In a microcosm such as Dumaguete, untapped potential exists. Over the years, its local artists have come together through various efforts to showcase homegrown talents.
What is it that makes a work “Dumaguete Art?” To paraphrase eminent art historian and critic Patrick D. Flores in his contextualization of Marina Cruz’s paintings as Philippine Art — the fact that they were made in (the country itself/Dumaguete) lends to the description, the direct connection. Hence with a roster of artists coming from varied backgrounds, we are presented with an experiment on homegrown creativity: Bukhad.
So we have, as paired: Alta Jia and JR Dalisay, Rey Labarento and Dan Dvran, Deadlocks and George Pette M. Aranas, Gerabelle Rae and Jo Camille, Hemrod Duran and Rovan Caballes, Jana Jumalon and Mikoo Cataylo, Totem Saa and Jomir Tabudlong, Phil Gad Sabuga and Viviana Riccelli, and lastly, Dyn Quilnet and Jude Millares. The selection was random, although some appear to be fortuitous pairings. These artists have known each other and have worked together for many years. Collaborating can come as second nature, or as a welcome upheaval.
There are three key concepts that recur in each of the pairing’s outputs: Personal Histories, Creative Collaboration, and Process.
Jia and JR, Rey and Dan, Hemrod and Rovan, and Jude and Dyn tackle introspective themes, touching upon their lived experiences. We have the everyday in the video by Dalisay which features the unremarkable as singled out by Alta Jia. Labarento and Dvran look to their immediate surroundings in Siaton and Valencia, while Quilnet and Millares tap into their interests and initially opposing personalities. Duran and Caballes on the other hand, channel a collective history through communal objects. Similarly, the personal was expanded to collective histories by Jumalon and Cataylo, whose work advocates for the greater good.
Deadlocks and Aranas, Gerabelle and Jo Camille, Saa and Tabudlong all approach their work in a way that they are both removed and yet immersed, lost but found. Eventually, uncertainties are distilled into logic. These three pairs highlight Creative Collaboration through different approaches to painting. Deadlocks and Aranas appropriate a children’s activity of marble painting, Gerabelle and Jo Camille negotiate between intimacy and meditation, while Saa and Tabudlong let go of themselves through “The Well’s Ladder Method.”
A side note to each is Process, and one pair that clearly demonstrated it was Sabuga and Riccelli. Perhaps owing to Riccelli’s training in Europe, their interactions were structured, but also spontaneous. They traced their steps from getting to know each other to transmitting that information to the canvas.
The exhibition teeters outside having an existing knowledge, instead opting, or co-opting getting lost in a process in order to discover a rhythm that is unique to each pair. Despite having been in the Dumaguete Art scene in the past years, the exhibition reveals that there is still much that is unseen, still a lot to unpack. Examining dualities, but outside the notion of “two” — instead they operated on the intrinsic capacities of separate beings. It wasn’t that there were two artists. It was more of having let’s say, a painter and a video director coexisting in the same artistic breadth. Eventually the random pairings allowed them to carry out these examinations. This was the goal of “Bukhad,” to open up what is hidden between the pairs, and in the bigger picture, Dumaguete itself.
With this opportunity, dualities are explored, where one must open up to the other in order to realize themselves in more than one way. Not only were they able to produce work that both represents their shared process, but they also turned another page in Dumaguete’s Art History book.
ALTA JIA
Alta Jia’s interrogations and introspections of nature and self are a language beyond words. Channeling her thoughts and emotions through pen and ink, she also utilizes other mediums like acrylic or oil painting, watercolor, and even tea stains in order express what which she couldn’t put words to.
A Dumaguete artist through and through, her body of work has become deeply personal over the years. Depicting wild flora and fauna that are almost abstracted through her raw yet controlled linework, she also explores the human body, albeit through an honest and unfiltered point of view. Her recent work showcases an intersection of nature and human — a crossroads with high prospects.
With a significant resume of murals and public art projects, she has also done printmaking works. Exhibiting since 2015, she has has been part of group shows in Dumaguete, Cebu, and Bacolod. SIGMA is Alta Jia’s first solo exhibition.
JR DALISAY
Edwin Dalisay Jr. is an award-winning Filipino director and cinematographer known for his cinematic realism and human-centered storytelling. Through his company, DWNTWN Films, he creates documentaries, narrative films, and branded campaigns that celebrate Filipino identity, culture, and resilience.
He has collaborated with UNICEF, Department of Health, UNIOIL, MetroWorld, and Mugna Gallery crafting cinematic content that connects brands, communities, and audiences. In 2017, Edwin joined DocuCentral, the multi-awarded ABS-CBN Integrated News documentary team, as Director of Photography and Segment Producer, producing nationally broadcasted and internationally recognized works.
