18 March 2014 - The Philippine Embassy in Rome celebrated International Women’s Day by supporting aspiring Filipina photographer Sheryl dela Cuesta as she was featured with other young women artists in La Mente Artistica— Giovani Donne Artiste a Confronto (The Artistic Mind— Young Women Artists in Comparison).

The exposition held from March 06 to 08 at the Teatro Dei Dioscuri al Quirinale was organized by L’Associazione Cuturale ArtisticaMente, a non-profit, non-political association which aims to promote culture through all the arts.  The event was widely supported by diplomatic representations in Rome, including the Philippine Embassy.

Ms. dela Cuesta’s entry into the exhibit, entitled “Karen:  Essence of a Woman,” captures in picture a woman in the later stage of pregnancy.  She wanted to depict the immeasurable feeling of happiness of a woman in being instrumental to the miracle of life.  “Karen” is a portrait in silhouette of a woman, who holds her pregnant belly instinctively to make her baby feel secure, protected, cared for and most of all, loved.

Nicknamed “Bushe” to her family and friends, Ms. dela Cuesta first arrived in Italy in 1991 at age 16 through family reunification as both her parents are working in Rome. Like other second generation Filipinos in Italy who have initially encountered difficulty in integrating to Italian society, Bushe was able to adjust through photography, allowing herself to be immersed in the beauty and culture of Italy. END