"Lakbay Lahi"

CEBU, Philippines - An art exhibit featuring a varied selection of wall-bound artworks by Cebu's established and up-and-coming talents opened last weekend.

Titled "Lakbay Lahi", the presentation is scored by a three-tiered theme which can be discerned in the way the word "lahi" is interpreted - either as the Tagalog term that alludes to "culture", the Cebuano term that means "something different", or as an amalgamated term that refers to the Filipino culture's constant state of shifts and shuffles.

Ongoing at the Mountain Wing Bridgeway of SM Seaside City until Saturday, September 3, the exhibit presents traditional-representational works and abstract-suprematist compositions that unmistakably convey Filipino myths, sceneries and traditions - perceived, interpreted and rendered by local visual artists of varied ages.

From Niña Pascual's detailed "Cebu Magnified" pen-and-ink piece to Jojo Gubalane's mandala-inspired "Child Dream" painting, "Lakbay Lahi" invites art lovers to see how Cebuano painters are framing their perception of their periphery - well aware that change for the sake of change is not worth anything; that there is merit in adhering to tradition while bowing to the progressive highlights of things to come. (FREEMAN)