DAN DVRAN
Dan Dvran is an artist and fashion designer whose work is inspired by memory, culture, and everyday life. Drawing from his Filipino roots, he blends realism with storytelling in his art, creating pieces that feel both personal and relatable. As a fashion designer, he brings the same sense of creativity and detail into clothing, combining traditional influences with modern style. Whether through painting, digital art, or fashion, Dvran aims to stir emotion and highlight the beauty of human experience.
REY LABARENTO
Rey Labarento is a visual artist and nature lover from Valencia, Negros Oriental. His body of work involves constant observation and the depiction of his local environment and its people. He examines both their humanity and archives the sights, sounds, and scenes of the times. While his style evokes a certain naivety, his process deconstructs visual components into pronounced commentaries on society. This is achieved through the use of negative space, blurred backgrounds, and hyperactive detail. The result is a body of work that is both poignant and contemporary.
DEADLOCKS
Immersed in the creative field, motivated by a curiosity in life and living. With a background in the sciences and the church combined with the arts, directed towards practical and creative system/community building. Thriving in dynamic and creative environments where I can utilize my strong visual, verbal, communication, analytical and organizational skills to
provide solutions and tackle different problems and challenges.
GEORGE PETTE M. ARANAS
George Pette M. Aranas is a local artist and instructor at Metro Dumaguete College. Based in Dumaguete City, he maintains an active studio in Camanjac where he continues to explore his artistic practice. Rooted in both Roman Catholic faith and a spiritual-animist outlook, his works often reflect a search for meaning beyond the material. As he notes, “I believe that religion and spirituality are paths paved in universal truths and wisdom.”
DYN QUILNET
Dyna Fe Quilnet is a visual artist based in Dumaguete City, Philippines. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Foundation University. Her practice moves between sculpture and painting, often drawing from her personal experiences as a way to explore the depth of human emotions.
In both mediums, the human figure plays a central role. By distorting and exaggerating its form, she creates works that feel like pages of a visual diary—each piece carrying its own meaning and story. Her paintings echo this same search for understanding, using color, texture, and atmosphere to capture vulnerability, memory and the quiet weight of human struggles.
Through her art, Dyn’s reflects on the rawness of being human. Her works serve as subtle commentaries on the human condition, inviting viewers to confront beauty, pain, and the emotional truths that live beneath the surface.
JUDE MILLARES
Jude Millares, a talented visual artist hailing from Dumaguete City. For the past decade, he has devoted himself to perfecting intricate techniques ion painting. During his college years, pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, Millares discovered his artistic identity by delving into abstract and psychic automatism.
Over the years, Millares’ style and artistic process have undergone a transformation. He has gone from creating pieces that he admits had no real meaning to producing works that tell compelling stories about his personal experiences and visions. His latest solo exhibit, titled “Journals,” showcases this evolution.
The exhibit features a range of captivating paintings that offer glimpses into the artist’s inner world. From colorful abstract compositions to figurative works imbued with emotion, each piece tells a unique story. By exploring his own life and personal journey, Millares invites viewers to reflect on their own experiences and connect with his art on a deeper level.
GERABELLE RAE
Gerabelle is a talented artist hailing from the picturesque town of Valencia. Her artistic journey began at the tender age of 4 when she started painting using her mother’s old watercolors from college. Even at such a young age, she generously shared her early artworks and doodles with her neighbors, who would often gather near their house.
From the age of 7 until her late teens, GB actively participated in art contests year after year. She gained recognition as a cartoonist for the Weekly Sillimanian and had the honor of being the yearbook artist twice.
As a member of the esteemed Order of the Golden Palette (OGPA) and the Silliman Guild of Artists, she remains connected to the rich artistic traditions of Silliman University, belonging to the oldest artist group on campus since the 1960s. Notably, GB held a successful solo exhibit showcasing 36 captivating works prior to her graduation with a degree in BS Psychology, accompanied by a Certificate in Human Resource Management.
An experimental artist at heart, GB is always eager to explore unconventional mediums and materials, such as alcohol ink, and enjoys working on unique surfaces. Among her favorites are soft pastels, recycled fabrics, and acrylic. Her artistic focus primarily revolves around landscapes and contemporary art, constantly pushing the boundaries of her creativity.
Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, GB has actively engaged in art exhibits and events, including her participation in ATOA 1. Currently, she assumes the role of lead organizer for a group of artists in Dumaguete, overseeing their involvement in the upcoming Tubò Cebu Art Fair taking place this September. GB’s passion for art, combined with her commitment to fostering artistic communities, continues to propel her artistic journey forward.
