Portrait Artists Society of the Philippines, Inc, Manila Chapter

✨ Another Upcoming Exhibit of PASPI ✨

The Progressive Artists Society of the Philippines, Inc. (PASPI – Manila Chapter) proudly presents its next showcase at the Gateway Art Fair 2025. Entitled “Beyond the Frame”, the exhibition will run from October 2–5, 2025 at Quantum Skyview, Gateway Mall 2, Araneta City, Quezon City.

This exhibit highlights PASPI’s creative spirit through an open theme that embraces diverse genres — landscape, still life, and figure — offering viewers a wide spectrum of artistic expressions. By going “beyond the frame,” the exhibition seeks to expand how art is experienced, encouraging audiences to see beyond traditional boundaries and discover deeper narratives within each work.

Through this showcase, PASPI continues its mission of promoting Filipino artistry, providing a platform for both established and emerging members to share their unique visions with the public.

The Progressive Artists Society of the Philippines (PASPI) makes their first appearance in the upcoming Gateway Art Fair! PASPI is a partner art group of Gateway Gallery and is one of the vibrant art groups to watch out for in the upcoming art fair this October 2 to 5, at Gateway Mall 2, Araneta City!

A recent visit to Patis Tito Café in San Pablo City became a wellspring of inspiration for the upcoming exhibition of PASPI Manila, headed by Romulo Galicano and in collaboration with Patis Tesoro. The charming café, steeped in art, heritage, and Filipino tradition, provided the perfect backdrop for creative minds to converge and envision a show that bridges fashion, culture, and visual art.

The exhibition takes its cue from the fabrics and masterful creations of Patis Tesoro, the Grand Dame of Philippine fashion, whose artistry in designing Filipiniana dresses has long been celebrated as a symbol of national pride. These garments, crafted with care and deep cultural resonance, will serve not only as highlights of the showcase but also as central inspirations for the participating artists.

Through this collaboration, the exhibit aims to capture the beauty, elegance, and timeless quality of the Filipiniana, reinterpreted in various artistic expressions. Each dress becomes more than fabric and form—it transforms into a living canvas of heritage, weaving together tradition and contemporary creativity.

Hinabing Gunita, Ipinintang Diwa
A Textile of Memory, A Portrait of Spirit

Hinabing Gunita, Ipinintang Diwa is a landmark exhibition that brings together the artistry of Patis Tesoro and Romulo “Mulong” Galicano, joined by the artists of PASPI (Progressive Artists Society of the Philippines Inc.), a collective founded and chaired by Galicano and rooted in classical painting and Filipino cultural expression.

This exhibition marks the culmination of a creative dialogue that began long before the artists met in person. In the storied galleries of Mabini, where many now-renowned Filipino painters first showcased their works, Patis Tesoro encountered a painting that moved her profoundly with its soulful presence leaving a lasting impression. The artist was Romulo Galicano. When they were formally introduced in 2006, their connection was grounded for Filipino heritage and a common vision to bring cultural identity to the heart of contemporary art.

Their first collaboration, Postura (2008), held at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila, was a pioneering fusion of portraiture and heritage couture. Galicano’s classical compositions featured Filipinas in Tesoro’s Filipiniana creations which elegantly bridging textile and fine art.

Seventeen years later, Hinabing Gunita, Ipinintang Diwa evolves that vision. No longer simply paintings inspired by couture, this exhibition centers Tesoro’s work as the primary source of inspiration, her handwoven fabrics, bold inlays, and intricate embroidery becoming the very soul of the visual narrative. The PASPI artists, alongside Romulo Galicano, respond with paintings that interpret, elevate, and reimagine Tesoro’s woven expressions through brushwork and symbolism.

Here, fabric is not adornment, it is memory. Paint is not depiction, it is spirit. The exhibition becomes a living dialogue between material and form, tradition and interpretation, and movement.
Hosted by Vebana Gallery, and aligned with the San Pablo Art Circuit (SaPAC 2025) and broader efforts to deepen cultural consciousness, Hinabing Gunita, Ipinintang Diwa serves not only as an artistic showcase but as a vessel of legacy and pride. It invites audiences to witness the rare harmony between the woven and the painted. It is a collective gesture of cultural stewardship, honoring the Filipino soul through threads of memory and strokes of spirit.

PASPI extends its deepest condolences to the family of Ms. Judy Roxas. We will always remember her generosity and kindness in opening the doors of Gateway Gallery to our group and giving us a home. Her legacy of support and compassion will continue to inspire us.

PASPI Sketching session which focuses on gestural drawing given to life by our model-ballet dancer, Chloe.

PASPI sketching session.