AUTHENTICATION
12 May 2016 – Philippine Consulate General to Chicago Generoso D.G. Calonge attended the opening reception of an exhibit entitled, “Nandito Na Ako: I’m Here, Now” on April 29 at the LeRoy Neiman Center Gallery of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC).
“Nandito Na Ako: I’m Here, Now” is a collaborative exhibition of the Filipino-American artists whose primary goal is to facilitate a conversation surrounding the Filipino-American identity. The artists, namely: Loren Ibach, Vi Viray Bautista, Tristan Espinoza, Craig Stamatelaky, Kyrstin Rodriguez, Tewosret Vaughn, Cheryl Acuña, Jerico Doming, and Anna Liza Evangelista dissected the complexities inherent to them as Filipinos through the use of iconography, relationships to personal memory, and exploration of Filipino history and tradition to pay homage to the Philippines.
A musical rendition of the popular Tagalog folk song, “Bahay Kubo” by Hajime Mariano started the program followed by a cultural performance of the traditional folk dances Tinikling, Sayaw sa Bangko, Subli and Pasikat by the Kapamilya Habang Buhay. The finale of the reception was the “kamayan” style performance of a durational and communal boodle fest that embodies Philippine tradition.
The school administration thanked the Consulate General for honoring their invitation. Consul General Calonge was accompanied by Cultural Officer Anna Liza F. Alcantara.
The exhibit will be open to the public until May 19. END
OFFICE OF CONSULAR AFFAIRS 