JO CAMILLE
Jo Camille takes on her creations as a self exhibition and a release of the soul; the unveiling of vulnerabilities and the candor of the psyche. She plays with the movement of chaos and order, the multifacets of a persona, the duality of matter and the juxtapose of life enmeshing in her intimate experiences through the materials she works with. She conveys this drama in the tendency and the stubbornness of resin, the symbolic natural elements and objects that are connected to life, creation, and to the author herself, frozen, for a moment of time, put together to create the piece. Jo Camille experiments in abstraction, patterns, colors, and optical illusion with pen, ink, acrylic, found objects and resin, discovering more and expanding how to work together with these materials.
Jo Camille has been exhibiting her works to public since 2018 in Dumaguete, Cebu, Bacolod and internationally (through online platforms); and was granted as one of the first featured artists in a group exhibition “Manifest” at the opening of Mugna Gallery, Dumaguete City. Jo Camille is currently a teacher, a professional theater, film, and voice actor altogether practicing visual arts.
She considers her work as a window to her being, bare, soldering, affixing to another soul captivating the spirit of inquiry and the REST that it leaves knowing that both fated souls were SEEN. Soli Deo gloria.
HEMROD DURAN
Born in 1980 in Dumaguete City, full-time sculptor specializing in terracotta and in the techniques of hand-building, wheel throwing and open firing. He hails from a family of potters from Daro, receiving early training from his father and growing up in the brick-business his grandfather built. His knowledge in pottery-making and clay extraction was developed working with Japanese volunteers invited by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in 2007. Duran is a constant resource person for community workshops of local government units. He is an exhibiting artist since 2003, holding group shows in Negros Island and Manila and his first solo show in 2022.
ROVAN CABALLES
ROVAN CABALLES is a Filipino visual artist based in Dumaguete City. He hails from Vallehermoso, Negros Oriental. In 2012, he began pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at Foundation University in Dumaguete City. Rovan is known for his fondness for pop art and tribal patterns, often incorporating lizard motifs into his work — a signature element of his artistic style. His pieces blend vibrant visual elements with cultural symbolism, reflecting his unique perspective as both an artist and musician.
In addition to visual arts, Caballes has been active in the local music scene. A skilled percussionist, particularly on drums, he has played with various bands over the years. He was a longtime member of the well-known Dumaguete-based band Enchi, performing in numerous gigs and tours across Negros and occasionally in Mindanao.
His dual passion for visual art and music has inspired him to experiment by incorporating his tribal-pop art style into painted percussion instruments — a fusion of rhythm and visual expression. Rovan Caballes remains active in the art community and continues to participate in group exhibitions both within and beyond Dumaguete City.
JANA JUMALON
Jana Jumalon is a visual artist from Dumaguete, Negros Oriental – whose explorations of the immediate environment and investigations of her innermost thoughts, realized through ceramics and painting – have time and time again demonstrated her unique expression and artistry.
Hailing from a family of painters, the tradition is evident in her technical savvy on the canvas. Yet she proved that the creativity goes beyond that, and built her own ceramic practice around an innate curiosity and ingenuity. She discovered the immeasurable satisfaction in scouring the land for workable clay, which she researches and experiments on to formulate her own clay body and glazes, which in turn aid her in maximizing the forms that she creates. Her dedication to clay is further underscored by her unwavering support for the ceramic communities and towns that she visits and learns from.
Jumalon’s recent exhibitions include solo presentations at the National Museum of the Philippines-Dumaguete (Huni sa Tubig, 2024) and at Viva Excon Antique (Lutaw, 2023), as well as group exhibitions at Orange Project, Bacolod (Traversing Grounds, 2023), Vinyl on Vinyl Gallery, Makati (Resonance, 2024), Qube Gallery, Cebu (Ballad of the Watcher, 2024), and The Henry Gallery, Dumaguete (ATOA 3: Dagat, 2025). Her solo exhibition Tierra Quemada was the inaugural show of Mugna Gallery in 2022.
MIKOO CATAYLO
Cataylo is an emerging ceramic artist based in Dumaguete City, Philippines. He began working with terracotta at an early age and his aptitude for the material saw him participate in his first exhibition at the age of 12. In recent years, he has exhibited extensively in his hometown of Dumaguete, as well as more widely in the Philippines. In addition to his own art practice, Cataylo actively assists, mentors, and teaches hand-building techniques in terracotta — making him a pillar in the community of local artists.
