The Ibagiw Baguio Creative Festival of 2024 was officially set in motion through the Media Launch held at the Baguio Convention and Cultural Center on November 4, 2024, marking the beginning of an exciting month ahead. Returning for its 7th year, the festival will transform Baguio City into a vibrant center of artistic exploration from November 8 to December 8, 2024, centered on the theme “Inquisitive. Disruptive. Creative.”
The panelists during the press conference were Creative Baguio City Council (CBCC) Co-Chairperson Ms. Marie Venus Tan; Supervising Tourism Operations Officer Engr. Aloysius C. Mapalo; Department of Trade and Industry Cordillera Administrative Region (DTI-CAR) Regional Director Juliet P. Lucas; Department of Tourism (DOT)-CAR Regional Director Jovita Ganongan; City Planning Development and Sustainability Officer Ar. Donna R. Tabangin; CBCC Sectoral Representative on Literary Ms. Liezl Dunuan; Cultural and Natural Heritage Expression and Spaces Executive Director Mr. Art Tibaldo; and Sectoral Representative on Books & Press Maricar Docyogen.
Ms. Marie Venus Tan, CBCC Co-Chairperson, elaborated on the festival’s theme, emphasizing that the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has set a vision for the Philippines to become a “creative industry country” recognized globally by 2030. She stated, “If we have to be a creative country by 2030, we have to begin with the very foundation of our society, our children. Children are important to make sure everything goes towards the goals and aspirations of our community. So we feel that this year, we will make sure we highlight how we should empower and enable them.” In this context, the Ibagiw Creative Festival is inquisitive as it focuses on engaging the younger community sector. “There are many events that will feature and make sure that our children get interested in creativity,” Ms. Tan added.
The Ibagiw Creative Festival being “disruptive” is anchored on innovation. “We look at innovation as a means of getting out of the box,” Ms. Tan said. “Baguio and the Cordilleras have always been creative but also very traditional. Moving forward, we should start to be more progressive without losing our cultural identity so we become disruptive and innovative while remaining creative. And so that is the reason for the theme.” she remarked.
Baguio City Supervising Tourism Operations Officer Engr. Aloysius Mapalo said, “The theme of this year’s festival encourages a new generation to explore and redefine what it means to be creative in Baguio. We’re creating spaces that allow traditional roots and contemporary artistic expression to coexist, inviting everyone to experience Baguio’s rich cultural heritage in fresh and inspiring ways.”
Engr. Mapalo presented the lineup of activities during the anticipated month-long festival. Among these are the following:
- Opening Gala (November 8) – The gala will launch the month’s celebration, combining traditional elements with cutting-edge digital art while curating Ibagiw exhibits and crafts.
- Naked City: A Contemporary Art Exhibit (November 8 to December 8)- Curated by Rocky Acofo Cjigan, this exhibit will explore Baguio’s evolving identity through cross-community migration and Indigenous cultural resistance to colonial narratives.
- Ibagiw Imagineers Showcase (November 8 to December 8) – The event will showcase the “imagineered” works by Ibagiw Artists, outputs from the Applied Imagineering and Creative Disruption Workshop on product development with THAMES International. Supported by DTI’s “Lungsod Lunsad” initiative, the program empowers local artists, artisans, and crafters to elevate their products, pushing the boundaries of traditional crafts with innovative and disruptive designs.
- Creative Sundays (November 10, 17, & 24)- The event is a vibrant open-air market and street celebration featuring a Pop-Up Fashion Bazaar and Show with local designers, an Arts and Crafts Bazaar showcasing handmade goods from talented artisans, and a Folk Arts and Street Busking Fest with live performances. Road mural installations featuring local artists and featured literature will also be included.
