(SAMAR PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE)
TACLOBAN CITY – The provincial government of Samar has opened the “Ladawan: Samar Artists Club Exhibit” at Balay Samarnon in Catbalogan City, bringing together the works of visual artists from across the province as one of the major cultural highlights of the 2026 Tandaya Festival.
The exhibit, formally launched on Aug. 3 through a ribbon-cutting ceremony organized by the Samar Provincial Library, showcases paintings, sculptures, and handcrafted artworks created by artists from various parts of Samar.
Featured in the exhibition are members of the Catbalogan Artist Club, the Calbayog City Visual Arts Association, and artists from the municipalities of Paranas and Daram, reflecting the province’s diverse and vibrant visual arts community.
Speaking on behalf of Governor Sharee Ann Tan, Provincial Administrator Fe Tan-Arcales said the exhibit celebrates the creativity and cultural identity of the Samarnon people.
“Today, we celebrate more than the opening of an art exhibit; we celebrate the creativity that lives in every Samarnon,” Tan-Arcales said. “Art reminds us of who we are, where we come from, and what we can become.”
She said the provincial government remains committed to supporting initiatives that promote artistic excellence and provide opportunities for local artists to develop their craft.
According to Tan-Arcales, a thriving arts community contributes not only to the preservation of Samar’s cultural heritage but also to education, tourism, and sustainable economic development.
Representing the participating artist groups, Donald Laguipo of the Catbalogan Artist Club and Gonzalo Ostulano of the Calbayog City Visual Arts Association thanked Governor Tan and the provincial government for providing local artists with a platform to showcase their works.
The Ladawan Art Exhibit is open to the public from Aug. 3 to 9 at Balay Samarnon in Catbalogan City, where visitors can view artworks that highlight the creativity, heritage, and artistic traditions of Samar.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
