every year, on the third week of January, countless devotees converge in Cebu City not only to pay homage to the miraculous image of Sr. Sto. Niño, but also to participate in the street festivities in the Sinulog Festival.

The festival was organized by the City of Cebu in 1980 as a great homage to the Child Jesus and to drum up the bandwagon of Cebu as the premier tourist destination in the country. Today, this festival attracts not only local or national visitors but also entices one to two million tourists around the globe to join the weeklong festivities.

A variety of activities such as sports, music and visual arts are organized by different companies to sustain and enliven the Sinulog activities.

The Art Center on the second level of SM City Cebu, for its part, has continually partnered with local and national painters to come up with an exhibit that promotes and propagates the deep devotion of the Cebuano people toward the Sto. Niño. This year, 23 creative minds representing Cebu, Manila and Mindanao grouped together to come up with an exhibit entitled “Sto. Niño: A Homage.”

The exhibit aims to provide the viewing public the opportunity to understand the root of their faith through visual imagery as interpreted by the different painters and sculptors. It also entices the public to nurture the importance of prayer, and elicit public support on creating art that reflects the Cebuanos’ deep religiosity. Above all, this event is geared toward the promotion and upliftment of the creativity of Filipinos.

Participating artists from Cebu for this exhibit are Cesar Castillo, Rhodesa Cruzet, Jess Dinglasa, John Dinglasa, Efren Enolva, Bong Francisco, Jun Impas, Guido Lubanga, Mean Mustard, Clint Normandia, Joseph Ong, Celso Pepito, Fe Pepito, Jojo Sagayno, Antonio Vidal and Mar Vidal.

Noel Bueza, Joel Cristobal, Jun Tiongco and Jik Villanueva are representing the Manila-based artists.

Mindanao, on the other hand, is represented by Lito Pepito and Ronnie Rudinas.

As art is a reflection of one’s creative mind, “Sto. Niño: A Homage” is an exhibit that embraces the individuality of each painter and sculptor. Everyone is given the freedom to express one’s self based on his experience and understanding of life and faith. But what matters most for these artists in relation to this show is the opportunity to make their own visual homage to the miraculous image of Sr. Sto. Niño.

The viewing public can expect a variety of styles, interpretations and mediums: oil, acrylic, watercolor, pen and ink, and sculptures. All artworks are creative products born out of hard work and years of experience.

Recognized as the oldest Christian relic in the country, the wooden image of Sr. Sto. Niño was originally given as a gift of friendship by Ferdinand Magellan to Rajah Humabon on April 21, 1521.

Invited to grace as guests of honor for the exhibit opening are Raul Arambulo, lawyer Anastacio Muntuero Jr., Bernard Restificar, Marita Arambulo, Jenny Go and lawyer Erlinda Ramos.

The exhibit will open on Jan. 13 at 6 p.m. The show will run until Jan. 28.