Explore Dagupan’s finest: Empowering creativity in regional communities
Recognizing how supporting local artists and creative communities can strengthen the country’s art industry.
Art liberates your soul, provokes imagination, and encourages us to go further (Keith Haring).
We’re always looking for exciting things that can inspire us to create more. While it might go unnoticed, creativity can be seen, felt, and heard everywhere–from vibrant murals across the city, historical buildings, thought-provoking galleries, museums, and bedazzling drag shows, to music playing across local neighborhoods. Art is all around us and can be found in our collective experiences, shared through memories, interactions, and creative communities.
Bounded by traditions, Indigenous cultures, and a history of colonial influence, the Philippines is home to a diverse art scene, offering a unique perspective on artistic expression. We have made waves across the globe with significant contributions from renowned Filipino painters, writers, designers, filmmakers, and more. Our art continues to mirror our nation’s social issues, struggles, and aspirations, empowering the identity of generations of Filipinos. In order to strengthen the country’s art scene, it’s important to establish creative spaces that can encourage Filipinos to connect with art communities and help keep local art alive.
Come and visit Dagupan! More than just having the country’s tastiest bangus, Dagupan is a city nurtured by its history, traditions, and culture–offering food for your stomach and soul. The Diamond City of the North is home to national artists, Victorio C. Edades and Salvador F. Bernal, who each played crucial roles in establishing the Filipino art industry. Edades’ contribution to the local modern art movement noted him as the Father of Filipino Modern Art, while Bernal’s significant involvement in elevating local theater and production design marked him as the Father of Filipino Theater Design. The city, anchored by the creativity of homegrown talents, continues to find ways for residents to showcase their artistic vision and promote their craft through art programs, events, and festivals.
In photo: Victorio C. Edades and Salvador F. Bernal courtesy of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA)
Pangasinan’s 4th District Representative (PD4), Congressman Christopher ‘Toff’ de Venecia, has been pioneering in various creative areas, from visual and theater arts to writing, publishing, fashion, and directing. He’s also the principal author of the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act, which aims to help promote and support the country’s creative sector. Given his strong vision for the country’s art industry, he has been consistently organizing initiatives to promote artists and regional art. He saw a great opportunity to highlight Dagupan’s art community when he witnessed residents and artists gather along Tondaligan Blue Beach to set up their own temporary creative hub. This motivated him to introduce more programs to promote Dagupan’s art, culture, and history to wider communities.
In photo: Cong. Christopher De Venecia (Instagram: repcdevenecia)
In 2021, the 4th District of Pangasinan, with Cong. De Venecia’s at the helm, launched the Anakbanwa Arts Residency Project, inviting artists from across the country and providing a platform to showcase their art. Drawing its name from banwa which means ‘homeland’ in Hilagaynon, the project was meant for artists to explore and learn about the region’s heritage and collaborate with its residents. For one month, artists were given the opportunity to immerse themselves in the artistic processes and advocacies of the region and produce artworks based on what they learned. Final artworks were highlighted in a public art exhibition where residents and tourists were encouraged to visit. Since its launch, the initiative has grown from welcoming rising artists to including established artists, photographers, dance groups, and local artisans, encouraging dynamic collaborations and contributing to the celebration of creativity that keeps growing. Now known as the Anakbanwa Creative Residency Project, it continues to open doors for artists to be part of the thriving art scene of the region.
The Future is Creative. Highlighting the pride of Pangasinan and its artistic endeavors, in March 2023, the 4th District of Pangasinan and Cong. de Venecia launched the Galila Arts Festival, a celebration of art, music, performances, workshops, and more. The festival aimed to position itself as the country’s next creative hub, marking a huge step in strengthening the district’s art sector. Galila, which means ‘come and visit’ in Pangasinese, invites people to create, learn, and experience what Dagupan offers. Festival director, Jodinand Aguillon, knows the importance of establishing creative spaces where people can gather and collaborate. As the creative force behind Manila’s well-loved vintage outlet, Glorious Dias, which connects Filipino culture, stories, and history through fashion pieces and memorabilia, Jodee understands the significant role art plays in providing creative and economic opportunities to local artists.
In photo: Jodinand Aguilon (Instagram: jodinand)
In its first year, the Galila Arts Festival held activities focused on artists, performers, and business owners. One of their programs, The Bizarts Program, allowed cafe owners to exhibit artworks of Pangasinense artists and showcase them to customers. They organized a street dance party with improv theater groups and conducted art workshops for children in daycares across the city. They also displayed interactive art installations for local artists and residents. From a 10-day-long festival, the 2024 Galila Arts Festival became an even bigger and more exciting string of festivities. The celebration grew into a 3-week-long event with its theme Locally Led, Community Crafted, geared towards welcoming more artists and organizations to join in on the fun.
