- PENN LARENA
A highlight of the National Arts Month celebration in Negros Oriental is the Rizalian Popup Art Exhibit at Rizal Park in Tanjay City, which opened in Feb. 16 and runs until Feb. 28.
The exhibit is a project of the Knights of Rizal Tanjay City Chapter led by Commander Dr. Gerald Jude Bumanglag.
The exhibit is supported the city government under Mayor Reynaldo Concepcion and Vice Mayor Neil Salma.
The popup art exhibit is dubbed “Jose Rizal: Inspiration to the Arts”. Dr. Bumanglag said he is proud that the newly-chartered Tanjay Chapter is able to organize an event of artistic expression. “We hope that viewers will be able to develop a sense of intimacy with art in various forms through the life, works and ideals of our national hero,” he said.
He called on KCR chapters to continue the spirit of collaboration for the common good as he expressed thanks to the KCR in Negros Oriental for its support to the Arts Month initiative.
The exhibit showcases different artworks depicting the national hero as well as a number of his own works.
Included in the exhibit is the “Ang Walang Kamatayang Pag-iibigan nina Pepe at Leonor”, a poetry-reading project initiated by KCOR Alwyn Galela of the Cleveland, Ohio Chapter through his Facebook page and youth channel, “Musings of a Knight of Rizal”.
The activity is in collaboration with KR Rado Gatchalian of the Northern Sydney Chapter (Australia) through his “The FILOsopher FB page”, “Tula’t Panulat para Kay Rizal”, and Rizalians Corner.
Gatchalian wrote the poem, “Ang Aking Maria Clara” to represent Pepe, which Galela penned “Saan Ka Aking Mahal” to represent Leonor; which was interpreted by Hedda Tad-y of Rise Pinoy based in Bangkok, Thailand.
Through the poetry-reading activity, Bumanglag said, we hope that residents of Tanjay and Negros will nurture more their love for Dr. Rizal and our country through the appreciation of his poems and the arts.
The exhibit also features the artworks of Juanito Torres of Pulilan, Bulacan. Among his works displayed in the series of Women in Rizal’s life – Rivera, Josephine Bracken, and his first love Segunda Katigbak.
The local art scene is represented in the exhibit by Hans Henry Lozada. The project is showing that we can work together locally and across the globe to promote love of art, culture and our country, Dr. Bumanglag said. – NWI
