By Cyrus A. Natividad

A ‘Kiddie Face Painting’ activity was one of the interesting events at the Robinsons Place Jaro, during the Dinagyang Festival 2023. It was Robinsons Place’s First Dinagyang Festival Art activity.

The participants included young adults, senior citizens even persons with disability (PWD). A special invitation from Robinsons Management was received by CPU members of the Centralian Visual Artists Association (CenVAS) considering their important contribution to painting and training of young people in Iloilo City.

Centralian Visual Art instructor and organizer Efraim Alfaras could not have put it more succinctly when he said, “Let’s face it”. “It’s time we look into the outcomes of our former trainees who are joining in this event”, he said. The Cenvas had several times organized painting exhibits and trained young people in the art, in cooperation with Robinsons Jaro and with some of their branches in Iloilo City.

The Dinagyang art activity was held for free on January 20 and 21, 2023 at Robinsons Place Jaro (Level 1). Prof. Crista S. Huyong, CPU Cultural Affairs Office Director said, “This is a prelude to our Summer Art Workshop in the Art Month of February 2023.”

According to Alfaras, “A Cenvas membership will be open to Centralian visual artists, provided that he or she is a bonafide student, employee or one of the CPU alumni.” CenVAS is one of the organizations under the Cultural Affairs Office of Central Philippine University.