Antipolo’s Community-Run Travelling Art Fair is Back on Its 6th Edition!

Words and Photos Antipolo City Tourism
May 23, 2024

As part of National Heritage Month, Ed’s Farm and Learning Center, together with the City Government of Antipolo, local creatives, advocates, and artist collectives, invites everyone to Pistahan sa Mayo ng Ed’s Farm Antipolo by Sining Antipolo, on May 25 to 26, 2024, starting from 10AM each day. The end of each day sees Ed’s Farm open to campers after an evening of music and performances. Showcasing select artists, makers, and craft workers, Pistahan sa Mayo aims to continue Antipolo’s current trajectory as a regional art center, following the success of previous iterations of the city’s travelling art fair, such as its 6th edition held at the adjacent Flor’s Garden and last March 10.

A patron working to support artists can generate a ripple effect. After Atty. Eds saw his wife Flor’s nearby garden hosting an iteration of Sining Antipolo, something took hold of him. Working with the barrister after working with Flor’s Garden Resort, the same team of artists and community organizers saw the same inspiration but magnified more: For one, Atty. Eds needed to only clean his farm, a filming location for big TV studios and film productions, but he hired workers to do a complete renovation of both structures and landscape.

Featured advocacies in Pistahan sa Mayo range from inmate reintegration into society to agricultural promotion, and these include Amihan Abueva’s Sewing Hope NGO, whose proceeds fund the upholding of child protection and children’s rights; bags made by inmates Antipolo City Jail Female Dormitory inmates through their livelihood programs; art and handicrafts from the Autism Society Philippines – Antipolo and also from Tahanan Sta. Luisa (TSL)’s rescued girls; and of course, agricultural initiatives by host Ed’s Farm and Learning Center.

Visitors to the farm will find inspiration from the varied works and crafts on display by artists and collectives such as the decades strong Antipolo Thursday Group featuring artists like Lanelle Abueva, Antipas Delotavo, Inday Cadapan (including previously unreleased projects, such as dolls as well as a daily wearable clothing line), Jeanne Tan, Tet Aligaen, Pol Mesina and more; their “descendant group” mentored by Pol Mesina and Fernando Sena: ARTipolo; quirky merch by art couple Creative Apes & Twisted Hearts; objets d’ art and furnishings by Tet & Maggie; and artworks by individuals such as movie actor Jao Mapa, hobbyist orthopedic doctor Kei Regalado, Carl Regalado, Dodie Inlayo, Leslie Castaneda & son Alphon, the thread-infused art by Habi ni Ake. And works of Dr. Amelia Lazaro Davies head of Derma UP PGH who won awards in painting contests.

Collectors might strike gold through PIKA JPN’s curated vintage toys, helmed by a former banker and aficionado.

Foodies will find their taste buds tickled through participating concessionaires like Santiago’s Brewery & Malthouse, Antipolo’s own homegrown craft beer maker; homegrown roastery Kaulayaw Coffee who interprets beans from all over the country, roasting specifically for slow-brew methods; savory roasted lechon by Oink, a brainchild of Pastor Charlie Evangelista; and lovingly prepared by Antipolo local hobbyist; seasonal artists as time demands, and batches of culinary herbs from TSL.

Situated in Sitio Tanza II, Antipolo, Ed’s Farm and Learning Center is a TESDA-accredited educational institution which advocates for agriculture education. Hundreds of agri-business alumni have since emerged from this truly green space, also helping Sitio Tanza’s communities in the process.

This thrust is especially relevant as more and more Filipinos these days recognize the importance of this once-overlooked sector vis-a vis urgent issues like climate change and the resultant economic shocks.

In a field like art where individuality, aesthetic, and style are capital, it is refreshing to see artists, collectives, and patrons work together generously, free of the usual trappings of competition, all inspired by a community and environment that brings out the best and truly human in each. Sining Antipolo. Since its first show has witnessed moments of light, camaraderie, volunteerism from one, material support from another, and community spirit, where one’s light doesn’t diminish that of others.

Since debuting in early 2023, Sining Antipolo, or “Antipolo’s travelling art show,” as affectionately called by its members, is part of a series that started with Sining Taktak, continuing in other locales around Rizal Province’s capitol in verdant hills overlooking the Metro.

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