The Manila Clock Tower Museum, Foreign Services Institute, Department of Foreign Affairs, Intramuros; together with the Naval Reserve Command, Naval Reserve Forces NCR, Naval Reserve Center NCR, and Art Lounge Manila, welcomed and celebrated the National Arts Month with renowned and award winning, missionary visual artist, and Philippine Navy Reservist, CMO2 Kristine Lim last Feb. 1
Kristine commenced the first National Arts Month celebration at the Manila Clock Tower with Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna as the guest of honor.
Kristine's exhibit and art installation are part of the "Kuwento Ng Alon" international exhibit tour. These served as the kick off of the second leg of the exhibit and global tour. "Kuwento Ng Alon" is an unprecedented project in which Lim interprets the songs of composer, songwriter and record producer, Jonathan Manalo, as a series of artwork and art installations for the multi-venue and multi-country art exhibition and art book.
The international tour is done in cooperation with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Foreign Service Institute. It will visit 10 countries such as Australia, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, China, UK, France, USA, Canada, and Dubai.
Aside fron Mayor Lacuna, joining the event at the Manila Clock Tower were Manila Vice Mayor John Marvin C. “Yul Servo” Nieto, Manila Councilor Numero “Uno” Lim, Charlie Dungo, Director of the Department of Tourism, Culture and Arts of Manila; Jose Belmonte, Head, Manila Clock Tower Museum; Col. Simplitius G. Apecer, Philippine Navy (Marines), Deputy Commander, Naval Reserve Command; Cdr. Victor B. Mariano, PN (res), together with Philippine Navy reserve officers, personnel and ambassadors.
Kristine unveiled two paintings during the event. Both paintings were gifts from Councilor Numero Lim and Hon. Jasper Lim. First is a beautiful and opulent portrait of Mayor Lacuna, and the second one is a huge masterpiece entitled “Himig Sa Maynilad” which will becomne an iconic piece inside the museum.
"Kuwento Ng Alon" at the Manila Clock Tower is presented by the Manila City Hall, Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts of Manila, together with the Naval Reserve Command, Naval Reserve Forces NCR, Naval Reserve Center NCR, NRPAU Naval Reserve Public Affairs Unit, and Art Lounge Manila, and for the benefit of Sustainable PH, Operation Mobilization Philippines, Artists On A Mission, and ABS-CBN Foundation.
Kristine's simultaneous art installation was also held for "Kuwento Ng Alon" together with Department of Tourism, Intramuros Administration, together with the Naval Reserve Command, Naval Reserve Forces NCR, Naval Reserve Center NCR, NRPAU Naval Reserve Public Affairs Unit, and Art Lounge Manila.
Its opening ceremony was held at Fort Santiago, Intramuros Manila. Present were Atty. Joan M Padilla, Administrator of Intramuros Administration; Professor Mitzy Aguilar-Reyes, Dean, University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts; Linggit Tan, Chief of Staff of former ABS-CBN CEO Carlo Katigbak; PO1 Kristine Joy Ocampo-Cruz PN (res) together with Philippine Navy reserve officers, personnel and ambassadors.
Apart from these two exhibits, Kristine, together with Cindel Tiausas, Managing Director of Art Lounge Manila, curated a group show for other groups dubbed "Hindi Mabigkas Na Mga Sanaysay" featuring Christian + Collective visual artists members, that showcased the works of Christian Mirang, Diego, Inka Madera, LRodel Buban, Randie Tojos, Sherwin Tan, Shun Ablazo II and Sim Tolentino.
On Kristine's curator, she wrote: “There are stories and emotions no words can suffice expression, and they are too profound for anyone to verbally convey their most authentic and honest form. 'Hindi Mabigkas Na Mga Sanaysay' is a collection of distinct and unique narratives that are bonded with common intents; to be bold, to be honest, to share a part of oneself, to be grateful, to be patriotic, to do something for a greater purpose that goes beyond the art and the artist.
"As you go through the visual essays of artists from all walks of life and different backgrounds, may 'Hindi Mabigkas Na Mga Sanaysay' transport you through each ones ongoing journey. I pray that the bits and pieces of turning points, highlights, realizations, climaxes, pitfalls, and triumphs, encapsulated in what you see, not only present you how these have molded who the creators are and how it impacted those around them. May you also allow yourself to embrace the distinctness of everyone and find a part of who you are connected to who they once were and have become. These artworks maybe go beyond all known lexicons yet all are stories worth sharing and a testament to how the Divine continues to be the Great Way maker in their every breathing moment.”
Kristine is also one of the founders and officers of Christian + Collective.
Present during the artist reception were Usec. Carlos D. Sorreto, DFA; Director General Jose Maria A. Cariño of the Foreign Service Institute; Pasay City Mayor Imelda Calixto-Rubiano, art critic Cid Reyes and Cmdr. Victor B. Mariano, PN (res) together with Philippine Navy reserve officers, personnel and ambassadors.
Kristine also unveiled and turned over a painting entitled “Beyond Our Borders” to the FSI and DFA. It will be a displayed as a permanent part of the library of the government agency.