“MapagLAROng Likha: Reimagining Philippine Traditional Games Through Art” Exhibition Culminates in Agana

Philippine Consul General to Agana Rosario P. Lemque (6th from the left) with Consul Joaquin Ricardo Aragon (6th from the right), Vice Consul Daniella Bianca Villamin-Oriondo (2nd from left), Post’s Cultural Officer Helen Grace B. Cuisia (leftmost), and featured Filipino-American artists of the exhibit with their Certificates of Appreciation

AGANA 12 March 2025 – Philippine Consul General to Agana Rosario P. Lemque presented Certificates of Appreciation to the Filipino-American artists who participated in the Art Exhibition: “MapagLAROng Likha: Reimagining Philippine Traditional Games Through Art” on 02 March 2025 at the Micronesia Mall, Dededo, Guam.

The simple yet meaningful culminating activity served as the Consulate’s expression of gratitude for the artists’ active participation and artistic contributions to the successful celebration of Philippine National Arts Month in February.

The event was attended by the following artists: Trexie Berondo, Richelle Canto, Anette Catahay, Grace Gueco, Olivia Newman, Lolit Poblete, Maila Pujol, and Marcus Villaverde. Two artists, Viola Roces and Merc Tenorio, were not able to personally receive their certificates as they were off-island.

The art exhibition was held over a span of nine days from 22 February to 02 March 2025. Most visitors of the exhibit were families and students of Filipino descent, who reminisced about their childhood days playing Philippine traditional games by looking at the artworks. The local residents were pleased that they could relate to some of the games, such as sungka (chungka in CHamoru) and piko (hopscotch).

The LARO/PLAY animation series and the Consulate’s PowerPoint presentation on how some of these games were played proved useful to locals and foreign nationals who viewed the exhibit and were interested in learning more about the games.

The exhibition not only highlighted the richness of Filipino culture and heritage but also fostered a deeper connection between the Filipino and local community through the arts. END

(Left photo) Children who visited the exhibit try playing jackstone; (Right photo) Christelle Pecson, second from right, explaining how to play jackstone and sungka to her local classmates

For more information, visit https://www.aganapcg.dfa.gov.ph,  https://www.philippinesguam.org, https://www.facebook.com/PHinAgana/, https://twitter.com/PHinAgana or https://www.instagram.com/phinagana/.