- GASTRO X ART Creative Crawl (November 8 to December 8)- The creative crawl will be an immersive culinary and art tour with Baguio restaurants hosting and featuring an Ibagiw artist of their choice. It will blend culinary experiences with visual arts exhibits that respond to local themes and materials. It will also feature a symbiotic creative relationship of trailblazing Baguio restaurants with Baguio’s prolific artists and artisans. The 11 restaurants that will offer unique and bespoke dishes for the Ibagiw Creative Baguio Festival are Amare la Cucina, Baguio Mountain Man, Canto Bogchi Joint, Chaya, Curious Coffee Company (G1 Lodge), Gypsy Baguio by Chef Waya, Le Chef at the Manor, L’Atelier Du Grain, Oh My Gulay!, Rebel Bakehouse, and The Gallery by Witchcraft.
- Baguio Smart City Challenge (November 11)- This competition will be held among senior high school and college students to create innovative digital solutions to urban challenges, offering a platform for youth engagement.
- Craft & Folk Art Competition: Kids Edition (November 15 & 16) – This will be a competition for young Ibagiw artists who will showcase their talent in craft-making, ensuring that the city’s next generation is integral to Baguio’s creative landscape.
- Curiosity: 2nd Asian Festival of Children’s Content (AFCC) Circle Philippines (November 21-23)- Attendees will have a chance to meet the region’s best storytellers, including creators, writers, illustrators, and literacy advocates. CBCC Sectoral representative on Literary Ms. Liezl Dunuan stated, “There is an active invitation for everyone to come. It’s not just for writers, illustrators, or anyone interested in book writing or publishing for children; it’s also for reading advocates. We are inviting parents to come to see how to better tell stories to their children and also advocate reading to their children.”
- Dap-Ayan Ep 5: Malikhain (November 26-27) – The event will feature a hands-on workshop led by Ibagiw artists with an art competition with a thrust in traditional and digital painting.
- 8th Mandeko Kito (November 28 to December 1)- The lively artisans market will give people an immersive experience with exceptional crafts and products of Baguio’s finest artists, craft-makers, and artisans. These traditional crafts and handmade products show Baguio’s artisanal legacy.
- Dapulan sa Arimuhan (November 23)- This is going to be a day of art, nature, community engagement, and performances of local artists
- Anido Night (November 24) – The closing and awarding ceremony will be held as a gathering around an “anido” (bonfire) celebrating the festival’s success.
- DOT Art in the Park (November 29 to December 1)- Local artists will showcase their works in Sunshine Park, bringing art and stories closer to the community. DOT-CAR Regional Director Ms. Jovita Ganongan emphasized that Art in the Park has been institutionalized to demonstrate that “art is for the community, for the visitors, and for the public to appreciate… It’s not an exclusive thing.”
- Barangay Placemaking Challenge (November 29)- The event will feature placemaking workshops, exhibits, and a competitive grant challenge for 25 barangays led by their youth councils (Sangguniang Kabataan). City Planning Development and Sustainability Officer Ar. Donna Tabangin highlighted that the Placemaking Challenge will engage the youth in interviewing local elders to uncover the community’s roots and history, with these stories represented through mixed media and art. Such an event will invite neighborhood communities to reimagine and transform their public spaces, fostering collaboration and creativity across the city’s barangays.
- World Ikat Textiles Symposium (December 3-6) – For the first time, Baguio City will host the international four-day symposium that will showcase the art of ikat weaving, featuring exhibitions, weaving demonstrations, a fashion show, and a bazaar that celebrates the diverse ikat tradition.
In connection, the 7th Ibagiw Baguio Creative Festival logo is designed by renowned international street muralist Venazir Martinez, who has contributed to numerous art projects and initiatives in Baguio. The logo symbolizes the festival’s commitment to an elevated celebration, highlighting the exceptional talent and creativity that define Baguio as a UNESCO Creative City.
Ibagiw represents the mission to nurture and empower Baguio’s creative community while inviting young minds to engage in the city’s cultural fabric. The festival is designed to spark curiosity in children and youth, encouraging them to preserve, innovate, and expand upon Baguio’s rich heritage. Similarly, Ibagiw Creative Festival 2024 reaffirms Baguio’s status as a leading creative and cultural hub in the Philippines. Through curiosity, disruption, and creative expression, Ibagiw continues to honor and reinvent Baguio’s cultural legacy for generations to come.
