MaARTe 2024 continues tradition of Filipino heritage conservation in its biggest fair yet

For 15 years, MaARTe Fair has established itself as a weekend shopping destination of all things Filipino. Put together by the Museum Foundation of the Philippines (MFPI), the proceeds of the annual fundraising event go to the National Museum of the Philippines and various museum communities across the country.

This year is the biggest MaARTe Fair yet, with over 150 world-class artisans and exhibitors showcasing proudly Filipino-made crafts and products.

According to Michael Liwanag, a member of the board of trustees of the Museum Foundation, this year’s common theme among artisans is their passion for preserving our culture and heritage.

“They infused their own creativity in making those traditions a little bit more contemporary, more relatable, and more available to people like us,” Michael told GMA News Online.

In addition to their passion for Philippine heritage, these artisans exemplify dedication to their craft. 

“A lot of them are second generation," Liwanag said, "That means within their family, either their grandparents or parents are the ones who started, and now they are continuing the family tradition of preserving the heritage.” 

It's doubly interesting, Liwanag said because it's not just the heritage they are preserving. It's also their family tradition. 

To ensure that the MaARTe Fair participants are able to showcase their local crafts and products, MFPI executive director Tanya Pico explained products need to have 80 to 90% Filipino-sourced materials and are manufactured in the Philippines. 

 Among the participants in MaARTe Fair 2024 is Iris Ceneta, founder of the fashion brand Ha•bi.

Hailing from Bicol, Ha•bi has been in the business since 2012, and started using Abaca textile for clothes in the pandemic because "walang mabiling mga materials." 

Ha?•bi features modernized Filipinianas with embroidered designs that bring out childhood nostalgia to Filipinos, such as Perya, Taho, and Sorbetes.

 “Gusto ko ibalik ‘yung simple joys ng childhood memories through my clothes kasi ngayon parang digital na lahat,” she said.

Another Filipino artisan participating in the MaARTe Fair is Pamela Gotangco of PamPinay, a fashion label that features playful illustrations of Filipino culture, heritage, and traits in the pop art genre.

"PamPinay was born during the pandemic because we wanted to create income opportunities for weavers and seamstresses from Abra and other parts of the Philippines,” Pamela said.

The PamPinay founder said it was her first time joining MaARTe Fair, and she found it to be an excellent venue to support up-and-coming and established Filipino artists.

 "They have the network, they have the foundation, and they also support the museum,” she said. “It’s a collaborative effort to push forward Filipino design.”

Other exhibitors to watch out for at the MaARTe Fair include Vara, Kit Silver, Products of Peace, Rurungan Collective, Repamana, and Joey De Castro Pottery, among others.

The MaARTe Fair is at The Peninsula Manila Hotel from August 29 to September 1. The fair will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. with no entrance fee. 

— LA, GMA Integrated News