The Art Lounge in SM Center Las Piñas showcases the local artists of the community by providing a space for artistic expression.

PASAY CITY, Philippines, Nov. 24, 2023⎯A community full of art is a community rich in culture.

The SM Group, through SM Center Las Piñas, supports the local art scene in their community by opening a permanent space for Las Piñero artists called the Art Lounge to showcase their masterpieces to the public.

“We saw an opportunity to help and provide a home to our local artists,” said Mr. Edward Clyde Manuel, SM Center Las Piñas’ Mall Manager. “With an abundance of creativity in our community, we are delighted to help create an environment for artists to thrive.”

Many of these artists came together as part of the United Artists of Las Piñas (UALP), established in the late ‘90s by its founder and project director, Mr. Ferdie Santiago.

It was around 2004 when the group had its first art exhibit in the famous Las Piñas Bamboo Organ Church. Mr. Santiago recalled how it was just a few of his fellow artists with a handful of easels and paintings set up at the time.

“Since then, up until 2019, we’ve held art exhibits in many other venues,” said Mr. Santiago. “Finally, after two decades, we found our home in SM Center Las Piñas and haven’t looked anywhere else to hold our exhibits.”

Over the years, UALP has conducted art exhibits and workshops and helped over 400 local artists in various venues since its inception. UALP artists made their homecoming when it partnered with SM Center Las Piñas to launch the Art Lounge inside the mall in 2021.

Inspiring creative expression of the community

The thriving art scene is rooted in the city’s history. Besides housing the Las Piñas Bamboo Organ, declared as a Philippine National Treasure in 2003 by the National Museum, it is also the birthplace of the iconic jeepney design—created by Leonardo Sarao, the founder of Sarao Motors.

Artists from the community ensure the rich tradition will prosper in the next generation by holding the Kiddie Art Workshops for free. SM Center Las Piñas, in partnership with UALP, recently hosted the event this year by showcasing the young artists’ work inside the malls.

For the remainder of the year, the vibrant art space in SM Center Las Piñas is gearing up for the upcoming festive season with the exhibit “Christmas in Our Arts.”

As a group, this is not the first time SM has helped boost a community’s local artists.

In 2018, SM Center Angono in Rizal launched the Angono Art Walk to serve as a hub of artistic expression that empowers artists to showcase their talents in a venue for free and easily accessible to the public.

The roots of artistry run deep in the Province of Rizal, especially in Angono, often called the ‘Art Capital of the Philippines.’ For one, both Lucio San Pedro, the renowned composer of the Filipino lullaby ‘Sa Ugoy ng Duyan’ among others, and Carlos ‘Botong’ Francisco, one of the founders of the modernist movement here in the Philippines, are sons of Angono.

SM has continuously promoted local art communities across different SM mall branches. The Art in the Sky, located at SM City Clark’s Sky Line, features the works of several Kapampangan artists.

SM City Baguio has also strengthened its partnership with the local artist community by housing murals that give visitors a walk through the art of Cordilleran weaving and portrayals of local cultural advocates.

A catalyst for cultural enrichment

SM Center Las Piñas remains eager to serve the community by expressing art in various forms in the mall.

One of the city’s artists, Ramon Ello, also known as Maestro Rael is Las Piñas’ very-own master magician.

They also showed support for the local magic scene when they hosted the All-Star Stage Magic Competition in their mall earlier this year.

“The majority of the contestants are from the community,” said Mr. Clyde. “But since it was a competition, we also had magicians from neighboring cities and provinces.”

In the coming year, SM Center Las Piñas is looking to introduce the Art Wall. A luminous door-like panel will be the newest art installment in the mall, adding to the vibrancy of the mall’s cultural offerings for

customers.