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February or National Arts Month has well and truly kicked in, as spaces across the country have gone a little extra colorful and expressive.
The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) officially kicked off National Arts Month with an opening ceremony on February 3 at various historical venues in Manila.
This year's National Arts Month runs on the theme "Ani ng Sining, Diwa at Damdamin" and promises a jam-packed schedule of events that includes workshops, talks, forums, film screenings, and more. The full schedule and event details are up on NCCA's Facebook page, which you can check out to better plan your arts month itinerary.
Aside from these activities, however, are more art and culture events happening all around Metro Manila!
If you don't feel overwhelmed just yet, here are 10 other events to keep on your radar this National Arts Month.
1. 'Barbae'
Barbae is an out-of-the-box art experience that brings together scent and taste at the culture hub WHYNoT in Makati City.
New York-based artist Goldie Poblador and Makati City bar Big Fuzz collaborated on an interactive, multisensory installation.
Poblador is an artist who specializes in glass. The main pieces are nine shot glasses whose shapes are inspired by the female form, showcasing sensual and empowering energies.
The installation includes a 20-minute drinking experience in groups of nine, and will be held in two separate scent rooms. The scents are diffused through fog. Each drink’s taste may also alter depending on the scent within the space. Conversations in the group are also encouraged and are part of the experience.
Poblador collaborated with musician and mixologist Kyle Quismundo from Big Fuzz for the drinks, which were inspired by their shared love for music.
Barbae will be held on Friday, February 7, at 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the 4/F Karrivin Studios, Building A, 2316 Chino Roces Ave Ext. in Makati City.
Tickets are available for P900 at WHYNoT’s Instagram page. The registration form to reserve your slots is also up on the page.
2. ‘Cleaners’ film screening
“Cleaners” will have limited screenings on Friday and Saturday, February 7 and 8, at Purveyr Play, The Atrium of Makati, Makati City.
The film is directed and written by Glenn Barit and first premiered in 2019 at the QCinema International Film Festival. The experimental animated movie follows a group of students tasked as cleaners after classes. The film captures their high school lives, and the rebellion that comes with it.
Organized by Kinoise PH and Purveyr Play, the screening on February 7 also has a talkback and Q&A session with Direk Glenn about his process of making the film, and its message.
The full schedule and ticketing details are up on Kinoise PH and Purveyr Play’s Instagram pages.
3. Make a Scene Loud
Art, music, community—this is what Make a Scene Loud is all about.
More than 20 artists from all over the Philippines—whose specializations range from illustrations to comics, and everything in between—will gather on February 8 at Imperial Mow’s, Kowloon House, Matalino St., Quezon City.
There will be an art market, zine trade, and a Komiks Community Table starting at 1 p.m.
At 5 p.m., there will be live music at the iconic gig venue, Mow’s. Dilaw, Formerly Maryknoll, Nanay Mo, Eggboy, U-Pistol, Daspan en Walis, and Paul Parce will be performing.
Walk-in tickets priced at P450 are available at the venue, which includes access to both the art market and gig. Entrance to the art market alone will be on a pay-what-you-can basis.
4. Komiket
Komiket is all set to gather hundreds of artists again at its first event of the year.
As always, get ready to splurge on a bunch of local artworks, meet the creatives behind them, and #SupportLocalCreators.
The art bazaar will feature items like comic books, stickers, prints, clothing, jewelry, ceramics, and many more creations by Filipino artists. The possibilities are endless.
Komiket will be held on February 8 and 9, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., at SM Megamall Megatrade Hall 2 in Mandaluyong City. Entrance is P100. Senior citizens and PWDs get half-off the entrance fee.
5. 'State of Flux' exhibit
Fotomoto PH and the Ayala Museum will present "State of Flux," an exhibit showcasing the works of 26 contemporary photographers hailing from the Philippines and the diaspora.
Curated by Angel Velasco Shaw, the exhibit features the photographers' new works, works-in-progress, works that have not been widely showcased, and reimagined works that play around the theme of island living.
"State of Flux" will run from February 11 to 23 at the main lobby of the Ayala Museum on Makati Avenue, corner Dela Rosa Street, Ayala Center, Makati City.
The exhibit's opening reception will take place on Feb. 11 at 6 p.m.
6. 'Sintang Dalisay'
Fancy theater? Don't miss Areté and Tanghalang Ateneo's "Sintang Dalisay," a Filipino adaptation of Shakespeare's classic tragedy, "Romeo and Juliet."
The play follows the forbidden love story of star-crossed lovers Jamilah and Rashiddin in an imagined Muslim community in the Philippines.
The production is directed by the late Ricardo G. Abad and Guelan Varela-Luarca, and combines the translation of National Artist Rolando S. Tinio and a 1904 poem by G.D. Roke to tell the reimagined tale.
Tickets are priced at P800 for Balcony and P1,200 for Orchestra. Tickets are available via Tickets2Me.
"Sintang Dalisay" will run from February 14 to 16 and February 21 to 23 at the Hyundai Hall in Areté, Ateneo de Manila University on Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City.
7. 'Girlhood: Oslo Issue 2' launch party
What better way to celebrate the month of art, and of love, than through girlhood?
Oslo, a rising diary-type zine, is releasing their second issue and will hold their first launch party to celebrate.
The event will feature an art market and live readings from the artists. Guests are encouraged to come in their girly coquette outfits.
The “Girlhood: Oslo Issue 2” shindig will take place on February 14 at Sikat Studio, 305 Tomas Morato Ave., Diliman, Quezon City. Entrance fee is P100.
8. Art Fair Philippines
Art Fair Philippines is back to bring together the best of contemporary art in one space.
Art Fair Philippines 2025 will be held on February 21 to 23, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
This year’s edition flexes a new venue, the Ayala Triangle Gardens. It is the event’s first venue change in 12 years.
Art Fair will maintain its sections for the 2025 edition, namely, Exhibitors, Projects, Digital, Photography, Film, Residencies, Talks, and Tours.
Galleries from the Philippines, Japan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Spain, and Austria will be part of the fair. And as always, artists at different stages in their careers and who work with various media will be participating.
Fair tickets are now available online and can be purchased in advance via the official website, www.artfairphilippines.com. Tickets will also be available at the Art Fair Philippines reception area. These are priced at P750.
9. Quezon City Art Fair 2025
It's not just Makati that's having an art fair!
North peeps, the Quezon City Art Fair 2025 will run from February 21 to 23, featuring a wide range of activities that promote art and culture. These include Nihongo language workshops, open mic performances, poetry writing, painting sessions, and more.
Local art merchants will also sell their artworks at the fair, perfect for those in search of one-of-a-kind keepsakes and pieces.
The QC Art Fair will take place in Street Kohi at 24 Mayaman Street, Quezon City.
10. Maximum Chaos
Maximum Chaos, Comuna’s annual block party, promises a day “where different creative communities can meet, mix, and have a good time.”
This year, Maximum Chaos will have a full lineup of art and culture workshops, food pop-ups, live music, and more surprises to be revealed in the coming days.
Aside from Maximum Chaos, Comuna is an arts and culture hub all year round. For February, it offers exhibit openings, a Valentine’s singalong, and a tattoo pop-up.
Maximum Chaos is happening on February 22 at Comuna, 238 Pablo Ocampo Sr. Ext., Makati City.
— CDC, GMA Integrated News
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