The Baan Dam Museum, more commonly known to foreign visitors as the Black House Museum, is the life’s work of Thawan Duchanee, a native of Chiang Rai celebrated as a painter, architect, and sculptor. His vision for Baan Dam was not to create a conventional museum, but to build an immersive environment where architecture itself becomes art.
Category: Arts
Disenyo Pandi
Disenyo Pandi is known today as a reliable destination for barongs, gowns, and formal wear in Pandi, Bulacan, operating under the Bagong Barrio Multi-Purpose Cooperative (BBMPC). Since its establishment in 2002, the cooperative has focused on improving the quality of life of its members by supporting local designers and providing access to quality, affordable materials. In January 2025, Disenyo Pandi marked its 7th anniversary as a Wedding Depot, reflecting its steady growth and continued relevance in the local fashion industry.
Bert Monterona’s “All Out Peace Not War” Art Exhibit
During my visit to Zamboanga City, I was fortunate to experience “All Out Peace Not War: Kalinaw Hindi Digmaan,” a powerful traveling exhibition of large-scale paintings by Norberto “Bert” Monterona, currently on display at the National Museum Western-Southern Mindanao inside the historic Fort Pilar. The centuries-old fortress, once a sentinel of colonial history, now serves as a symbolic space for reflection and renewal — a fitting venue for Monterona’s stirring call for peace, justice, and cultural preservation
Vicente Manansala’s “Inang Bayan”
Painted in 1975 by National Artist Vicente Manansala, Inang Bayan is a monumental mural that blurs the lines between art, politics, and propaganda. Installed at the Philippine Heart Center—a premier hospital that was one of many legacy projects of then-First Lady Imelda Marcos—the painting was officially declared an Important Cultural Property by the National Museum of the Philippines on February 28, 2011. At the heart of the mural is a symbolic portrayal of Marcos herself, at the height of her influence during the Marcos dictatorship.
Flashnote: Modern Filipiniana by Peñaflorida Atelier
To commemorate both the Founding Anniversary of the Province of Rizal and the Philippine Independence Day, SM City Masinag is showcasing 3 modern Filipiniana attire created by Peñaflorida Atelier, a designer from Rizal.
Starry Starry Night: Van Gogh Alive in Manila
An Australian company, Grande Exhibitions, has paid a tribute to the painter Vincent van Gogh by creating Van Gogh Alive, a multi-sensory exhibit on his life and works. The exhibit ran in Manila from October 26 to December 8 at One Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. The exhibit wants us to interpret the thoughts, feelings and mental state of van Gogh during his time in his homeland Netherlands, Paris, Arles, Saint Rémy and Auvers-sur-Oise, the locations where he created many of his timeless masterpieces.
Egyptian Revival Exhibit at the San Francisco Airport
The Egyptian Revival exhibit showcases a wide range of objects spanning a century, all inspired by Egypt. From mantel clocks of the 19th century to elaborate Victorian table stands and Art Deco beaded purses, the collection includes a diverse array of items. Visitors can also admire jewelry, sculptures, and silver pieces among the numerous other artifacts on display, all influenced by the ancient Egyptian aesthetic.
Amoj In Wanderland 