Museum Foundation of the Philippines Inc talks about the state of Philippine art and culture

This is the first time in MaArte Fair’s history that it occupied three floors of The Peninsula Manila and the courtyard. Additionally, the funds gathered during the event allowed MFPI to extend further help.

“We have more than 1,200 museums in the country, most of which need help one way or the other. Artists and artisans alike need funding assistance to enrich their craft. Through these funds, the Museum Foundation can help build a more vibrant community and promote and preserve arts and culture,” says Jacinto.

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“We were also able to mount it the way we wanted it, as well as showcase the Filipino community,” Jacinto adds. “[It also brought] a big sigh of relief. We were able to pull it off,” says Max Ventura, MFPI trustee. “It now gives us the confidence to move forward.”

MFPI executive director Tanya Pico chimes in and agrees: “The numbers will tell the story. But we feel challenged because we cannot mount the same thing the same way next time.” For her, there is pressure to come back stronger than ever in 2024 and the days following the event. “What success means for us happens beyond the event’s duration.”

“One of our plans next year is a bigger MaArte Fair,” Jacinto enthuses. By the next fair, they hope to provide a larger space to accommodate more participants—individuals who create 100 per cent local products. They share that MaArte is best defined as purely and 100 per cent Filipino. 

State of the art and culture in the country

“I think it needs a lot of help,” says Ventura. “And that’s why many organisations are now trying to see how they can help.”

Aside from the Museum Foundation, the Angat Buhay recently launched Angat Sining, which also helps promote Philippine arts and culture. Groups from the private sector, like The League of Corporate Foundations, also lend a hand. Despite several groups already aiding the cause, it still needs all the help it can get.

“In the case of the Museum Foundation, there’s a niche that we’re trying to able to make a difference and impact in—I think knowing that we have 1600 museums that we can impact upon and help is an inspiration for us. The numbers behind the success story of MaArte give us a lot of room to help out,” Ventura adds.

On top of that, the board also discussed the local design industry and how it is flourishing these days. “We used to have a flourishing textile industry,” says Jacinto, whose love for museums comes from his passion for history. “That’s why we cannot do 100 per cent ‘local’ because of the lack of machinery needed for this,” adds Blen Fernando, fellow MFPI trustee. “Despite this, we’re doing our best—especially with the onslaught of young fashion designers who show promise today.”

Recently, events like the PHx Station by Esme Palaganas, Seph Bagasao, and Trickie Lopa, a dynamic market activity featuring several Filipino contemporary fashion brands, have also emerged to champion the talent of the young generation.

The team suggests that the root of the problem in preserving art and culture lies in discipline and implementation. “There are many laws on preserving culture, arts, and history in the country. It’s just that there are so many laws, and they’re so complicated, that they are not implemented. We would have been better off if they were,” says Pico.

“That’s true. Case in point, my hometown in Bulacan,” says Ventura. “It was known for old houses and would’ve competed with Vigan. It’s just that the policies did not support preservation, so many of them were destroyed over time. That’s too bad. It could have been the ‘Vigan’ of Bulacan.”

Still, the MaArte Fair and other events held by MFPI and similar organisations do their best to make a difference, big or small. “The fair and its success is a physical manifestation of the foundation’s five core values: love of country, effective collaboration, integrity and trust, pursuit of excellence, and inclusivity. These values guide us to work harder and achieve more for the sake of the Filipino people,” Jacinto says. 

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