Cebu, the Queen City of the South, is poised to lead the way in the fields of art, design, and business, as diverse new talents rise up and take charge. MJ Jose speaks to some of the best and brightest.
Michelin-star chef Jason Atherton and Irha Atherton
Co-directors, The Social Company
Jason and Irha Atherton with their two daughters, Jemimah and Keziah
The couple met at the Hilton Hotel in Dubai, where Jason was the executive chef and Irha, the receptionist for Verre and Glass House. It took Irha awhile to agree to a date, but she finally said yes on one condition—she would be chaperoned. Today, they are co-directors of The Social Company, the holdings company they started five years ago that encompasses a total of 16 restaurants. Born and bred in Cebu, Irha had always wanted to put up a restaurant in her hometown. Despite some reservations in the beginning, they managed to open The Pig & Palm with help from their good friends, Chris and Carla McKowen. The Pig & Palm operates on the concept of tapas and sharing plates, with a focus on pork owing to its Filipino roots. “I am beyond surprised and pleased that the restaurant has exceeded expectations,” says Irha. “It is doing really well; we are always fully booked, and customers are enjoying the experience. We are overwhelmed with the fantastic support from both the Cebu folks and the Manila visitors.” Their objective is to highlight local produce and help put Cebu on the map as a destination for great food, a plan that is going swimmingly well so far. Jason adds, “Our role in society is to inspire a new generation of chefs and restaurateurs. It’s our duty to look after our customers and make them happy—that is what we do best.”
Cybill Gayatin-Guynn and Kaye Luym-Sala
Directors of Possibilities, A-List Events PR & Advertising
Cybill Gayatin-Guynn and Kaye Luym-Sala handled the launch of the first H&M store in Cebu, which is also the biggest in Southeast Asia
Public relations and events management were not the first order of business for these two women, who both hold International Relations degrees. In addition, their paths would not have crossed were it not for a mutual aunt’s suggestion to start a business together.
Says Gayatin-Guynn, “We both thought we wanted to save the world. However, due to our combined work experiences in marketing communications, events, and journalism, starting A~List was second nature.” When A~List came to be in 2009, Cebu’s social scene was quite small, with events taking place only every couple of weeks. The pair, both home-grown Cebuanas, understand their market perfectly. This knowledge, combined with their global perspective, has earned for them the opportunity to work with big-name brands such as Louis Vuitton, BMW, Ferrari, and Ayala Land. “We got to help in setting up Louis Vuitton’s first pop-up store in Cebu,” Luym-Sala says. “That was a big undertaking because it marked the first time that a luxury brand of such calibre was coming to town. The brand’s standards were naturally very high, so we all had to step up our game.” Though it was difficult in the beginning—they’ve gotten used to doing things on their own, having started out with zero staff—the partners learnt how to delegate tasks to their team. They can no longer work without them, they happily say now. “PR teams help get the word out and provide relevant information so consumers can make their choices,” shares Luym-Sala. “We don’t have a responsibility to just our clients, but to society as a whole.”
Jewelle Yeung
Painter
Jewelle Yeung once worked on 16 paintings for a Hong Kong-based artisan tea company called BASAO
“I’ve always been a dreamer; my mind wanders and latches on to things that stimulate my imagination,” says Jewelle Yeung. “When I was little, I already liked drawing and painting, but at the time, I saw it more as a distraction from the mundane. It was only later that I realised I was turning the imaginary into the real by putting it to paper.” Way back in high school, she spent most of her free time in the art department experimenting with different mediums, under the guidance of two tutors who saw it fit to nurture her talent. Yeung incorporates a sense of motion into all her works, alternating between light and dark shades. She is drawn to the works of Roberto Matta and JMW Turner, landscape artists whose works encourage admirers to stretch the boundaries of their imagination. “As human beings, I feel we respond best to stimulation,” Yeung says. “There are so many ways to become an artist nowadays, but we find common ground in helping people escape the norms of reality.” She is glad to be part of the evolving Cebu art scene, which she describes as raw but full of potential. At present, there is plenty of space for growth, and the interest in art is rapidly rising. Yeung aspires to work on pieces associated with music, as it has influenced her paintings greatly. She is also interested in experimenting further by working with sculptures and, possibly, collaborations with other artists.
Maris Holopainen
Director, Qube Gallery
One of Maris Holopainen's goals is to host an international art show in Qube
Growing up in a family of avid art collectors cultivated the aesthetics of Maris Holopainen at a young age. Her family background is rooted in business, but she had always made it a point to learn as much as she could by being active in the art scene in countries where she’d lived—Indonesia, Russia, Kazakhstan, and the Philippines, of course. “A gallery manager wears many hats and serves as the conduct between the supply and demand in the art world,” says Holopainen. “We do not just consider our own aesthetics; we provide the platform for an artist to get his or her name out as well as the opportunity for collectors to procure the works they are interested in.” Holopainen joined Qube Gallery barely a year after it opened; she stumbled upon the opportunity while looking for works by contemporary Cebuano artists. Her efforts have been vital in making Qube and, by extension, the Cebuano artists more accessible to collectors and enthusiasts. In the last three years, Qube has successfully produced 51 shows, amongst which were initiatives for art students as well as visiting artists. So far, 2016 has been the gallery’s busiest year, having joined four international art shows and launching its artist grant programme. “Cebu’s art scene is now poised to evolve on an international scale,” Holopainen says. “As a gallery, Qube’s primary goal is to make art synonymous with Cebu, similar as to how other products such as the lechon [roast pig] and the dried mangoes are.”