Cataylo’s ceramic installations are inspired by his everyday island life and surrounding natural environment, particularly the coral reefs that populate the region’s coastal waters. His works explore the intersection of human and aquatic life, reflecting his deep connection to and concern for his environment. Cataylo’s sculptures and installations are made from local terracotta that he sources and processes himself, a material that extends his conceptual concerns and connection to place.
JOMIR TABUDLONG
Jomir’s paintings are a testament to his talent and creativity. Each piece showcases intricate details that are truly remarkable and serve as a testament to the artist’s skill. The guests at the Opening Reception had the privilege of delving into the inspiration and meaning behind each painting, as Jomir personally guided the guests, providing insights into the backstory of each piece and his creative process.
TOTEM SAA
With a diverse body of work that reflects a deep commitment to creative expression, Totem Saa’s artistic portfolio is characterized by its ability to communicate a distinctive perspective within the contemporary art landscape
PHIL GAD SABUGA
Phil Gad Sabuga is a visual artist from Pamplona, Negros Oriental. He earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Foundation University in Dumaguete City, where he first cultivated his passion for creative expression.
His artistic journey spans a wide range of mediums, painting, drawing, pottery, photography, animation, videography, and installation art. Yet, painting remains his deepest form of expression. Working primarily in impressionism and abstract art, Sabuga uses bold textures, vibrant strokes, and symbolic imagery to capture emotions and narratives drawn from everyday life. He has also explored pen-and-ink pointillism, showcasing his versatility across techniques.
In 2017, he mounted his first solo exhibition, “TAGADAGAT,” an impressionist series that depicted the daily life of fishermen, reflecting his sensitivity to culture, livelihood, and the human condition. He has since participated in several group exhibitions, including “Sinugdanan” at Kri Restaurant, where he presented a collection of abstract works.
Sabuga is an active member of the Dumaguete Visual Artists (DVA) and the Network Artist in Negros Oriental (NANO), through which he continues to collaborate and exhibit with fellow creatives. His works have also been featured by Pinspired PH, including his widely recognized “Tricycles of the Philippines” poster, part of the Pinta PH Maps Collection.
He actively participated in the group exhibitions “Atoa” in 2021 at Dakong Balay, Dumaguete City; “Atoa2” in 2023, also at Dakong Balay, Dumaguete City; and “Atoa3” in 2025 at The Henry Resort, Dumaguete City, showcasing his continued engagement with the local art community.
In 2024, Phil Gad Sabuga, an art instructor at the Foundation University Fine Arts Department, was part of the curatorial team that curated “Sibol”, the 40th Anniversary Exhibition of the Metrobank Art and Design Excellence (M.A.D.E.), held in September 2024 at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila.
In addition to his exhibitions, Sabuga has professional experience as a graphic artist in Cebu City. After a brief pause in 2019, he reignited his artistic practice in 2021 and has since re-emerged in the local art scene with renewed vision and commitment.
VIVIANA RICCELLI
Viviana Riccelli is an Italian visual artist originally from Rome. Viviana is mainly an abstract painter; She has been for 30 years studio assistant to Nicolas Carone, one of the most relevant member of the abstract expressionist movement in New York. VR collaborated with monumental American sculptress Beverly Pepper for relevant art exhibitions and international events and has been her studio assistant.
Parallel to her art work VR has being engaged as professional in several humanitarian projects in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, gaining a profound insight of the art a-vanguard and culture of those countries where she lived and exhibited thus shaping her artistic and cultural knowledge. VR graduated with a Fine Arts diploma from the Art School of Casal De’ Merode in Rome and has a university degree from the Cà Foscari University in Venice. Furthermore she has certificates from the International School of Fine Art in Monte Castello di Vibio, Italy/New York where she could study under the direction of relevant artists of the Abstract Expressionist movement (NY) like Nicolas Carone and Bruce Ganier.
In the Philippines VR has been teaching Abstract art in Silliman University and in Foundation University where she has introduced the “Buon Fresco technic” In Italy VR has been assistant to the British artist Liz Hough in several art courses addressed to British artists.
In these last years Viviana’s work is mainly Abstract and in mixed media, focusing on perceptive and imaginary images. Portraits and terracotta sculpture are also among her art expression. She participated to the solo exhibitions listed below and in several group exhibitions and Art fiere in many dioerent countries.
Viviana’s work hangs in private homes, international corporates and art collections throughout the Philippines, Italy, the UK, the Middle East and as far afield as the USA. In 2025, VR will be teaching Painting and mentoring Fine arts final years students at Foundation University in Dumaguete city, the Philipines. Her art works are currently available for purchase via MUGNA gallery in Dumaguete, in Galleria Duemila in Manila and Atelier Aguila in Siaton , all cities in the Philippines.
