By Bernadette Reyes, Art Education Area

Photos courtesy of Ruben Castor Ranin, Bernadette Reyes, and Sheena Ureta

This Women’s Month 2020, twenty-four men and women narrated stories of women through images as they depicted the journey of women at different times and life stages. Panawen: Lakbay sa Panahon ng Babae, an exhibition of paintings and photographs was launched this Saturday, March 7, 2020 at the QCX: Quezon City Experience, Quezon City Circle, Quezon City. An initiative of the Quezon City Local Government, in partnership with Art Ventures and Advocacy Network (Art VAN), Philippine Art Educators Association (PAEA), and the University of the Philippines College of Education Art Education Area, the show hopes to draw into consciousness the different seasons and reasons on how a women comes into being, and how time molds her to be the person that she is, not only for herself, but for others as well. Panawen, the Ilocano word for panahon, or seasons, hopefully, has aptly described how time immerses the woman in her experiences, encounters, and challenges, and how her strength is sieved through these.

The opening event commenced with a ritual, guided by Mr. Apoy “EJ” Jacinto, in honor of all the women and all those which she represented, her hopes and aspirations. The event was also graced by Dr. Nancy Kimuell-Gabriel, Head of the University of the Philippines, Diliman Gender Office, who has expressed her solidarity with Panawen, and the different embodiments of the art works. Ms. Phoebe Beltran-Almazan of the University of the Philippines College of Education Art Education Area and ARTVan president gave the welcoming remarks and introduced the artists.

Aside from the exhibit opening ceremony last March 7, a free seminar on Discipline Based Arts-Education by the UP Diliman Art Education Area, led by Professor Charo Defeo-Baquial, to the DepEd Division of Quezon City Districts 1 and 2 MAPEH (Music, Arts, Physical Education and Health) and Art teachers, also took place in the afternoon of the same day. However, due to the lockdown, the same seminar on March 14,  and the scheduled free workshops on March 21 were cancelled. The organizers plan to offer the workshops after the lockdown.

For more information on upcoming events and seminars, you may visit https://web.facebook.com/UPCEArtEdArea/ and https://web.facebook.com/ArtVanMnl/.