LEGAZPI CITY, Albay – The Chan Lim Family of Artists and Students opened its 48th Art Exhibit of Chinese and Western paintings at SM City Legazpi on Sunday, August 27.
Fifty-seven artists have put up 402 artworks on the ground floor of SM City Legazpi.
The opening of the exhibit was highlighted by the presence of three Chinese schools, Tabaco Pei Ching School, Legazpi Hope Christian School, and Shiloah Christian Academy, whose students participated in free painting lessons.
Department of Tourism (DOT)-Bicol Director Herbie Aguas, officials of SM City Legazpi, and the Chan Lim family graced the opening of the August 26 to September 24 exhibit.
“This exhibit is the third leg of the ‘Kulturang Magayon sa Bikolandia.’ We are in SM City Naga, SM City Daet, now here we are and then upon a while will be SM City Sorsogon. Why we are doing this? Is to showcase the rich culture of Bicol,” said Alex Chan Lim of the Chan Lim Family.
Alex Chan Lim started the exhibit in 1995 and now has been to various SM malls to showcase the artworks of Filipino Chinese to the whole country.
Aguas said that the event is a big treat for Bicolanos who will see how artworks of Chinese and Western paintings are made.
"Actually this is a big treat to the Bicolanos. Dati nakita lang natin ito sa Manila. The first time I saw the Chan Lim exhibit was in Megamall. So talagang nakakatuwa dahil dito sa Albay," Aguas said.
Aguas added that the exhibit will also help promote tourism of Bicol through their participants’ paintings.
"The Chinese culture is being a part of the Filipino culture. We are promoting the heritage of the Filipinos so this is a big part. Ito ay malaking bagay sa turismo ng ating bansa," he said.
Cindy Lilia, SM City-Legazpi mall manager, thanked the Chan Lim Family of Artists and Students for bringing the artworks of Chinese people to Albay province.