In a microcosm such as Dumaguete, untapped potential exists. Over the years, its local artists have come together through various efforts to showcase homegrown talents.
What is it that makes a work “Dumaguete Art?” To paraphrase eminent art historian and critic Patrick D. Flores in his contextualization of Marina Cruz’s paintings as Philippine Art — the fact that they were made in (the country itself/Dumaguete) lends to the description, the direct connection. Hence with a roster of artists coming from varied backgrounds, we are presented with an experiment on homegrown creativity: Bukhad.
So we have, as paired: Alta Jia and JR Dalisay, Rey Labarento and Dan Dvran, Deadlocks and George Pette M. Aranas, Gerabelle Rae and Jo Camille, Hemrod Duran and Rovan Caballes, Jana Jumalon and Mikoo Cataylo, Totem Saa and Jomir Tabudlong, Phil Gad Sabuga and Viviana Riccelli, and lastly, Dyn Quilnet and Jude Millares. The selection was random, although some appear to be fortuitous pairings. These artists have known each other and have worked together for many years. Collaborating can come as second nature, or as a welcome upheaval.
There are three key concepts that recur in each of the pairing’s outputs: Personal Histories, Creative Collaboration, and Process.
Jia and JR, Rey and Dan, Hemrod and Rovan, and Jude and Dyn tackle introspective themes, touching upon their lived experiences. We have the everyday in the video by Dalisay which features the unremarkable as singled out by Alta Jia. Labarento and Dvran look to their immediate surroundings in Siaton and Valencia, while Quilnet and Millares tap into their interests and initially opposing personalities. Duran and Caballes on the other hand, channel a collective history through communal objects. Similarly, the personal was expanded to collective histories by Jumalon and Cataylo, whose work advocates for the greater good.
Deadlocks and Aranas, Gerabelle and Jo Camille, Saa and Tabudlong all approach their work in a way that they are both removed and yet immersed, lost but found. Eventually, uncertainties are distilled into logic. These three pairs highlight Creative Collaboration through different approaches to painting. Deadlocks and Aranas appropriate a children’s activity of marble painting, Gerabelle and Jo Camille negotiate between intimacy and meditation, while Saa and Tabudlong let go of themselves through “The Well’s Ladder Method.”
A side note to each is Process, and one pair that clearly demonstrated it was Sabuga and Riccelli. Perhaps owing to Riccelli’s training in Europe, their interactions were structured, but also spontaneous. They traced their steps from getting to know each other to transmitting that information to the canvas.
The exhibition teeters outside having an existing knowledge, instead opting, or co-opting getting lost in a process in order to discover a rhythm that is unique to each pair. Despite having been in the Dumaguete Art scene in the past years, the exhibition reveals that there is still much that is unseen, still a lot to unpack. Examining dualities, but outside the notion of “two” — instead they operated on the intrinsic capacities of separate beings. It wasn’t that there were two artists. It was more of having let’s say, a painter and a video director coexisting in the same artistic breadth. Eventually the random pairings allowed them to carry out these examinations. This was the goal of “Bukhad,” to open up what is hidden between the pairs, and in the bigger picture, Dumaguete itself.
With this opportunity, dualities are explored, where one must open up to the other in order to realize themselves in more than one way. Not only were they able to produce work that both represents their shared process, but they also turned another page in Dumaguete’s Art History book.
ALTA JIA
Alta Jia’s interrogations and introspections of nature and self are a language beyond words. Channeling her thoughts and emotions through pen and ink, she also utilizes other mediums like acrylic or oil painting, watercolor, and even tea stains in order express what which she couldn’t put words to.
A Dumaguete artist through and through, her body of work has become deeply personal over the years. Depicting wild flora and fauna that are almost abstracted through her raw yet controlled linework, she also explores the human body, albeit through an honest and unfiltered point of view. Her recent work showcases an intersection of nature and human — a crossroads with high prospects.
With a significant resume of murals and public art projects, she has also done printmaking works. Exhibiting since 2015, she has has been part of group shows in Dumaguete, Cebu, and Bacolod. SIGMA is Alta Jia’s first solo exhibition.
JR DALISAY
Edwin Dalisay Jr. is an award-winning Filipino director and cinematographer known for his cinematic realism and human-centered storytelling. Through his company, DWNTWN Films, he creates documentaries, narrative films, and branded campaigns that celebrate Filipino identity, culture, and resilience.
He has collaborated with UNICEF, Department of Health, UNIOIL, MetroWorld, and Mugna Gallery crafting cinematic content that connects brands, communities, and audiences. In 2017, Edwin joined DocuCentral, the multi-awarded ABS-CBN Integrated News documentary team, as Director of Photography and Segment Producer, producing nationally broadcasted and internationally recognized works.
