LGFI president and executive director Cedie Lopez-Vargas delivers her message during the opening of the exhibit
Lopez-Vargas (4th from right) with (l-r) Dr. Clement Camposano, UP Visayas chancellor; Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas; former Sen. Franklin Drilon; and LGFI trustee Narzalina Lim during the ribbon-cutting ceremony
A shared commitment to culture, partnership and public access marked the opening of “Sown by the Traveler: Women and Migrants in Philippine Art (Ginab-og sang Pangayaw: Kababayenhan kag mga Migrante sa Pilipinhon nga Taliambong)” at the University of the Philippines (UP) Visayas Museum of Art and Cultural Heritage on Jan. 23, 2026.
The exhibition is the second installation of the collaboration of Lopez Group Foundation Inc. (LGFI), UP Visayas and the Iloilo City government, bringing selected works from the Lopez Museum and Library (LML) to Iloilo. It reflects a shared effort to make Philippine art and heritage more accessible to the public, particularly to Ilonggo communities.
The opening program was led by Martin Genodepa, director of the UP Visayas Office of the Initiatives in Culture and the Arts. It featured a video message from Sen. Loren Legarda, who underscored the role of culture in shaping national identity, and a video presentation of curator Patrick Flores, who shared the curatorial vision behind the exhibition. Also present were former Sen. Franklin Drilon, Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas, and UP Visayas chancellor Dr. Clement Camposano, whose participation highlighted the strongpartnership among cultural institutions, local government and the academic community.
Curated by Flores, the exhibition features works by Anita Magsaysay-Ho, Nena Saguil, Alfonso Ossorio, Juvenal Sansó, Macario Vitalis and Fernando Zóbel. This marks the second time LML has loaned artworks locally, following its successful exhibition in Iloilo last year.
“Sown by the Traveler: Women and Migrants in Philippine Art” explores the stories of women and migrants, Filipinos shaped by movement across provinces and borders, whose experiences remain vital to the country’s shared history. In her message, LGFI president and executive director Mercedes “Cedie” Lopez-Vargas said the exhibition is “not just a cultural event, but also a commemoration and an expression of the Lopez family’s enduring spirit of giving back to the community that shaped its history.”
She added that by bringing LML’s collections to Iloilo, the family affirms its belief that heritage is a shared legacy that must be returned to the people and places from which it emerged. Extending access to art, history and memory beyond Manila, she noted, honors Iloilo as an important part of the Lopez family’s roots and reflects a continuing commitment to public service, lifelong learning and responsible stewardship.
The opening of “Sown by the Traveler: Women and Migrants in Philippine Art” coincided with the Dinagyang Festival, one of the country’s most vibrant cultural celebrations honoring the Santo Niño. The convergence of the exhibitionand the festival underscored Iloilo’s rich cultural life and the role of partnerships in keeping heritage alive and accessible. “Sown by the Traveler: Women and Migrants in Philippine Art” at the UP Visayas Museum of Art and Cultural Heritage runs until June 6, 2026.
Story By Hajj De Jesus
