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MANILA, Philippines — The annual MaArte Fair is gunning for its biggest edition yet again by inviting more than 200 local artisans for an exhibit at The Peninsula Manila hotel next month.
The yearly event is the annual fundraiser of the Museum Foundation of the Philippines (MFPI), which highlights Filipino products, specifically in the field of crafts and culture.
For the 17th edition being marked this 2026, the fair's theme is "Karnabal: A Celebration of Filipino Heritage" inspired by the carnivals held in the Philippines during the early 20th century.
The carnivals back then were initially conceived as a celebration and cultural showcase for local industries and artistic expressions, which asserted a growing sense of Filipino identity despite the presence of foreign influences.
During a media conference last July 15 at the Manila Peninsula, MFPI vice president Gemma Cruz-Araneta shared that there was a dark and light side to "karnabal."
She noted that carnivals began in the 19th century in countries with colonial powers that showcased how they "civilized" others when in reality they were exploiting their natural resources and displaying them as savages.
The most famous, and controversial, example of this is the Philippine Reservation during the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair.
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The Miss International 1964 winner and former tourism secretary then shared that her mother, writer Carmen Guerrero Nakpil, claimed that carnivals during the American colonization period felt like being in Hollywood.
Cruz-Araneta shared how the Manila Carnival held in Luneta would show the economy was growing, Filipinos were learning English, and industries being set up in the country were displayed — some of them existing today like tobacco.
The main attraction was the Queen of the Carnival beauty contest, whose winners include former First Lady Trinidad de Leon-Roxas, suffragist Trinidad Fernandez Legarda, writer Paz Márquez-Benítez, Teodoro Kalaw's future wife Pura Villanueva and their daughter Maria.
One fun tidbit Cruz-Araneta shared was one winner, Virginia Llamas, later married her king consort: decorated diplomat Carlos P. Romulo.
Other notable escort to the queens were Eugenio Lopez, Jose Araneta, Arturo Tolentino, Gregorio Y. Zara, Teddy Kalaw, Ricardo Paras, Basilio Valdes, Antonio de las Alas, Tomás del Rosario, and Emilio Osmeña.
Arts and grants
MFPI executive director Tanya Pico later reiterated the MaArte Fair's directive as a fundraiser in support of the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) and other similar institutions around the country.
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"More than a fair, MaArte creates opportunities for Filipino artisans to thrive, supports the preservation of our shared cultural heritage, and helps sustain programs that make Philippine arts, culture, and history more accessible to future generations," Pico presented.
The organization's president Danny Jacinto shared that this year's grant recipients would be the NMP's archaeology division, Museo Pambata, the Ateneo Art Gallery, Aga Khan Musem, Sanfo 101, and researcher Stephanie Coo.
Two-hundred and twenty (220) exhibitors will take over The Peninsula Manila in Makati from August 13 to 16, many of them returnees like designer Happy Andrada, who is collaborating with Fundacion Sanso for bags and dolls inspired by Juvenal Sanso's works for proceeds going to fine arts students.
T'boli tribes affected by the recent Davao quake will be the recipient of proceeds from Baler-based PamPinay, which sells completely Filipino clothes made of denim and other fabrics.
Another designer, Alixia Marie, is collaborating with artist Dominic Rubio for the former's Lokal brand in integrating local weaves to modern clothing for the benefit of the different Indigenous tribes who wear its weaves.
One exhibitor to look out for is Ligaw and its travel accessories like passport holders, luggage tags, tote bags, and vests that incorporate Filipino symbols or materials.
Other exhibitors include perfumery A-Mara, sustainable textile handwoven clothes brand Locallae, bag and jewelry maker Mele+Marie, virgin coconut oil-based skincare provider Dermtropics, Tondo-based handwoven modern bag maker with local textiles One Weave, and the Fashion Accessory Makers of the Philippines.