DAN DVRAN
Dan Dvran is an artist and fashion designer whose work is inspired by memory, culture, and everyday life. Drawing from his Filipino roots, he blends realism with storytelling in his art, creating pieces that feel both personal and relatable. As a fashion designer, he brings the same sense of creativity and detail into clothing, combining traditional influences with modern style. Whether through painting, digital art, or fashion, Dvran aims to stir emotion and highlight the beauty of human experience.
REY LABARENTO
Rey Labarento is a visual artist and nature lover from Valencia, Negros Oriental. His body of work involves constant observation and the depiction of his local environment and its people. He examines both their humanity and archives the sights, sounds, and scenes of the times. While his style evokes a certain naivety, his process deconstructs visual components into pronounced commentaries on society. This is achieved through the use of negative space, blurred backgrounds, and hyperactive detail. The result is a body of work that is both poignant and contemporary.
DEADLOCKS
Immersed in the creative field, motivated by a curiosity in life and living. With a background in the sciences and the church combined with the arts, directed towards practical and creative system/community building. Thriving in dynamic and creative environments where I can utilize my strong visual, verbal, communication, analytical and organizational skills to
provide solutions and tackle different problems and challenges.
GEORGE PETTE M. ARANAS
George Pette M. Aranas is a local artist and instructor at Metro Dumaguete College. Based in Dumaguete City, he maintains an active studio in Camanjac where he continues to explore his artistic practice. Rooted in both Roman Catholic faith and a spiritual-animist outlook, his works often reflect a search for meaning beyond the material. As he notes, “I believe that religion and spirituality are paths paved in universal truths and wisdom.”
DYN QUILNET
Dyna Fe Quilnet is a visual artist based in Dumaguete City, Philippines. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Foundation University. Her practice moves between sculpture and painting, often drawing from her personal experiences as a way to explore the depth of human emotions.
In both mediums, the human figure plays a central role. By distorting and exaggerating its form, she creates works that feel like pages of a visual diary—each piece carrying its own meaning and story. Her paintings echo this same search for understanding, using color, texture, and atmosphere to capture vulnerability, memory and the quiet weight of human struggles.
Through her art, Dyn’s reflects on the rawness of being human. Her works serve as subtle commentaries on the human condition, inviting viewers to confront beauty, pain, and the emotional truths that live beneath the surface.
JUDE MILLARES
Jude Millares, a talented visual artist hailing from Dumaguete City. For the past decade, he has devoted himself to perfecting intricate techniques ion painting. During his college years, pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, Millares discovered his artistic identity by delving into abstract and psychic automatism.
Over the years, Millares’ style and artistic process have undergone a transformation. He has gone from creating pieces that he admits had no real meaning to producing works that tell compelling stories about his personal experiences and visions. His latest solo exhibit, titled “Journals,” showcases this evolution.
The exhibit features a range of captivating paintings that offer glimpses into the artist’s inner world. From colorful abstract compositions to figurative works imbued with emotion, each piece tells a unique story. By exploring his own life and personal journey, Millares invites viewers to reflect on their own experiences and connect with his art on a deeper level.
GERABELLE RAE
Gerabelle is a talented artist hailing from the picturesque town of Valencia. Her artistic journey began at the tender age of 4 when she started painting using her mother’s old watercolors from college. Even at such a young age, she generously shared her early artworks and doodles with her neighbors, who would often gather near their house.
From the age of 7 until her late teens, GB actively participated in art contests year after year. She gained recognition as a cartoonist for the Weekly Sillimanian and had the honor of being the yearbook artist twice.
As a member of the esteemed Order of the Golden Palette (OGPA) and the Silliman Guild of Artists, she remains connected to the rich artistic traditions of Silliman University, belonging to the oldest artist group on campus since the 1960s. Notably, GB held a successful solo exhibit showcasing 36 captivating works prior to her graduation with a degree in BS Psychology, accompanied by a Certificate in Human Resource Management.
An experimental artist at heart, GB is always eager to explore unconventional mediums and materials, such as alcohol ink, and enjoys working on unique surfaces. Among her favorites are soft pastels, recycled fabrics, and acrylic. Her artistic focus primarily revolves around landscapes and contemporary art, constantly pushing the boundaries of her creativity.
Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, GB has actively engaged in art exhibits and events, including her participation in ATOA 1. Currently, she assumes the role of lead organizer for a group of artists in Dumaguete, overseeing their involvement in the upcoming Tubò Cebu Art Fair taking place this September. GB’s passion for art, combined with her commitment to fostering artistic communities, continues to propel her artistic journey forward.
