The Anthem Philatelist

  Tatz Lee  (Maria Carmen Lee) is a rapidly rising contemporary Filipino visual artist celebrated for her luminous landscapes and deeply spiritual paintings that serve as visual prayers. Balancing an early passion for music with fine art, she took up drawing in 2017 before transitionally adopting wet mediums like oil and acrylic by 2021. Today, her name is closely tied to evocative, soul-stirring oil, mixed media, and watercolor works that explore the themes of faith, hope, and divine creation - these contextualizes her artistic journey, signature themes, and growing legacy in the contemporary art world. In a frantic and heavily digitized world, art often serves as the final frontier for silence and reflection. Among the rising voices in contemporary Philippine art who masterfully cultivate this space is Tatz Lee . A painter who explicitly views her practice as an offering of gratitude to her faith, Lee has established a unique niche through landscapes that transcend physical...

The Tubô Cebu Art Fair's 2025 theme, "Provenance," explores the origins and history of Cebuano art, prompting artists and attendees to reflect on the influences and journeys that shape the creative landscape. The fair, happening August 29-31 at Ayala Center Cebu , emphasizes the importance of understanding the past to inform the future of Cebuano art . What Is the Tubô Cebu Art Fair? Tubò is an annual Regional Art Fair in Cebu launched in 2018, Tubô (meaning "growth" in Cebuano) is the brainchild of businessman and entrepreneur  Allen Arvin Tan and organized by the Arts Council of Cebu Foundation , the oldest and still-active arts council in the Philippines . It aims to spotlight and nurture the growing community of regional and Visayan artists. A Platform for Artists & Art Lovers Tubô provides a supportive environment for creativity—offering exhibitions, trades, talks, and affordable art sales for both beginning and serious collectors . Community-Driven ...

  Kapit, Watercolor, 9"x 12", 2022 The rhythmic scraping of a palette knife against canvas, the rich scent of oil paint clashing with the aroma of ramen from nearby Rai Rai , and a quiet, unassuming man completely absorbed in his craft—this is the enduring image of Luther Galicano at a mall in Cebu where I first met him. To the casual shopper navigating the mall’s bustling corridors, he was once a hidden gem creating masterworks in plain sight. Today, his brilliance has found its rightful platform as an in-house artist at Galerie Raphael , a milestone that formally anchors his reputation as an exceptional draftsman and a brilliant custodian of Cebuano art . What immediately draws viewers to Galicano’s work is his profound mastery of rural Cebuano scenes and seascapes . In an era dominated by hyper-modern and often detached art forms, his canvases offer a soulful sanctuary. He captures the vibrant, sun-drenched spirit of the Visayan countryside—the rustic charm of nipa huts...

Lawyer Jovi Garcia Neri holding an Elorde bread with an article in the Visayan dialect CEBU, Philippines — Cebuano lawyer Jovi Garcia Neri , who is also a dedicated sportsman, artist and writer , will be launching his “Just A Lawyer Drawing Sports Icons” book during the opening event of Tubô Cebu Art Fair on September 15, 2023 4:30pm at Ayala Center Cebu . The hardcover, large size coffee table book showcases the highly-acclaimed illustrations of Neri , totaling 36 sports icons - including nine Filipinos - featured in ready-to-frame, removable pages printed on specialty art paper designed to mimic the look and feel of the actual original art. Neri takes the reader along his own art journey told through drawings, sketches and doodles that span four decades. He provides commentary on each illustration, revealing his creative process and artistic evolution, and recounts his personal encounters and interactions with some of the global sports icons who have acknowledged his depictions of...