The provincial government here is taking advantage of the country’s 126th Independence Day to promote the works of Batangueño artists in hopes of getting a piece of the global art tourism market.

In an interview on Tuesday, Amado Hagos, culture and arts head at the Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office (PTCAO), said his office is encouraging local artists to immortalize the scenery and landscape of the province to entice tourists to come visit.

He explained, however, that painting scenes of battles to achieve Philippine independence should take a backseat to pictures that celebrate the natural beauty of Batangas and its people.

“Our artists continue the promotion of our province not only in time of warfare against colonizers but in self-expression throughout the world… introducing the Batangueño’s prowess in the field of art. We can rank them with the greats,” he told the Philippine News Agency in Filipino.

Hagos said the art exhibit will open at the PTCAO showroom at the capitol compound on Wednesday to advance his office’s mandate to “establish network and support to local artists and encourage them to go further.”

Tourist destinations and places that have become the way of life of locals and contributed to the rich history of the province will be highlighted in the art exhibit, he added.

Hagos believes the art show will open up opportunities to more local artists and will encourage a new breed of Batangueño artists while simultaneously serving as calling cards for the local tourism and hospitality industry.

Hagos said a wreath-laying ceremony, civic-military parade, and performances from artists will precede before the ribbon-cutting of the art show exhibit.

Meanwhile, Eric Punzalan, founding president of Angeli Artists Guild, said his exhibit at the PTCAO showroom will be open to the public from June 12 to 21.

With the theme, “Kulay Saliw ng Karilagan, Pamana at Kalayaan”, the one-man show is timely for the celebration of independence to recognize the province as the hometown of brave heroes and leading visual artists.

He underscored the art exhibit is for the benefit of Museo ng Batangas, Safe Harbor Church (SHC), and BAGSIK (Batangueñong Grupo sa Sining at Kultura), the oldest art group in the province.

“I am a landscape artist and shall showcase the beautiful scenic spots of the province, as well as the architectures we inherited. We can feel this beauty because we are free to visit these places… we have been freed from the colonizers for a long time,” he said.

He said the event is a firm testament that the country is not “lagging behind in the field of visual arts.” (PNA)