Alazas spearheads artistry expo to showcase Cebuano creativity

CEBU, Philippines —  Highlighting Cebu’s wealth in creativity, designer Dexter Alazas, in cooperation with the Lapu-Lapu City government and Taft Properties, will hold a 7-day artistry expo as part of the 2021 Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines.

To be held at Soltana Tower 2 on April 17 to April 25, 2021, the event dubbed “MANO MANO Arts and Crafts Expo,” aims to gather artists and artisans and creative minds in Cebu to push the #supportlocal advocacy.

It will be situated on a 1000-sqm Soltana Gallery.

 Alazas, who is among Cebu’s notable creative activists, said today is the right time for the local creative sector to shine, as anything local is now the new true glamour.

“Our love for local art and fashion has now reached full circle as we embrace Cebuano creativity in a collaborative effort, inviting patrons and followers of Filipino made products, skillfully  done by hand,” said Alazas.

He said the event, which is also pushed by Lapu-Lapu City first lady and “localite” Cindy Chan and Tourism Culture Heritage Arts Commission (TCHAC) commissioner Sunshine Lim, will showcase an array of hand-made products, from local crafts people from all parts of Cebu, including visual artists/painters, tattoo artists, designers and other artists and artisans.

Products made by prisoners from Naga City Jail Male Dormitory, Mandaue City Jail Male Dormitory, Cebu City Jail Female Dormitory, and Lapu-Lapu City Jail Female Dormitory, will also be showcased in the expo.

In the last few years, Alazas has been at the forefront of promoting local and community-based made products such as the Hablon industry in Argao, and the "Banig" industry in the town of Badian, Cebu.

Alazas, who owns the Alazas Atelier, and founded the fashion brand Amano, is also working on organizing the Pandan farmers and banig weavers in the three barangays in Badian, to bring this local and stagnant industry into the market frontier.

According to Alazas, the trend of sustainable fashion is opening doors to communities and improving their livelihood opportunities.