PH’s first religious exhibit launched

• Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/local-news/2015/10/10/phs-first-religious-exhibit-launched-435058
• Saturday, October 10, 2015

By Reynaldo G. Navales

CLARK FREEPORT -- Various religious art works of more than 20 artists in Pampanga, Bulacan, Bukidnon and Metro are now on display at the SM City Clark Events Center.

The two-day exhibit dubbed Obra Sagrada, launched yesterday by the Foundation for Lingap Kapampangan Incorporated (FLKI), formerly known as Save Pampanga Movement, is the country's first ecclesiastical exhibit.

The FLKI sponsored the event, aimed at providing support and awareness for Filipino religious artists, in cooperation with the Archdiocese Commission on Church Heritage and the Shopping Center Management Corporation (SCMC).

The art works include sculptures and paintings of patron saints and religious icons, altars, retablos, church furniture and fixtures, home decorations, and others.

One of the exhibitors is Willy Layug, a renowned Kapampangan artist based in Betis, Guagua town.

Layug created the “Our Lady of Palo” statue for the Papal visit earlier this year. A recipient of the President Medal of Merit Award for Ecclesiastical Arts, he presented his signature retablos and images finished in the traditional Spanish estofado painting technique.

Other noted artists include Santiago Banal, Gener Bautista, Dante Blanco, Jun Calma, Alejandro Carpio, Luisito Cayanan, Renato Cayanan, Ardie De Dios, Reggie Honrada, Edwin Layug, Nicholas Lugue, Jhun Navarro, Edgar Nucum, Alberto Pangilinan and Francis Sibug.

Various groups including Artikles in Wood, Chez Les Saints, Kraut Art Glass, Renaissance Wood Masters, and The Transfiguration Guild participated in the exhibit.

Catholic Archbishops Soc Villegas and Pablo David led the officiating of the Holy Mass before the formal launching of the exhibit yesterday morning.

Other personalities who attended the exhibit launching were SM Supermalls president Annie Garcia, Pampanga Parish Pastoral Council coordinator Tess Laus, former Clark Development Corporation president Serge Naguiat, and others.