In celebration of the feast of its second Patron, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, St. Alphonsus Mary de Liguori parish will launch its first Marian exhibit of artworks by Magallanes community artists and friends on July 15 at 7 p.m. with a cocktail opening and program at the St. Aphonsus Mary de Liguori Church in Barangay Magallanes, Makati City.
The exhibit, which is being spearheaded by the Legion of Mary, is also part of a year-long schedule of special events to commemorate the parish’s golden anniversary. Proceeds of the sale of artworks shall be donated to the renovation of the church’s Stations of the Cross garden.
The artists to be featured are Tony Alcasid, Suzette Abundo, Mari Antonino, Iris Babao-Uy, Reb Belleza, Mel Cabriana, Thomas Daquioag, Clarisse Demata, Coroy Diaz, Cisa Gregorio, Rosanne Hugo, Sep Labora, Melissa Lara, Nieves Lim Ledesma, Linda Marty, Gracie Mendoza, Grace Parreñas, Marilyn Rebolledo, Liza de los Reyes, Cathy Romero Salas, Popo San Pascual, Marti Trinidad, Aina Zulueta-Valencia, Catherine del Valle, Minda Ventanilla and Tina Villarama.
The idea for the exhibit was conceived when a group of Legion of Mary ladies took a day trip to Taal, Batangas, to view the Marian works of Magallanes resident artist Tony Alcasid, who had held a show together with his artist-friend Popo San Pascual at his family’s ancestral home, Casa Conchita, in time for the Taal town fiesta on December 8, 2016. The ladies were so enthralled by this exhibit that they broached the idea of bringing it to the parish. Alcasid then suggested that other artists from the community and parish be invited to exhibit their works as well.
Coincidentally or even providentially, St. Alphonsus Mary de Liguori, the parish’s premier patron, was a devout devotee of the Blessed Mother and his numerous quotations about her shall be incorporated into the exhibit design and layout.
The artworks will be transferred to the second floor of the parish center on July 18 and may be viewed there until July 30 with the following schedule: Weekdays (except Mondays) 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays 7 a.m. to 9 a.m./ 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Sundays 8 a.m. to 1 p.m./5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
It is hoped that the exhibit will help promote a more vibrant and active participation of parishioners, an aim of parish priest Monsignor Claro Matt Garcia in keeping with the Year of the Parish, in parish life as well inspire a more ardent devotion to the Blessed Mother—a most pressing concern in these troubled and uncertain times.