March is shaping up to be an exciting month in Manila, with a lineup of events that promise to bring the city to life. From experimental art exhibitions to international film screenings, there’s always something for everyone to enjoy. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, these weekend happenings will make sure you experience the best of what Manila has to offer this month.
Unfailingly, Broke
Gallery 2 and 3, Artinformal Gallery, The Alley at Karrivin, Chino Roces Ave Ext. Makati
February 18 – March 8
Free admission
Unfailingly, Broke is Artinformal Gallery’s visual art exhibition, featuring the works and performances of Filipino artists such as Poklong Anading, Martha Atienza, Victor Balanon, and more. “If we had our way, nothing would be finished,” the gallery wrote in their official exhibition statement, “tables would stretch impossibly long, meals would run forever, and blueprints would be used solely for kindling.”
The exhibition is open to the public.
The Kitschen with Wizard
Bibio Wine Bar, Poblacion, Makati
March 1
Kitchen opens at 5 p.m., DJ sets start at 7:00 p.m. till late
Party collective Et Alt is taking over Poblacion wine bar Bibio on March 1. Kicking off the party is a menu from Manila-based chef Wizard, followed by drinks served by Bibio. The party will continue with Et Alt’s DJs, arriving like “in a carriage in the mist” and “providing provisions to the potluck of plaka.”
Hapag
WHYNoT Manila, 4th floor of Karrivin Studios, 2316 Chino Roces Ave Ext. Makati
March 2 – 8
Free admission to the exhibition opening on March 2 from 6:00 p.m.
Makati culture hub WHYNoT Manila is kicking off the first weekend of March with Hapag, a week-long exhibition that features curated live performances and archival works, examining all of which examine “the intersection of Performance Art and Archival Practice, bridging the ephemeral and enduring.”
Hapag will showcase performances from Filipino cinematic and artistic icons such as Jun Sabayton, Rox Lee, Kaloy Olavides, Mitch Garcia, Idan Cruz, and more. Entry to the exhibition is free only on March 2 from 6 p.m. onwards.
Bakit Pa
Edoweird, 140 Katipunan Avenue, 4th floor Marius Acropoli Building 1800, Quezon City
March 1 – 28
10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
The exhibition opens on March 1 at 6:00 p.m.
Curated by Filipino filmmaker Erwin Romulo, Bakit Pa is German-Filipino visual artist Silke Lapina’s upcoming exhibition exploring “faith, doubt, and the evolving landscapes of belief.” Using the mediums of videography, text-based art, and mirror engravings, Lapina examines religious iconography, androgyny, and “biblical eroticism.”
Samut-Sari Sunday Sa Space63
Communa, Pablo Ocampo Sr. Extension, Makati
March 2
2:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Free admission
Enjoy an art-filled Sunday at the Samut-Sari Sunday Sa Space63 event at culture hub Communa in Makati. Local artists and organizations such as Common Ground Bookstore, Concerned Artists of the Philippines, and Every by Slowtear, among others, will be setting up booths to sell zines, clothes, accessories, stickers, and more. Snacks and alcoholic beverages will also be available for purchase. At 1:00 p.m., artist-curator Lena Cobangbang will be leading a dialogue with independent curator James Tana titled Curatorial Perspectives: Approaches and Application. The talk will “offer perspectives, contexts, and insights on what curatorial labor entails.” Entry is free and open to the public.
Timeless: J. Moreno
2/F North Gallery, Metropolitan Museum of Manila, BGC, Taguig
February 27 – June 29
Ticket prices vary
Celebrate the 100th birthday of fashion icon and National Artist Jose “Pitoy” Moreno at TImeless: J. Moreno, a special exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila. Presented in partnership with the Jusi & Piña Legacy Foundation, the exhibition provides a closer look at Moreno’s iconic designs.
All-access day passes to the museum are priced at P550. For students, seniors, and Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), passes are priced at P440.
Artists’ Film International: ‘Dream States’
Museum of Contemporary Art and Design (MCAD)
March 3 – December 31
Free admission
Dream States, the 18th edition of the event Artists’ Film International, will begin on March 3 with events taking place around the world until the end of the year. Exploring the themes of dreams, altered states, and cinematic illusion, Dream States features works from rising filmmakers who “disrupt linear time, blur fact and fiction, and navigate the boundaries between memory, myth, and fantasy to reimagine the world anew.” The event line-up includes films from multidisciplinary artists such as Heesoo Kwon, Babu Eshwar Prasad, Anette Gellein, Sanja Anđelković, Anca Benera, and more. Admission to the museum is free and open to the public.