Golda King
Painter
Golda King's biggest influences are works by artists from the Bay Area Figurative Movement
A self-professed late bloomer with a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, Golda King recalls balking at her art lessons as a six-year-old. “I was 30 when I received my BFA in Painting,” she says. “I can say that art is something I grew up with—I was just never sure that it was okay to be an artist.” She uses oil and watercolour to paint portraits, landscapes, and abstract figures. King paints with random strokes made obscure by layered stipples and dots, a trick she uses to conceal problem areas and to encourage the viewer to take a closer look. The areas she is content with are left dot-free. Introspection and alone time are key to King’s creative process. “I try to do a little bit of work every day, even when I don’t feel like it,” she says. “I welcome mistakes—most good work comes from making mistakes. When something isn’t working, I set it aside to work on something else.” She credits the Cebu art scene for fostering humility, honesty, and perseverance among its denizens. “Very few people decided to become artists,” she says. “Even today, the fear of being different still persists. The most important lesson we can impart to others is to be more accepting of change and being open to new ideas.” She is looking forward to venturing into installation and wearable art, as well as metalsmithing. Currently, King is working on pieces for a solo show opening 16 February next year.
D'oro Barandino
Artist and Designer
D'oro Barandino was one of the three finalists in a sculpture competition facilitated by the Cultural Centre of the Philippines in Oita, Japan in the late '90s
“The role of an artist is to communicate their message through their work,” declares Barandino. “Our art is our voice, and it should empower people’s emotions.” He knew from the beginning that he was an artist; as a child, Barandino was highly imaginative, constantly toying with outrageous ideas in his head. In his own words, he is extreme. His work shifts from minimal to intricate and back again, all depending on his mood. “I haven’t developed a signature aesthetic yet, as I believe I’m still growing as an artist,” he says. “Everything is experimental because I easily change my mind out of boredom. There are days when I get excited about an idea, only for that to die down a few days later.” He uses varied materials for his jewellery, bags, and home accessories; the list ranges from the typical (brass, leather, and rubber) to the strange (burnt charcoal and candle wax). His ideal working conditions vary as well. Though he prefers the quiet and sees the beauty in the most mundane of objects, he also finds himself drawn to crowds and chaos. For Barandino, the Cebu art scene is thriving, but there is still a lot of work to be done. “I want to see bigger, wilder works of art—I want to be moved,” he enthuses. “Perhaps this is too much to hope for, but at the rate things are going, one can never tell.”
Yvonne Quisumbing
Artist
Yvonne Quisumbing's most recent exhibition, "Who Are You Wearing?" was held last July 9 to August 6 at Silverlens Gallery in Makati City
Her creative journey began at home. Her father is an engineer who channels his creativity through experiments and chemical mixes; her mother hand-paints on linens and does embroidery work. Quisumbing works with oil and acrylic on canvas; she paints best in quiet and orderly spaces completely free of distractions. “My work is maternal, and it is often affected by my own experiences,” says the artist. “It is not maternal in the literal mother-and-child sense, but the images I produce are of things that need nurturing and protecting, such as animals and florals.” Her greatest influence is her environment; her most recent body of work illustrates the transformation of the physical appearance as well as spiritual and emotional change. “It is about layering with masks to project a certain image while concealing one’s true self,” says Quisumbing. Her biggest project to date is her 2005 solo exhibition “Infernal Desire Machine,” where she showcased metal sculptures, paintings, and even clothing. Quisumbing also notes the steady growth of Cebu’s art scene, highlighting the efforts of Qube Gallery in helping Cebuano artists showcase their work to both local and international audience. Her new goal? To complete her master’s in Fine Arts, and just to continue painting and making art.
Chris and Carla McKowen
Director and Chief of Operations, MSV Holdings
President and CEO, Modine Incorporated
Chris and Carla McKowen have three children—two sons and a daughter
The couple met during their university years in London. Chris caught the eye of Carla with his striking resemblance to the James Bond actor; she had asked a friend, “Is that Daniel Craig from Casino Royale?” They were then properly introduced, and ended up hitting it off immediately. “I thought Carla was one of the coolest girls ever,” says Chris. “She was much cooler than me!” Years later, he set up a romantic picnic by the lake near Kensington Palace to propose to her. Today, they manage the operations and financials of the family corporation, MSY Holdings, and Modine Incorporated, which handles the business side of the restaurant, The Pig & Palm. Says Carla, “I pursued a law career in London, but I feel like I’ve found my true calling in business due to the overall gratifying experience it gives me.”
She elaborates, “It is definitely tough working with family, but at the same time, there is a certain sweetness to it. There is nothing more satisfying than working together for a common goal.” The Pig & Palm came to be in the course of the McKowens’ friendship with Michelin-Star Chef Jason Atherton and his wife Irha, both of whom Carla describes as humble and generous despite their success. In addition to being on the same wavelength when it comes to business matters, the couples also have a lot of fun when they hang out together, which to them is essential to a food and beverage type of venture. “The Pig & Palm is such a great venture because it highlights local produce on an international stage,” Carla stresses. “We hope people from all over come to try what Cebu has to offer.” Adds Chris, “This is just the beginning. We have the groundwork laid out, so we’ll build on that and create something truly spectacular.”
Photography Jan Gonzales | Location: Qube Gallery and The Pig & Palm