Photo by Liezl F. Dunuan City officials and guests toast to the opening of the Creative Baguio Hub. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Baguio City formally opened the first Creative Baguio Exhibition Hub on Feb. 10 at Malcolm Square, Lower Session Road. Mayor Mauricio Domogan welcomed special guests and local folks to the event amidst indigenous chants and dances to the beat of ethnic instruments. Philippine National Commission to UNESCO Secretary General Lila Ramos Shahani shared what it means for Baguio to be a Creative City. With the Baguio creative community present, the Baguio City Creative Logo was also unveiled. The exhibition runs from Feb. 10 to 24, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Ethnic instruments played during the prelude to the launch. Photo by Liezl F. Dunuan Here are 5 things you should know about this event. 1. Baguio City as a Creative City Baguio City applied to be a member of UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network last year, and UNESCO announced in Nov. 2017 that the city is a Creative City of Crafts and Folk Arts. Since then, the Baguio creative community has been holding discussions with the local government unit on what initiatives to take after gaining the title. In Dec. 2017, among the first attempts to recognize the role of the creative community in the city was to commission a unique art installation that would be placed at the rotonda on Upper Session Road. The Tinatik installation by Maela Jose however got mixed reactions from Baguio citizens to tourists. Right now, the Baguio Creative Council continues to work with city hall on next steps and future plans, as UNESCO expects the city to implement its proposed plans as a creative city. 2. Creative Baguio Hub as showcase of Crafts and Folk Arts and more Baguio was particularly recognized for its crafts and folk arts, particularly in the areas of weaving, woodcarving, and silvercraft. Thus, several of the exhibit areas are dedicated to these three areas. Narda’s hosts an exhibit of its one-of-a-kind handwoven products, which are sought after because of their quality and design. Pilak showcases silvercraft such as jewelry and filigree items. The section on woodcarving shows both ethnic and modern designs made of handcarved wood. All three exhibit areas will also show actual demonstration sessions on how these crafts are made. Live weaving demonstration at the Narda’s exhibit. Photo by Liezl F. Dunuan In addition to these, another section is dedicated to the visual arts. On display are local paintings and artworks of Baguio artists, specifically from the Pasa-Kalye group of artists. BenCab also lent one of his prints to be shown here. 3. Things to do at the Creative Hub Aside from appreciating Baguio creativity, there is so much you can do at the hub. At the visual arts section, you can have your portrait or caricature sketched. There is also a tattoo artist who can give you a traditional tattoo using a lemon thorn needle. If you are looking for something less permanent, you can also get a henna tattoo. Portrait sketching and tattooing at the Creative Hub. Photo by Liezl F. Dunuan Every afternoon, usually starting at 3 p.m., live performances by local street musicians and other groups are happening. All you need to do is find a seat and enjoy the show. 4. The Baguio Creative City Logo The logo that was unveiled was designed by no other than National Artist BenCab. It was based on the traditional Cordillera design for mountains. The middle three mountains are in the colors of the Philippine flag. The Baguio Creative City logo. Photo by Liezl F. Dunuan 5. Expect More Things for Creative Baguio During the launch, both Mayor Domogan and Sec. Gen. Lila Ramos Shahani noted that this was only the beginning. Preparation is ongoing for a special festival in November 2018. It is hoped that it can be as big or bigger than the Baguio Arts Festival which was organized by the Baguio Arts Guild. Facebook Comments