JO CAMILLE
Jo Camille takes on her creations as a self exhibition and a release of the soul; the unveiling of vulnerabilities and the candor of the psyche. She plays with the movement of chaos and order, the multifacets of a persona, the duality of matter and the juxtapose of life enmeshing in her intimate experiences through the materials she works with. She conveys this drama in the tendency and the stubbornness of resin, the symbolic natural elements and objects that are connected to life, creation, and to the author herself, frozen, for a moment of time, put together to create the piece. Jo Camille experiments in abstraction, patterns, colors, and optical illusion with pen, ink, acrylic, found objects and resin, discovering more and expanding how to work together with these materials.
Jo Camille has been exhibiting her works to public since 2018 in Dumaguete, Cebu, Bacolod and internationally (through online platforms); and was granted as one of the first featured artists in a group exhibition “Manifest” at the opening of Mugna Gallery, Dumaguete City. Jo Camille is currently a teacher, a professional theater, film, and voice actor altogether practicing visual arts.
She considers her work as a window to her being, bare, soldering, affixing to another soul captivating the spirit of inquiry and the REST that it leaves knowing that both fated souls were SEEN. Soli Deo gloria.
HEMROD DURAN
Born in 1980 in Dumaguete City, full-time sculptor specializing in terracotta and in the techniques of hand-building, wheel throwing and open firing. He hails from a family of potters from Daro, receiving early training from his father and growing up in the brick-business his grandfather built. His knowledge in pottery-making and clay extraction was developed working with Japanese volunteers invited by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in 2007. Duran is a constant resource person for community workshops of local government units. He is an exhibiting artist since 2003, holding group shows in Negros Island and Manila and his first solo show in 2022.
ROVAN CABALLES
ROVAN CABALLES is a Filipino visual artist based in Dumaguete City. He hails from Vallehermoso, Negros Oriental. In 2012, he began pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at Foundation University in Dumaguete City. Rovan is known for his fondness for pop art and tribal patterns, often incorporating lizard motifs into his work — a signature element of his artistic style. His pieces blend vibrant visual elements with cultural symbolism, reflecting his unique perspective as both an artist and musician.
In addition to visual arts, Caballes has been active in the local music scene. A skilled percussionist, particularly on drums, he has played with various bands over the years. He was a longtime member of the well-known Dumaguete-based band Enchi, performing in numerous gigs and tours across Negros and occasionally in Mindanao.
His dual passion for visual art and music has inspired him to experiment by incorporating his tribal-pop art style into painted percussion instruments — a fusion of rhythm and visual expression. Rovan Caballes remains active in the art community and continues to participate in group exhibitions both within and beyond Dumaguete City.
JANA JUMALON
Jana Jumalon is a visual artist from Dumaguete, Negros Oriental – whose explorations of the immediate environment and investigations of her innermost thoughts, realized through ceramics and painting – have time and time again demonstrated her unique expression and artistry.
Hailing from a family of painters, the tradition is evident in her technical savvy on the canvas. Yet she proved that the creativity goes beyond that, and built her own ceramic practice around an innate curiosity and ingenuity. She discovered the immeasurable satisfaction in scouring the land for workable clay, which she researches and experiments on to formulate her own clay body and glazes, which in turn aid her in maximizing the forms that she creates. Her dedication to clay is further underscored by her unwavering support for the ceramic communities and towns that she visits and learns from.
Jumalon’s recent exhibitions include solo presentations at the National Museum of the Philippines-Dumaguete (Huni sa Tubig, 2024) and at Viva Excon Antique (Lutaw, 2023), as well as group exhibitions at Orange Project, Bacolod (Traversing Grounds, 2023), Vinyl on Vinyl Gallery, Makati (Resonance, 2024), Qube Gallery, Cebu (Ballad of the Watcher, 2024), and The Henry Gallery, Dumaguete (ATOA 3: Dagat, 2025). Her solo exhibition Tierra Quemada was the inaugural show of Mugna Gallery in 2022.
MIKOO CATAYLO
Cataylo is an emerging ceramic artist based in Dumaguete City, Philippines. He began working with terracotta at an early age and his aptitude for the material saw him participate in his first exhibition at the age of 12. In recent years, he has exhibited extensively in his hometown of Dumaguete, as well as more widely in the Philippines. In addition to his own art practice, Cataylo actively assists, mentors, and teaches hand-building techniques in terracotta — making him a pillar in the community of local artists.
