Sentro Rizal Milan Hosts Filipina Artist’s Exhibit

MILAN 30 October 2019 — Sentro Rizal Milan hosted “A Woman’s Passionate Journey,” an exhibit by Filipina artist Mercedita “Dittz” Centeno De Jesus from 21 to 25 October 2019 at the Galleria Filippina of the Philippine Consulate General. 

Ms. De Jesus’ oil paintings, poems, and Filipiniana-inspired fashion designs compose the exhibit, the fourth in the Consulate’s Likhang Pilipino Series, a program featuring the works of Filipino artists living in Northern Italy.

In her message during the opening ceremonies, Ms. De Jesus said she came to Italy in 2004 as a dependent of her husband and eventually became an Overseas Filipino Worker when she was hired as a babysitter. She nurtured her passion for painting throughout her architecture studies in the Philippines and honed her skill by practicing and taking short courses in Italian schools.  Her creativity expanded to wearable art, so she took up sewing. Her daughter’s wedding gown is her most lavish work, so far.

Consul Mersole Mellejor, in his capacity as Acting Head of Post, welcomed guests to the opening and congratulated Ms. De Jesus on her work.  He expressed hope that the series will inspire the young generation of Filipinos in Italy even as he encouraged other Filipino artists to collaborate with the Consulate and be featured in the Likhang Pilipino Series.

Ms. De Jesus is the founder of the Filipino Women’s League – Bologna and the Alyansa ng Lahing Bulakenyo, Bologna. She is also a founding member and the current Secretary General of OFW Watch Italy. END

Left photo: Consul Mersole J. Mellejor(left) and Filipina artist Mercedita “Dittz” Centeno De Jesus (right) lead the ribbon cutting ceremony to formally open the exhibit. Right photo: Guests during the exhibit. (Milan PCG photo)

For more information, visit https://www.milanpcg.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinMilan/.