The formidable team called Friends Inc. – composed of Marilen N. Espiritu, Carmita Francisco, Denise Mañosa, Maymay Leichtenstein and Christine Marco – and the Ayala Alabang Village Association group proved that esprit de corps was invaluable when mounting such an event.
In one hundred days, Makiling Park was spruced up, sponsors had given their support, artists and craftsmen were enlisted to join the festival, and a village setting was built. We befriended so many wonderful people who made our work enjoyable. For instance, Ino Manalo and Medy Singh took us on a trip around Laguna de Bay.
It was on April 1 when we met the exhibitors at Makiling Park. With its rolling terrain and beautiful old trees, which would later be adorned for the festival, artists and artisans from Laguna, Batangas, Cavite and Rizal came. We learned that some of the artists before being involved in their craft had such different backgrounds. Pablo Luis Capati III has a business administration degree from the University of Southern California and he is now a full-time potter. Alie Calub has a master’s in business from AIM and is now propagating the art of crochet.
It slipped our minds that people who came from quite a long distance would be hungry and thirsty. Ica Sebastian, whom we met earlier, thankfully brought enough food and drinks for everybody.
We met Nemi Miranda and his wife Baby, who suggested that bringing the Angono higantes would add flavor to the event; the Intercare people were going to build an office/clinic and would give free consultations; Eunice Blanco was excited about being able to teach people the art of rubber; and Bohn Schuck was going to show his natural rock and granite works.
The Sinkulay group of artists and the Camera Club of Alabang, Repertory Phils. were also represented. Nanette Madero, who is into scrapbooking, showed us the plans for her booth. The Romblon walis makers couldn’t make it to the meeting but Mayor Diding Madrona of San Agustin, Romblon, sent word that they would surely be there for the festival, while the Baguio people promised to be there early the next day.
On April 2, the Muntinglupa Brass Band went around the village to entice residents to join the festivities. The breaking of palayok formally opened the event and all through the two days a festive mood permeated. There was so much to see and learn from the participants.
At the end of the festival, the Sinkulay group placed a huge canvas at the center of the park and everyone was invited to paint on it. It was truly a memorable sight.
After the certificates for the most creative booths were given out, the Muntinglupa Dance Troupe performed modern translations of Filipino folk dance – and that included the papier-mache higantes of Angono dancing on stage to everyone’s delight.
The event closed on Sunday evening with everybody’s spirits high and hoping that another one would be in the works.
Many thanks to Rachy Cuna, Bencab, Jon and Tessy Pettyjohn, Oding Reyes, Fr. Grato, Mons Joaquin, Bettina Pou, Roland Pineda and to our sponsors San Miguel Inc., Smart, ABS-CBN Publishing and the staff of Ayala Alabang Village Association.