A Toronto art exhibition presented by the Philippine Artists Group of Canada (PAG) will bring together Filipino artists from across Ontario from June 16 to July 3 at the Neilson Park Creative Centre.
Founded in 1998, the Philippine Artists Group of Canada has spent more than two decades promoting Filipino art through exhibitions, workshops, and community programming.
With the theme Buhay Sining (Life in Art), the exhibit features more than 20 artists working in a variety of mediums and coincides with celebrations marking the 128th anniversary of Philippine Independence.
The opening reception will take place on Saturday, June 20, 2026 at 1 p.m. at the Neilson Park Creative Centre, located at 56 Neilson Dr., Toronto, Ont.
Participating artists this year include Rolly Abarilla, Antonio Afable, Teody Asuncion, Joyce Bondoc, Frank Cruzet, Earl Dacara, Sabrina De Leon, Jhun Ciolo Diamante, Alex Gonzales, Gene Lopos, Romi MananQuil, Omel Masalunga, Mogi Mogado, Rose Nagallo, Calixto Quiachon, Frank Tonido, with guest artists Rocille Lampitoc and Adryan Manasan.
Guest Artist Adryan Manasan
Guest artist Adryan Manasan at his home and studio in Prince Edward County. Photos by Yona M. Harvey
For guest artist Adryan Manasan, events such as Buhay Sining are important because they create opportunities for Filipino artists to showcase their work and connect with wider audiences.
“It’s very important. It would be great to have a facility where members of the Philippine Artists Group could exhibit their work year-round,” he said.
He pointed to artist cooperatives such as the one he belongs to in Prince Edward County as a possible model for Filipino artists.
“If we can get something similar to that, it’ll be great (especially) if we can get government assistance,” he said.
Manasan said Filipino artists often succeed individually but lack dedicated spaces where their work can be showcased.
“Filipinos are one of the most underrated people in the world,” he said. “Our food is great, our culture is great, but we need to get out there more.”
Manasan’s own contribution to the exhibition reflects the importance of community.
After moving to Prince Edward County, he began creating handcrafted wood and epoxy-resin pieces inspired by gatherings with family and friends around his dining table.
“The table becomes an important part of the community,” Manasan said.
“It was more on welcoming the celebratory feelings, both for the tables, the charcuterie boards, and everything.”
Manasan’s artistic journey has taken him through the Philippines, New York, and Canada.
Along the way, he worked in advertising, publishing, television, marketing, and design while continuing to develop his artistic practice.
He said exposure to different artistic traditions helped shape his perspective.
“What it gave me is a better comprehension or understanding of art in general,” Manasan said.
Today, his work spans painting, woodworking, and resin art.
PAG President Teody Asuncion
Among the artists featured in the exhibition is PAG president Teody Asuncion, whose artwork explores themes of Filipino identity, migration, and community through geometric abstraction.
Asuncion said his piece draws inspiration from bayanihan, a Filipino value emphasizing cooperation and collective support.
“This geometric composition reflects the spirit of Filipino culture through balance, connection, and resilience,” Asuncion said.
The work incorporates circles, lines, and structured forms that symbolize relationships between Filipino families and communities.
“The interaction of circles, lines, and structured forms symbolizes the interconnectedness of Filipino families and communities, rooted in the value of bayanihan,” he said.
Asuncion said the artwork also reflects the experiences of Filipinos who have built lives outside the Philippines while remaining connected to their heritage.
“The work also speaks to movement and adaptation, reflecting the journey of Filipinos across generations and across the world,” he said.
The piece incorporates red, blue, and yellow tones inspired by the Philippine flag and aims to connect traditional cultural values with contemporary artistic expression.
“Through abstraction, the piece transforms cultural memory and shared experience into a contemporary visual language — vibrant, evolving, and deeply connected to its roots,” Asuncion said.
The exhibition will remain open to the public from June 16 until July 3, with opening hours Mondays through Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., and Fridays to Sundays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Luis Miguel De Castro is a Changing Narratives Fund-Local Journalism Initiative reporter at Mabuhay Canada and a journalism graduate at Humber Polytechnic in Toronto. Originally from the Philippines, he is passionate about community storytelling, multimedia journalism, and amplifying Filipino voices through meaningful local coverage.
