Art and Photo Exhibit of UST Medicine Class of 1981 Opens at PH Center

ART AND PHOTO EXHIBIT OF UST MEDICINE CLASS OF 1981 OPENS AT PH CENTER

Consul General Neil Ferrer (center-right) joins the Magilas Art Group of the Thomasian Medicine Class 1981 Inc. in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the “Gilas, Puso, Buhay” art and photo exhibit at the Philippine Center in San Francisco on 6 October 2023. (Dr. Marie Jo Valera photo)

SAN FRANCISCO, USA – The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco joined the opening of the Gilas, Puso, Buhay” (“Elegance, Heart, Life”) art and photography exhibit of Thomasian Medicine Class 1981 Inc., held at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center in San Francisco on 6 October 2023.

The art and photo exhibit features the multimedia artworks of the Magilas Art Group of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Medicine Class of 1981, as well as guest artists from the Philippines and the U.S.

Dr. Minda de la Serna-Cabrera formed the Magilas Art Group in 2020 along with retired classmates who see art and photography as a tool to express themselves, and as a way to take a break from the stresses of daily life.

In his remarks during the exhibition launch, Philippine Consul General in San Francisco Neil Ferrer stated that the exhibition is aligned with the celebration of Museums and Galleries Month in the Philippines, and Filipino American History Month across the U.S.

“Filipino Americans have made their mark, weaving their cultural threads into the fabric of American society. Our contributions resonate in all aspects of life, and we continue to shape the landscape of this nation,” Consul General Ferrer said.

The Philippine Consul General thanked the Thomasian Medicine Class 1981 “not only for showcasing our people’s unique artistry and creativity but also for giving back to our homeland, the Philippines.”

The Thomasian Medicine Class 1981 is planning to donate part of the proceeds from the sale of select artworks to the Clinical Division Surgery Indigency Fund of the UST Hospital in Manila.

The art and photo exhibit will run at the Philippine Center’s Kalayaan Hall on 447 Sutter Street, San Francisco until 3 November 2023. Additional information on the exhibition is available at https://magilas81art.squarespace.com. END

Consul General Neil Ferrer gives his remarks during the opening of the “Gilas, Puso, Buhay” art and photo exhibit at the Philippine Center in San Francisco on 6 October 2023. (San Francisco PCG photo)

Dr. Marie Josephine Han-Valera of the Magilas Art Group gives Consul General Neil Ferrer a tour of the “Gilas, Puso, Buhay” art and photo exhibit at the Philippine Center in San Francisco on 6 October 2023. (San Francisco PCG photo)

Consul General Neil Ferrer with the members of the Magilas Art Group, during the opening of the “Gilas, Puso, Buhay” art and photo exhibit at the Philippine Center in San Francisco on 6 October 2023. (Dr. Marie