ART AND FASHION. Haute couture and classical art fuse at My City, My SM, My Craft. PHOTO BY BONG LACSON
CLARK FREEPORT – Top Kapampangan artisans and craftsmen were featured at the SM City Clark here over the weekend with the launch of My City, My SM, My Crafts at the mall’s event center.
Bringing the best of the bests in modern Philippine design as well as the One Town, One Product of the province, SM celebrated the Kapampangan artistry and ingenuity as mall goers had the rare glimpse of artistic fusion of crafts from the traditional to modern and indigenous to global.
During the launch, Daniel Culala Flores was given a special citation in recognition for his works. Daniel is the son of the pioneer Kapampangan sculptor Juan Flores who won the grand prize of Richard Nixon’s Sculpture Making Competition in 1972 in Washington D.C. bringing honor not only to Betis and Pampanga but to the whole Philippines.
Highlighting the event was the Craft Market inspired by the traditional Bahay na Bato in Luzon. This beautifully designed showcase was a treasure trove of the best of the bests in the province and was an instant hit among shoppers.
The craft market included furniture from JP Betis, Venson Manufacturing and Lighting, Maze Manufacturing Co., home decors from Chrysara, capiz crafts from Chilonia Fabrica, mechanical art pieces from Dale Mathis and fiber glass home decors from JGKM Home Decors.
A fashion show featuring Efren Ocampo’s world-class fashion bridal gown collection likewise wowed the audience.
My City, My SM, My Crafts is a take-off from the previous “My City, My SM” campaign which promotes tourism and “My City, My SM, My Cuisine” which highlights the culinary specialties in cities where SM malls are located. A celebration of traditional arts and modern Philippine design, it aims to showcase the best of the best Philippine crafts in each host city providing livelihood opportunities as well as platform for cultural exchange.
In attendance during the launching were Angeles City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan and Vice Mayor Vicky Vega-Cabigting, city first lady Herminia Pamintuan, and SM offi cials led by Senior Vice President for Marketing Millie Dizon and SM City Clark mall manager Anna Datu.
My City, My SM, My Crafts is a joint project of SM, Department of Trade and Industry’s Bureau of Domestic Trade and the Philippine Star with support from CITEM and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.
