Pinoy ‘power packs’: Anting-anting and agimat on display

An exhibit of agimat and anting-anting—amulets and talismans used by the inhabitants of these islands way before the arrival of the Spaniards—is currently on display at Yuchengco Museum in Makati City.

Photos: Yuchengco Museum

The exhibit, entitled "Pinoy Power Packs: Agimat, Anting-Anting, and the Stories They Tell," features an array of items that bear Christian imagery alongside animist symbols; are made of wood, metal or ivory; and come in a variety of shapes.

According to the museum in a statement, the exhibit juxtaposes late 19th- to mid-20th-century talismans with colonial-era religious sculpture as well as contemporary art by artists such as Ang Kiukok, BenCab, Santiago Bose, Roberto Villanueva and Leeroy New.

Lending their agimats to the exhibit curated by Floy Quintos are collectors such as Romeo Allanigue, the Bose family, Jaime Laya, Richard and Sandra Lopez, Ramon Lucas, Lisa Ongpin Periquet, and Dennis Villegas.

Talks will also be held at the museum to shed more light on the anting-anting and agimat in Filipino culture and history. — BM, GMA News

The exhibit "Pinoy Power Packs: Agimat, Anting-Anting, and the Stories They Tell" is on view at Yuchengco Museum ((632) 889-1234), RCBC Plaza, Ayala Avenue, Makati until November 7, 2015.

Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  Monday to Saturday. For more information, call (632) 889-1234.