“HOW does one interpret Cebu through art?”

This was the challenge posed to 37 Cebuano artists by Maayo Hotel. Its owners, engineer William Christopher and Paulette Liu, have always encouraged local artists through their patronage. And so through ArtPortalCebu, the artists came up with an exhibit titled “Cebu: People, Places and Faces” at the hotel’s spacious eighth floor lobby lounge.

With their easels, drawing pads and pens, the artists went around Cebu in their mission to interpret the beauty and vibrancy of the place they call home. Some delved into their memory bank to recall—in acrylic or oil on canvas—the fiestas of Cebu like the Sinulog and the fluvial parade. Others showcased the Sto. Niño, the Basilica, Magellan’s Cross, Fuente Osmeña and Fort San Pedro. A few opted to paint the beautiful landscape of Gaas, Balamban. Others captured Cebu in the faces of ordinary people doing their daily activities: fishing, selling flowers, preparing food etc.

If the subjects are varied, so are the styles of these different artists. Some are impressionistic, others realistic, while a few venture into cubism and abstract impressionism. All in all, the exhibit really shouts “Cebu, Cebu!”

According to artist Celso Pepito, “Maayo Hotel and ArtPortalCebu believe that art is one potent component that can help promote Cebu as the premiere tourist destination in country. The launching of ‘Cebu: People, Places and Faces’ is an initiative that hopes to sustain the tourism growth in Cebu and, at the same time and above all, is a continuing effort to promote the richness of the Cebuano art.”

The artists featured in this exhibit are Jonathan Abellana, Darby Alcoseba, Lida Maria Aguilar, Julieto Angana, Betsy Alterado, Ryan Roy Barral, Methuzael Carredo, Mary Evangeline Caya, Cesar Castillo, Gina Castillo, Rhodesa Cruzet, Jess Dinglasa, John Dinglasa, Reynan Dingal, Ramon de Dios, Maria Sumatra Entise, Bong Francisco, Luther Galicano, Jean Govinda, Ana Maria Lubanga, Guido Lubanga, Jaso Manlangit, Maxcel Migallos, Carlos Moncada, Clint Normandia, Renulo Pautan, Celso Duazo Pepito, Fe Madrid Pepito, Jose Mari Picornell, Ruel Rosello, Lucilo Sagayno, Antonio Vidal, Garry Watin, Betty Yap, Marlone Ylanan, Sonia Yrastorza and Milagros Yuson.

The exhibit “Cebu: People, Places and Faces” at Maayo Hotel is ongoing until July 11.