The Joya of Art

It was a night that celebrated arts and fashion when Freeway launched its new National Artist Collector’s Series at Glorietta recently. This new series was made to pay tribute to National Artist for Visual Arts Jose Joya.

Joya was born in 1931 and was a printmaker, painter, mixed-media artist, and a former dean of the University of the Philippines’ College of Fine Arts. He pioneered abstract expressionism in the Philippines and was posthumously declared a National Artist of the Philippines for Visual Arts in 2003.

The event, emceed by Lexi Schulze Berenguer-Testa, opened with cocktails followed by a fashion show with a 40-piece collection that highlighted Joya’s works.

Present at the event were personalities from the art and fashion world as well as Joya’s family.

 During the program, Joya’s Peace Route was flashed on a screen right before the runway show started. Then, a model started walking the runway wearing a vest with part of the Peace Route image printed on it.

The models were styled with vibrant headpieces of flowers and tulle as they presented the 40-piece collection that showcased Joya’s signature strokes and spontaneous elements translated into graphic tees, tailored vests, blouses and dresses.

After the fashion show, art critic Cid Reyes and Joya’s sister Josie Joya-Baldovino gave a talk about the work and life of the national artist. Baldovino reminisced about how generous and humble her brother was in spite of all his success and recognition.  Dean Joya, as Reyes recalled him, discovered his own abstract expressionism in New York, but knew his art belonged in Manila.   According to Reyes, Joya revolutionized the Philippine visual arts during a time of realism, hence being hailed as National Artist for Visual Arts.  For Reyes and Baldovino, Jose Joya was a remarkable man — both as an artist and a brother.

(For more information, visit www.freeway.com.ph or its online partner Zalora. Shop at www.therow.ph.)

Search for outstanding microentrepreneurs

Citi Philippines CEO Aftab Ahmed and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr.

The search for outstanding and inspiring Filipino microentrepreneurs continues with the launch of the 16th Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards (CMA).

A partnership among Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Citi Philippines and Microfinance Council of the Philippines Inc., with funding support from Citi Foundation, CMA recognizes microentrepreneurs who have worked hard to lift themselves and others from poverty. It also recognizes the strong support they got from microfinance institutions as key partners, underscoring the role the organizations play in financial inclusion and enterprise development.

BSP Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr., who formally launched this year’s search, said, “The CMA has served as a vehicle for inspiring microentrepreneurs nationwide to achieve greater heights.”

For his part, Citi Philippines chief executive officer Aftab Ahmed said,  “The CMA is about the passion, energy and commitment of microentrepreneurs who want to do better for themselves and their families. At Citi, we are proud to help people pursue their dreams because we are committed to making a difference in the communities where we live and work.”

Chosen annually are the Microentrepreneur of the Year, regional awardees from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao; and Youth Microentrepreneur of the Year. Special awards are given for agri micro-business, community leadership and green/sustainable business.

CMA recipients get a total cash prize of P2 million as well as laptops for their businesses, entrepreneurship training and mentoring at the Citi Microenterprise Development Center.

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