21 July 2016 - The Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong opened the exhibit entitled “Ma-Art-Eh!” at the PCG Gallery, showcasing the different artworks of OFWs in Hong Kong who participated in the free art workshops hosted also by the Consulate.

The free art workshop sessions, also entitled “Ma-Art-Eh!”, which ran in four installments from January to April 2016, were conducted by members of the Pintura Circle, a group of Hong Kong-based Filipino artists who are passionate about art education and appreciation. The workshops featured fundamentals in acrylic painting, porcelain painting, jewelry-making and design, and oil pastel drawing, providing refreshing opportunities for the participants to learn different art mediums and techniques.  

The workshops and the exhibit are part of the Consulate’s programs and advocacies, in cooperation with the Pintura Circle, in its continued efforts to provide alternative avenues of development for our Kababayans in Hong Kong not only for artistic expression, but also to unlock their potentials and broaden their knowledge and skills.

The Opening Ceremony was led by Deputy Consul General Christian De Jesus. In his remarks, he extended the Consulate’s gratitude to the Pintura Circle for its collaboration with the Consulate on the project and congratulated the participants for coming up with beautiful and inspiring works of art. Pintura Circle’s President, Ms. Grace Camacho, presented the OFW artists and gave the attendees a brief background on their creative process. Thereafter, a representative from the OFW participants, Ms. Jo Anne Pasatiempo, was given a chance to address the attendees. She expressed her gratitude in behalf of the participants for the opportunity to discover and hone their talents and to be able to showcase their artistic creation.

The program was also attended by Assistant Secretary Janet Wong from the Commission on Strategic Development Hong Kong SAR who deeply appreciated the Consulate’s initiatives in the arts for OFWs and the Filipino Community in Hong Kong.

Representatives from the different Filipino Associations also attended the opening of the exhibit to express support for their members who participated in the “Ma-Art-Eh!” workshops.

Members of local media in Hong Kong, such as The SUN HK and The Sunday Examiner, also attended the event.

The next series of “Ma-Art-Eh!” workshops are set to be conducted in the first quarter of 2017 which will also culminate in another exhibit by April 2017. END