ARTS / CULTURE

Young Cebu artists hone their talents through creative workshops

DT · Nov 16, 2026, 3:02 AM

THROUGH hands-on sessions in rubbercut printing, self-portrait printmaking, carving, image transfer, and exhibition preparation, participants transformed ideas into artworks.

Young learners in Toledo City, Cebu, explored their hometown’s cultural identity through a two-week series of workshops that brought together visual arts, performance, and inclusive creative practices.

A joint initiative of De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde in Manila and De La Salle Andres Soriano Memorial College (DLSASMC), the program provided students with opportunities to discover, develop, and showcase their artistic talents while creating works rooted in local culture.

The initiative marked the beginning of a sustained partnership in arts education, cultural development, and community engagement. The collaboration was formalized through the ceremonial signing of a memorandum of agreement led by Benilde School of Arts, Culture, and Performance dean Magda de Leon; School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies dean Dr. Marian Patricia Bea Francisco; and DLSASMC president and chancellor Ma. Donitha Hernando.

FOR its inaugural project, industry experts and faculty-mentors from Benilde flew to Cebu to conduct a two-week workshop to facilitate the co-creation of artworks and performances.

Faculty mentors and industry practitioners traveled to Cebu to lead the inaugural workshops, which covered a broad range of artistic disciplines. Mars Bugaoan taught printmaking, Jaydee Jasa handled production design, Richardson Yadao introduced creative movement and dance fundamentals, and Ryan Flores explored music and rhythm as tools for community building.

Lara Acuin and Vivien Basmayor conducted sessions on project management and production leadership, while Tuxqs Rutaquio taught directing. Opaline Santos guided participants through acting, ensemble work, and improvisation, with Wenah Nagales serving as assistant director and acting coach.

To make the creative process more accessible, Myra Medrana, Agnes Canayon and Danica Mojica led sessions on Filipino Sign Language (FSL) and visual gestural communication, introducing participants to approaches that support inclusive arts practice.

Alongside artistic training, the workshops developed the students’ leadership, organizational, and technical skills, preparing them to undertake future school and community productions and other creative projects.

The program culminated in “Sidlak,” a showcase that brought the participants’ newly acquired skills to the stage. Its final number combined original music, rhythm demonstrations using sustainable materials, expressive choreography, and performances incorporating FSL. Together, these elements explored identity through experiences of hardship, love, labor and hope.