Cataylo’s ceramic installations are inspired by his everyday island life and surrounding natural environment, particularly the coral reefs that populate the region’s coastal waters. His works explore the intersection of human and aquatic life, reflecting his deep connection to and concern for his environment. Cataylo’s sculptures and installations are made from local terracotta that he sources and processes himself, a material that extends his conceptual concerns and connection to place.
JOMIR TABUDLONG
Jomir’s paintings are a testament to his talent and creativity. Each piece showcases intricate details that are truly remarkable and serve as a testament to the artist’s skill. The guests at the Opening Reception had the privilege of delving into the inspiration and meaning behind each painting, as Jomir personally guided the guests, providing insights into the backstory of each piece and his creative process.
TOTEM SAA
With a diverse body of work that reflects a deep commitment to creative expression, Totem Saa’s artistic portfolio is characterized by its ability to communicate a distinctive perspective within the contemporary art landscape
PHIL GAD SABUGA
Phil Gad Sabuga is a visual artist from Pamplona, Negros Oriental. He earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Foundation University in Dumaguete City, where he first cultivated his passion for creative expression.
His artistic journey spans a wide range of mediums, painting, drawing, pottery, photography, animation, videography, and installation art. Yet, painting remains his deepest form of expression. Working primarily in impressionism and abstract art, Sabuga uses bold textures, vibrant strokes, and symbolic imagery to capture emotions and narratives drawn from everyday life. He has also explored pen-and-ink pointillism, showcasing his versatility across techniques.
In 2017, he mounted his first solo exhibition, “TAGADAGAT,” an impressionist series that depicted the daily life of fishermen, reflecting his sensitivity to culture, livelihood, and the human condition. He has since participated in several group exhibitions, including “Sinugdanan” at Kri Restaurant, where he presented a collection of abstract works.
Sabuga is an active member of the Dumaguete Visual Artists (DVA) and the Network Artist in Negros Oriental (NANO), through which he continues to collaborate and exhibit with fellow creatives. His works have also been featured by Pinspired PH, including his widely recognized “Tricycles of the Philippines” poster, part of the Pinta PH Maps Collection.
He actively participated in the group exhibitions “Atoa” in 2021 at Dakong Balay, Dumaguete City; “Atoa2” in 2023, also at Dakong Balay, Dumaguete City; and “Atoa3” in 2025 at The Henry Resort, Dumaguete City, showcasing his continued engagement with the local art community.
In 2024, Phil Gad Sabuga, an art instructor at the Foundation University Fine Arts Department, was part of the curatorial team that curated “Sibol”, the 40th Anniversary Exhibition of the Metrobank Art and Design Excellence (M.A.D.E.), held in September 2024 at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila.
In addition to his exhibitions, Sabuga has professional experience as a graphic artist in Cebu City. After a brief pause in 2019, he reignited his artistic practice in 2021 and has since re-emerged in the local art scene with renewed vision and commitment.
VIVIANA RICCELLI
Viviana Riccelli is an Italian visual artist originally from Rome. Viviana is mainly an abstract painter; She has been for 30 years studio assistant to Nicolas Carone, one of the most relevant member of the abstract expressionist movement in New York. VR collaborated with monumental American sculptress Beverly Pepper for relevant art exhibitions and international events and has been her studio assistant.
Parallel to her art work VR has being engaged as professional in several humanitarian projects in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, gaining a profound insight of the art a-vanguard and culture of those countries where she lived and exhibited thus shaping her artistic and cultural knowledge. VR graduated with a Fine Arts diploma from the Art School of Casal De’ Merode in Rome and has a university degree from the Cà Foscari University in Venice. Furthermore she has certificates from the International School of Fine Art in Monte Castello di Vibio, Italy/New York where she could study under the direction of relevant artists of the Abstract Expressionist movement (NY) like Nicolas Carone and Bruce Ganier.
In the Philippines VR has been teaching Abstract art in Silliman University and in Foundation University where she has introduced the “Buon Fresco technic” In Italy VR has been assistant to the British artist Liz Hough in several art courses addressed to British artists.
In these last years Viviana’s work is mainly Abstract and in mixed media, focusing on perceptive and imaginary images. Portraits and terracotta sculpture are also among her art expression. She participated to the solo exhibitions listed below and in several group exhibitions and Art fiere in many dioerent countries.
Viviana’s work hangs in private homes, international corporates and art collections throughout the Philippines, Italy, the UK, the Middle East and as far afield as the USA. In 2025, VR will be teaching Painting and mentoring Fine arts final years students at Foundation University in Dumaguete city, the Philipines. Her art works are currently available for purchase via MUGNA gallery in Dumaguete, in Galleria Duemila in Manila and Atelier Aguila in Siaton , all cities in the Philippines.
