SMC Celebrates 135 Years with Commissioned Artwork by Francis Nacion

In 1890, San Miguel was born. They began expanding to 70 countries and has never stopped winning the hearts of consumers too. It's been 135 years, and this 2025 the mighty brew of Manila has been a symbol of Filipino pride. They're launching a limited edition can together with artist Francis Nacion.

Francis was inspired by close family ties, friendships and to mark this occasion, a painting was commissioned to showcase culture, heritage, and togetherness.

Ice Seguerra performed with the cast of WALANG ARAY as a treat for patrons and media who covered the event.

This is the artwork that was unveiled that evening, done by Francis Nacion. This will don the actual San Miguel cans.

Carlos Verba the SMC President says "We would like to thank Francis for the impressive piece of art that he did in collaboration with SMB. 2025 marks the celebration of our 135th year, we have sustained to become a cultural icon, including Joya, Bencab, Alcala, and it depicts how ingrained we are in culture. It's a long way back, and it ceases to amaze me how we were able to go through time when Rizal was still alive. I counted years, including all the occasions that we would be part of. Globally we were there. Most technology were not yet even thought of, but we already had San Miguel. In 1930 we were already being exported. In the 39's we were also in the US, HK and Shanghai. If you ask the old timers, they would think they were a local brand, but it is a Filipino brand. Even in Spain we had it, still is one of the leading brands in UK and the EU, hard to convince them that it started here. They all trained in Angeles in the Philippines. We were ahead by 100 years versus some of the leading brands today. We are also in UAE and in South Korea. We are present in 7000 islands, Pale Pilsen was born together with C3rv3sa N3gra. It has grown to now San Mig Light, the flavored beers, the 10 percent Red Horse, we are developing more in the coming years.

He adds "In addition, SMB is not just brewing it, but making sure it's or high quality. We are the most awarded Filipino brand and we will make sure to achieve greater heights. We will achieve our goals."

Here's a raised glass to the men and women of San Miguel Corporation. Congratulations on your 135th year, and wishing for more reasons to celebrate in the coming years!

Avida Land's South Park District Mural Design Competition

For me, this feels like a tradition as Avida Land has held competitions like these in the past. This time, the folks down south will hold a South Park District Mural Design Competition and seeing the entries all up close like this just makes it feel all so surreal!

This is located at the South Park District, at the National Road in Alabang, Muntinlupa City. Featured works include "In Her Future Memories" by Jhocel "Anthony Marahuyo" Malicsi. He had himself and 13 other visual artists work on it namely Rheydene Luca Ortega, Rhealhet Luca Ortega, Laurence Sebolino Gutierrez, Ma. Aleilyn Joyce Domingo Botin, John Roland Alipis, Ainafer Rupal Arena, John Alexis Rupal Arena, Roma Nieves Huet, Rica Permejo, Mia Jormalyn Astrera Balaoro, John Lenarrd Soriano Barua, Michael Grospe Autos, and Jefferson Panghulan Parajas. They were also helped logistically by Jerome Edianel Carandang, Charmaine Abiado Camba, Paul Denvir Delmonte, and John Carlo Decrepito to accomplish this work. They also utilized Davies Paints and did the mural on an external wall, complete with vivid colors and lovely story. This would certainly be a great place to make memories when they complete the 6.6 hectare mixed use properties with their Avida Towers Ardane (which is now on pre-selling) and the Avida Towars Altura (which sits right across South Park Center and South Park Corporate Center).

According to Ms. Tess Tatco the Marketing Head for Avida Land, "We are so excited to see an additional feature for Avida Land projects down south. This will be so nice to see with the existing Reginald Yuson art installations and I'm sure people would flock to this area as we invite everyone to see it themselves. The Part City, Part Nature, Pure South was a fitting theme for this, blending modern styles, technology and nature."

Ann Baylon Jara the Brand Marketing Head of Avida says "Coming to the south is just a great combination of city and the quietness of CALABARZON. Avida Towers Altura and Avida Towers Ardane are located here, this is what it is all about. It's industry and aesthetics, and these artists show passion  doing it in 12 days, and as we grow, we hope this reminds the people who live in the development, we are so happy to have your work here!"

They won 500 thousand pesos in this competition 

Come post your experiences at the venue by using hashtags #ArtInSouthPark #InspiredByAvida and see how the lucky ones live with good residential, retail, office space, hotels and entertainment venues down south. Visit their website avidaland.com and follow @avidalandph on FB and IG. They also have a YouTube channel @avidaofficial so you can take a look at it online today!

Philippine History Seen in SININGSAYSAY

This day is just beginning but my blogger friends and I gladly got schooled in history. An art exhibit entitled "SININGSAYSAY" (Philippine Historical Art) has been put up at the 5th Floor of Gateway Mall in Quezon City so people and groups would be able to connect art with history and how they would be able to show their work with the greater public.

Some facts we learned today:

- We have petroglyphs in the caves of Angono. Before writing, we did have ways to communicate already. 

- The oldest image in the Philippines is Sto. Niño de Cebu.

- Manila if said in most history books is just the walled city, not the whole thing we know today. 

There's a lot more but of course you have to be there to see and experience it!

We spoke to one of the artists named Pablo Baen Santos, he says "I wanted to show historical facts, important issues but not too much to make it aesthetically pleasing. This is to draw attention, memory recall and reference. You can't be tied down to details. I'm more mandated to create a beautiful artwork first before history though. I'm an eyewitness since I wrote for Taliba ng Bayan which is an underground newspaper, but had limited copies because they used mimmiographs back then. We had to move constantly if there's surveilance being felt and distribute the stencil so it wouldn't be hampered. It took me 2-3 years to make this. The UPAA and Aranetas commissioned us and we talked about what we had to do and it was easy to do but I had other paintings to do at that time, so it took that long."

Now I am from Quezon City don't get me wrong, but just like most of you I haven't seen this wing of Gateway Mall yet. The way there is almost as wonderful as this exhibit too because there's an artificial roof garden and topiary which would be pretty cool for kids and lovers who would want to have a quiet place all for themselves. Although announcing this might make that place more populated, I think people wouldn't be going there too much. The time to enjoy the place is now. 

Aside from that, the phenomenal artwork displayed currently at the Gateway's 5th floor tells us about the generations of history the Philippines has. If you've got visitors from other countries, you can tell them about the Philippines even in a short amount of time. I must also say you should see the Randy T. Solon work which I personally like, and the one by Jonahmar Salvosa who did the Galleon Trade in different textures, plus the one done by Bencab in the same place. These pieces are currently in Gateway only for a short amount of time and will be transferred once UPAA has establishe their own home in UP grounds for the artworks. 

Please visit SININGSAYSAY at the Gateway Tower's 5th Floor (Gateway Gallery). You can use the entrance at the Gateway Mall and the one at the Gateway Tower, just ask the concierge so you can visit them from 11AM to 7PM everyday. 

For more information about their establishment:

Araneta Center

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http://www.aranetacenter.net/