In celebration of National Arts Month and the 85th birthday of National Artist for Literature, Gémino Abad, Ayala Museum and CANVAS present an exhibition of paintings, assemblages, and sculptures by the artist Emmanuel Garibay interpreting Abad’s poem, I Teach My Child. The exhibition ran from Feb. 13 to 18, 2024 at the Ayala Museum lobby, with a ticketed poetry jam event with Abad together with his other friends in the field of Filipino literature held on Feb. 17, 2024, 3 p.m at the Ayala Museum Function Room 2.

"I Teach My Child" included a new collection of artworks by Garibay who took Abad’s poem as the starting point for reflections on parenthood and national identity. In these works, Garibay incorporates found and repurposed objects, which add a deeper layer of meaning to his reflections on the poem.

“We’re very excited to be featuring the works of Jimmy Abad—a National Artist for Literature—and Manny Garibay, a powerhouse in the Philippine art scene,” says Mariles Gustilo, Ayala Museum Director. “We look forward to sharing this enriching experience with our guests, who will see how two masters of different art forms engage with each other to put forward a powerful message about education and investing in our youth. It’s a message that’s dear to the hearts of both the museum and the Ayala Foundation.”

“Dr. Abad's poem speaks of the importance of empowering children – a theme that aligns with CANVAS’ commitment to promote children’s literacy and a love for reading,” shares Gigo Alampay, CANVAS Executive Director. “Manny Garibay's distinctive insights and approach expand on these ideas, further amplifying the power of words and art, especially as they reinforce and challenge each other in this exhibition.”