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I was amazed by the HAGABI—a long wooden bench carved from one solid piece of narra wood that represents so much more than just a seat. This piece of art symbolizes wealth and social prestige among the Ifugao, and I learned that its creation is steeped in tradition. Before carving began, the mumbaki (priests) held a ceremony called mamaldang to check if the omens were good for starting the ritual. Once approved, skilled woodcarvers went into the forest to find the perfect large hardwood tree and transformed it over several days into the stunning HAGABI.

What really caught my attention was the journey the HAGABI takes after it's made. Villagers carry it through narrow, steep mountain trails—often while celebrating with rice wine—and the whole process turns into days of eating, drinking, and dancing. Finally, it is placed under the eaves of the Ifugao huc on a stone-paved area, where the kadangyan (a wealthy man) can recline on it, surrounded by artful details like the ends called ngiwit that resemble animal heads with long snouts and big ears. This blend of art, ritual, and community really brought the culture to life for me

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“Spin Doctors” really caught my eye because of the three figures wearing masks, almost like they’re hiding secrets or whispering to each other. The dark background makes the gold tones on their skin pop, which drew me in. I’m not entirely sure what deeper message the artist wanted to share, but I like how mysterious it looks—it made me stop and think for a moment about what’s really going on behind the masks

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“Nowhere” by Olan Ventura grabbed my attention with its cool use of negative colors. The way the hues are flipped makes everything look a bit unusual and fun, like seeing a familiar scene in a totally new light. It’s playful and a little mysterious without trying too hard, which really got me to stop and take another look.

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“After Hieronymus Bosch” by Froilan Calayag made me think of a wild carnival, packed with all these odd little creatures doing their own thing. It’s bright, busy, and full of strange details that kept me guessing about what’s really happening. I like how it plays with big ideas—like how we connect with each other and the world—without losing that fun, dream-like vibe. It’s like a modern twist on Bosch’s classic, imaginative style

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“White Temples” by Arturo Luz stood out to me because of how simple and clean it looks. It’s all lines and shapes, but it still feels balanced and kind of calming. Even though it doesn’t have a lot of details, it gives off this peaceful, almost architectural vibe. I didn’t expect to be drawn to something so minimal, but I guess that’s the cool part—it makes you look closer.

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Honestly, the thing that stood out to me the most during the museum visit wasn’t just the art itself—it was the fun of seeing it all with my friends. We kept pointing things out to each other, laughing at the weird ones, and just enjoying the experience together. It made everything more memorable.

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Honestly, the thing that stood out to me the most during the museum visit wasn’t just the art itself—it was the fun of seeing it all with my friends. We kept pointing things out to each other, laughing at the weird ones, and just enjoying the experience together. It made everything more memorable.

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Before the museum visit, I didn’t really know much about BenCab, but after seeing his works, I noticed he really likes featuring nudes in his art. It was kinda surprising at first, but it also made me curious about his style and what inspired him.

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Before the museum visit, I didn’t really know much about BenCab, but after seeing his works, I noticed he really likes featuring nudes in his art. It was kinda surprising at first, but it also made me curious about his style and what inspired him.