SM City Cabanatuan is hosting “Kwento ng Lapis,” an exhibition by Filipina artist Anabel Pangalangan that turns pencil strokes into stories while supporting livelihood opportunities for single mothers.

Running from 24 to 29 August at the mall’s fourth-level Roof Park, the exhibit showcases Pangalangan’s use of lines, shading and texture to capture emotions, memories and experiences.

For the Europe-based artist, the pencil is more than a basic drawing tool. Her works explore how light, shadow, texture and detail can convey depth and emotion.

Living abroad has also shaped Pangalangan’s perspective on Filipino identity and culture, allowing her to reflect on memories of home from a distance.

“Kwento ng Lapis” explores art’s ability to preserve memories and connect people across geographical and cultural divides, with each drawing serving as a visual record of a moment, emotion or experience.

The exhibition also carries a social advocacy.

Pangalangan plans to use proceeds from a continuing series of exhibitions in the Philippines and abroad to help provide livelihood opportunities for single mothers.

Through the initiative, she hopes the stories created by her pencil can lead to new stories of opportunity and empowerment for mothers and their families.

“Kwento ng Lapis” also seeks to inspire emerging artists in Nueva Ecija to discover how even the simplest medium can become a powerful tool for storytelling.