Looking Inside MoCAF’s First December Edition
With its first-ever December edition, here are the things you need to watch out for in MoCAF Christmas Edit!
Words Patricia Lanzagarita
Photos courtesy of Janey Hingpit and Martina Reyes
December 06, 2025
Modern and Contemporary Art Festival (MoCAF) unwraps something new this year to complement the yuletide season. For the first time ever since the launch of its flagship fair, MoCAF is stepping into the holiday season with “MoCAF Christmas Edit!”
It is a 12-day celebration curated not just for art collectors, but for the whole public, wandering into the vibrant halls of Opus Mall in Quezon City.
Far from the large scale and spectacle of its signature July festival, the Christmas edition is MoCAF in a different mood—warmer, cozier, and intentionally woven into the everyday rhythm of the season.
As MoCAF Director Coleen Wong puts it, “The public should expect a more intimate and festive MoCAF experience designed specifically for the holiday season.”
Outside the Comfort Zone
Going outside the comfort zone, the MoCAF team’s decision to bring its holiday edition to Opus Mall marks a major shift.
This is the first time the fair is being held inside a mall in Quezon City, a place unusual compared to their usual locations of Makati and BGC, and this choice is purposeful and reasonable.
The lifestyle-oriented atmosphere of the mall creates a space where visitors can discover art while shopping for gifts, meeting friends for dinner, or running last-minute errands. Wong describes it as an art encounter seamlessly integrated into one’s holiday routine.
“The July edition remains our grand, main festival, while the Christmas Edition is more festive, relaxed, and community-centered—a smaller but longer 12-day run that’s open to the public and designed for the holiday season,” Wong said.
Here’s What’s New
Special exhibitions by artists RAKI and brothers Yok and Jek Joaquin will take center stage, bringing bold and youthful energy to the season.
A curated MoCAF Discoveries showcase featuring talents from the program’s earliest batches up to its newest cohort will also be present at the event.
It’s a rare moment where audiences can trace the progression of emerging artists, a point Wong reflects on.
“It’s a meaningful moment for us to see how they’ve grown, both in their artistic practice and the evolution of their work,” she added.
Beyond the exhibitions, workshops hosted by The Matcha Tokyo and terrarium-making sessions by Moss Escape signal MoCAF’s consistent interest in exploring crafts, hobbies, and accessible artistic experiences.
These additions broaden the fair’s usual scope, drawing in families, hobbyists, and casual mallgoers.
A Holiday For All
Wong also acknowledges the collective effort of the whole community who engaged with MoCAF.
“This edition is made possible through the support of Opus Mall and our entire MoCAF community—our partner galleries, artists, collaborators, and friends who continue to believe in what we do,” the director said.
She emphasizes the dedication of the team working behind the scenes, thanking them for making the festival possible.
“This wouldn’t be possible without the MoCAF team who has worked tirelessly behind the scenes to bring our creative vision to life. Their commitment and dedication are at the heart of every experience we create.”
Their shared passion allows MoCAF to grow beyond its annual festival model, opening new formats and engaging audiences in unexpected places.
While the July edition remains MoCAF’s main flagship fair, the Christmas edition was designed as its softer counterpart.
This resulted in an experience that invites you not just to look at art, but to feel it within the glow of the season—an art fair that’s warm, accessible, and sensible.