The 2024 festival line-up included workshops such as the Cyanotype Workshop led by photographer Tessa Martinez, where she discussed the history behind the cyanotype printing technique and was joined by aspiring local photographers. Renowned artists Gino L. Tioseco, Fritz Isiah Caoile, and Renz Dela Cruz conducted their Fundamentals of Oil Pastels Workshop to help seasoned artists and beginners refine their oil pastel skills. Dagupan filmmakers, Avid Liongoren and Prime Cruz held a seminar, “Let’s Play” Conversations with Filmmakers, discussing the challenges in the local film and animation industry. Resident chefs and baristas showcased the art of coffee making with their Brewed Expressions: A Fusion of Art, Aroma, and Craft workshop. Live performances graced the stage with HIMIG HIMBING: Mga Heleng Atin, featuring artists from the Cultural Center of the Philippines. The festival also highlighted the beauty of Tandolingan Blue Beach by holding the Surfside Classics competition and inviting the Dagupan surfing community to show their skills.
More than a celebration of creativity, the Galila Arts Festival was established to boost the art community of Dagupan. Cong. de Venecia believes it’s time for us to decentralize creativity and bring it to the regions. He values how the grassroots and heritage of every region can be a strong foundation in envisioning a future where art is at the front and center. The Galila Arts Festival can be a platform to recognize the importance of art in boosting tourism in regions. Investing in and supporting creative industries can provide both creative and economic opportunities to residents; in this way, art won’t be confined to traditional spaces, rather it can thrive in communities anywhere.
Varsity Co-op goes to Galila Arts Festival! This year, Cong. de Venecia personally invited us to be part of the Galila Arts Festival. We were given the opportunity to connect with the Dagupan community and learn more about the city’s culture. We held a creative workshop on developing social media strategies for small food and beverage businesses, attended by business owners, aspiring entrepreneurs, and content creators from the district. The workshop took place in Espacio Creative Studio, a creative playground that welcomes all individuals and brings the local community together. The studio, founded by photographer Ira Asuncion, is open for photoshoots, live band performances, small creative workshops, and events. This space became the perfect venue to welcome over 20 attendees and share insightful ways how to grow their businesses online.
The workshop helped participants understand more about their respective target markets and identify the unique selling points of their businesses. We dived into digital platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, exploring how these social spaces can strengthen their brand positioning and help them connect with customers through relatable content or engaging in positive conversations about their business. To make the workshop more enticing, we presented interactive examples from successful online businesses for participants to be inspired and see how utilizing social media platforms can introduce their business to a wider market. The workshop was also an opportunity for us to share insights on how crafting a distinct visual identity for a business can boost its visibility in a competitive industry. We ended the workshop by teaching the participants more beginner-friendly ways to produce promotional materials for their products or services through free editing platforms such as TikTok, Canva, and Instagram.
More than sharing our knowledge and encouraging conversations with the Dagupan community, being a part of the Galila Arts Festival inspired us to utilize our platform to help artists, storytellers, and businesses maximize their capabilities. We’re big believers in how creativity can empower society and how others can showcase their stories–in this case, the products or services. We understand that providing opportunities such as conducting workshops or seminars can allow individuals to grow their potential in their respective fields. This experience allowed us to extend beyond our everyday work and tap into a community where we’re able to share our creative skills and also learn from their perspectives and culture. Being able to initiate discussions through our creative workshop pushed us to collaborate and connect more with young artists, creators, and business communities in the future.
Be part of the Galila Arts Festival! Galila Arts Festival welcomes all kinds of artists, brands, performers, and wanderers to step into the creative community of Dagupan. This festival can provide an avenue for artists, brands, agencies, and businesses to reach a greater audience and introduce their craft. Coffee shop owners can organize coffee-making competitions, fashion brands can partner with local artisans to promote sustainability and craftsmanship, and cosmetics brands can organize live performances to showcase their products. Other organizations and businesses can also conduct their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives through livelihood seminars or workshops catering to residents or freelance artists, to help them enhance and develop their skills.
The Future is Collaborative! A significant challenge to the country’s creative industry is how to empower its existence in small communities and provinces. Establishing initiatives such as the Galila Art Festival helps build a sense of community by bridging artists, businesses, professionals, and organizations with a shared purpose of helping push the growth of the country’s art sector. This festival presents opportunities that can advocate for the importance of art in boosting the economy and promoting regional tourism. With the right support, established and aspiring artists with limited resources and platforms will be given the chance to showcase their work and craftsmanship. By recognizing how art can become a strong foundation in uplifting the country’s economy, we can thrive for a future where everyone will be encouraged to engage and support creative communities all over the country.
The Galila Arts Festival can be a great introduction for artists looking for creative opportunities and collaborations, and for organizations who want to reach more local communities. For any inquiries and information about open call registrations, workshops, and events, you can follow Galila Arts Festival on Facebook and Instagram for updates.
Words by Frances Umali
Produced by Jena Regalo, Ellie Balingit, and Marie Rodriguez
Art by Gabriel Ortega