The 2022 National Women’s Month Celebration (NWMC) endeavors to highlight the gains achieved for women and girls, assess actions towards gender equality and look forward to steps that must be taken to ensure progress in empowering women. With the country still reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic, studies and data show that the health crisis stalled movements towards gender equality, worsening inequalities, further exposing gender gaps, and exacerbating vulnerabilities in social and political, and economic aspects.
Shangri-La Plaza is showcasing art and design that capture her unique vision, creativity, and aspirations.
Shop for Filipina-made creations. Shang kicks off the celebration by gathering the country’s female talents in fashion and design for the Bonjour Manille! bazaar until March 6 at the Grand Atrium. Drop by and find handcrafted designs made by women for women like modern indigenous weaves created from Ifugao textile by Sky Weavers. The cultural enterprise is making its breezy Limited Edition 2022 Summer Collection, functional summer ponchos, colorful blouses and skirts, and masks available for mall guests at the pop-up.
Fashion designer Ana Casas and her iconic contemporary terno boleros that combine drama and convenience in a single statement piece are also on display at the bazaar. For versatile wardrobe options that can be dressed up or down, check out the Studio Regina Aquino booth that offers everyday wear like the vest-and-shorts The Granny Set or the effortlessly stylish The Martini dress in fun summer-ready colors like kiwi and raspberry.
Liven up any look with transformable jewelry that adapts to one’s life like the Jeweled Araw Brooch Pin, Turquoise and Feather Asymmetric Earrings, or Bamboo with Leaves and Pearls Drop Earrings from Alchemista. Independent fashion, accessory, and textile designer Twinkle Ferraren is also showcasing her one-of-a-kind pieces like the spiky, sparkly, and handwoven earrings or the attention-grabbing Art Weave Remix Top both from her PRISM Collection.
Spend game day with the girl squad. Take a break by catching up with loved ones or friends over a board game at hobby store AlterEgo at the East Wing during All Aboard on March 5. Roll up those sleeves and spend an afternoon playing Quoridor that tests one’s intuitive strategy, Avalon that involves deduction and reasoning, or Stick Stack which is a fun game of tactics.
See the world Through Her Eyes. Art Circle Gallery’s Through Her Eyes features seven inspiring women artists who are exhibiting their works on March 7-13 at the Grand Atrium. This all-female exhibit showcases images and narratives that exemplify the inspiring identity and character of the contemporary, empowered woman.
Watch out for works by visual artists Tish Alcantara who creates elegantly illustrated women that combine art nouveau and shin-hanga art, Jovan Benito who’s known for her brightly colored hues and cartoonish figures with wide and rounded eyes that present Filipino culture, and Caroline Cainto who has a flair in turning abstracting landscapes and objects of nature into something lyrical and expressive.
Joining them are fellow visual artists Mylene Quito who creates striking, vibrant, and often whimsical paintings and Mercedes Paez-Layog who is among the pioneers of the acrylic pouring technique in the country. Rounding out the exhibit are artists who create not only paintings but also unique sculptures: Ella Hipolito who expresses herself by breathing new life into real coffee beans and Valen Valero who transforms vintage electric meters into sculptures that fire up the minds and hearts of the viewers.
Catch more enthralling, inspiring art. Home of the young, emerging and mid-career contemporary artists, The Artologist, presents Commune on March 21-27 at the Grand Atrium. This two-person exhibition features Julmard Vicente and Eric Madrigal Masangkay. Vicente is known for his emotive photorealistic portraits of human figures wrapped in plastic sheets or dipped in water, while Masangkay is associated with his dreamy mixed media sculptures depicting women and showcasing the wonders of human kinetics.
Uplifting women artists and designers today paves the way for a new generation of female creatives. Because when women create, they bring ripples of positive changes and deliver hope and light to where they’re needed most. This Women’s Month, celebrate her creativity and success, strength and aspirations at Shang.
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