Tagbilaran, Bohol—The whole gamut of the visual arts—from painting to sculpture, installation and performance—were showcased during the 2018 Philippine Visual Arts Festival (PVAF) hosted by this city.

Presented by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), Bol-anon United Sectors Working for the Advancement of Community Concerns (BUSWACC) and provincial government of Bohol, the arts fair was held as part of the annual Sandugo Festival.

With an abundance of amazing art, perhaps the best part of it all was that artists from across the nation came together to celebrate and inspire others.

According to Liza Macalandag, project coordinator, PVAF Bohol 2018 gathered 83 visual artists from all over the country to celebrate the country’s rich cultural heritage.

Award-winning film music scorer Lutgardo Labad, a Bohol native, tireless cultural organizer and PVAF 2018 consultant, said the affair enabled artists to discuss and reflect on the various facets of Philippine heritage
—cultural, natural, tangible and intangible—which he called “bahandi,” the local term for “treasures.”

“I love events like this where you get to bring your art and see everyone else’s art,” said Bohol artist JumJum Ouano.

His painting was “Maglana Tag Potot? (Making Oil from Coconut Sprout?),” which depicted the “potot” or coconut sprout, a versatile diet for Boholanos.

Manila-based and multidisciplinary Boholano artist Sam Penaso did performance art.

He performed on Alona Beach in Panglao town, using his own body as medium to call for clean seas.

Young people and art lovers said PVAF was an eye-opener.

Education student Jamielaine Butawan, 19, a resident of Cortes town, came to see the exhibit at the Island City Mall together with friends, Kathleen Jean Ayuban and Neil Amplayo.

“The art (works) here said a lot about the artists from Bohol and other regions and how diverse (they are),” she said.

Art installations were displayed at Chocolate Hills in Carmen town, Loboc River, Abatan River and Plaza Rizal in Tagbilaran.

A giant whale-shaped blimp made of bamboo designed by contemporary artist-designer Leeroy Newman flew above Chocolate Hills.