A Mabalacat City artist has raised concern over the perceived neglect of local artworks and the lack of a proper display venue, as reflected in his latest diorama.
Art advocate and adviser Dodjie Aguinaldo posted a video on Facebook showcasing his new work, which depicts the old municipal hall as a “ruined, abandoned structure—reflecting the painful truth of how arts and culture are often forgotten.”
The previous city administration had designated the old municipal building—named “Tabnuan”—as a cultural hub to house artworks by local artists. The space was developed as an exhibition hall, with cultural personalities, including Alex Del Rosario of the Center for Kapampangan Studies, contributing to its establishment.
In July, Aguinaldo expressed dismay that artworks displayed at Tabnuan had been removed, stored, and stacked without care. He said artists were not informed about the removal of their pieces.
“Once it was a vibrant home where artists poured their hearts, dreams, and sacrifices into every creation. Now it stands in silence, a broken reminder of how easily creativity can be overlooked, how the voices of artists can fade when no one listens,” Aguinaldo said in his latest post.
He described his diorama as carrying “the quiet ache of being unseen.”
“A mourning for a place, a passion, and a people who deserve more,” Aguinaldo added.
Tabnuan has since been converted into a conference or meeting hall and is now more associated with housing a coffee shop than serving as a cultural space.
Aguinaldo urged city leaders, particularly those involved in arts and culture development, to be more mindful of art preservation. He clarified that he is not opposed to converting the former exhibition area into a conference or session hall but emphasized that artists and their works should be treated with respect.
Aguinaldo’s July post went viral and drew strong reactions from artists in Mabalacat City and beyond.
He is the founder of Sining Mabalacat, the Mabalacat Artists Collective, and Sibul Ning Kalalangan, an art group for young artists where he also serves as adviser.
