In Quezon Province, a new campaign is championing local women artists who are redefining art outside of imperial Manila.
“Women hold up half the sky but women in art barely get a place to stand,” says Aaron Bonete, co-founder of Good Days Gallery. His words ring true: out of 73 National Artists in the Philippines, only 11 are women—and none of them are in the visual arts field. The art world remains largely male-dominated and Manila-centric, often leaving regional women creators overlooked. But Bonete is quick to add that “the realities of women’s underrepresentation, abuse in the scene is still true. Yet, the resistance is very much alive… and that’s why we’re doing this.” In other words, change is in the air—and a shift is beginning to take root in this corner of Quezon.
“Highlighting female artists across fields provides powerful representation and inspiration for younger women who may want to pursue similar paths,” says Mariel Isabelle of Film and Print.
Spanning March to April 2025, and in honor of Women’s History Month, Good Days Gallery and Film and Print – in partnership with FringeMag.net and the Bahaghari Center – launched #WomenCreate: Spotlight on Quezon’s Women Artists.
The initiative shines a light on 12 emerging women artists from Quezon Province who are helping shape their community’s cultural identity through art and self-expression. It’s a deliberate push to amplify the presence of women cultural workers in the arts scene, especially those beyond the patriarchal, Manila-centric elite art circles.
“Highlighting female artists across fields provides powerful representation and inspiration for younger women who may want to pursue similar paths,” says Mariel Isabelle of Film and Print. “It sends a clear message: if these women can succeed in their disciplines, so can others. By amplifying their voices, we help break down barriers, challenge outdated perceptions, and pave the way for future generations of women artists to thrive with confidence and support.”
#WomeCreate is, at its core, a celebration of autonomy and authentic narratives—women+ artists exploring identity, community, and space via visual art, music, tattoos, photography, and more, on their own terms.
Meet the Artists
For this spotlight, the curators have selected a diverse roster of twelve talents. From painters to musicians, tattooists to photographers, each of these women brings a unique voice to Quezon’s art landscape.
Eva Palma – A self-taught creator from Lucena City whose art gravitates to rich textures and dark, feminine, and occult themes. Raised Roman Catholic (though now atheist), she often weaves religious iconography into edgy pieces. Eva is also known as “Banana Girl,” the explosive vocalist of a hardcore punk band, proving her creativity knows no bounds. Aside from artistic endeavors, she also loves cats and advocates for their welfare as the founder of WiseCats.
Jianu – A visual artist who uses vibrant colors to express thoughts and emotions she can’t put into words. What began with a box of crayons in childhood has blossomed into evocative artworks drawn from her everyday observations and intrigue.
Aly Maano – A 20-something daydreamer who channels her ideas through multiple art forms. From writing poetry and music reviews to snapping photos on film, Aly isn’t afraid to experiment. Lately she’s taken to brushes and acrylics, hoping her playful explorations turn personal musings into art that resonates.
Joday Anna – Judy Anne Carmela “Joday” Butardo, based in Pagbilao, is a self-taught visual storyteller. Her candy-colored, surreal paintings offer quirky interpretations of life around her. Through playful imagery and dreamy hues, Joday Anna delivers unique narratives that turn everyday scenes into fantastical tales.
Re-anne Lagos – A former corporate professional who left the desk to become a full-time tattoo artist. Re-anne’s tattoo work pops with bold colors and celebrates life’s beautiful imperfections. While skin is her canvas by trade, she also paints on traditional canvas for love—often depicting women at home and beloved pets—to capture the simple joys of authentic living.
Jil Regaspi – Jilbys “Jill” Jael Regaspi is a multidisciplinary artist from Lucena with a passion for transforming the ordinary into art. Whether carving wood, upcycling fabrics, dabbling in DIY fashion or penning prose, Jil pushes creative boundaries. Her works have traveled from rural farms to urban runways across the globe, showing that art is a universal language with no borders.
Kristen Agustin – A singer-songwriter currently based in Lucena City, Kristen pours her nomadic life into music. Having grown up moving from place to place, she writes intimate songs filled with personal reflections, vivid imagery, and quiet vulnerability. Her soulful melodies explore the fragility of human thoughts and emotions, giving voice to feelings often left unspoken.
Regina Oabel – A Quezon Province-based photographer with a talent for freezing moments in time. Specializing in weddings, events, and outdoor shoots, Regina crafts visual stories that capture the essence of each occasion. Inspired by a father who documented family memories, she now preserves emotions both in celebratory milestones and in candid slices of everyday life, from strangers’ faces to sweeping landscapes.
Denisse “Gwen” Lorenzo – A self-taught painter from Quezon who sees art as synonymous with freedom. Gwen started with realistic portraits, teaching herself to capture lifelike detail, and has since ventured into surrealism to stretch her imagination. For her, art has no limits—it’s an endless playground to express ideas and emotions. After joining a local arts group in 2024 and debuting in group exhibits, she’s more energized than ever to share her creative voice.
Elvira Bvlgari – A Fine Arts graduate (and co-founder of Good Days Gallery) whose style blends Neo-Expressionism, Pop Surrealism, street art and psychedelia. Elvira brings color to life with clean lines colliding into messy strokes and layered textures. She even runs a sticker art project called “Good Shit Factory,” slapping quirky graphics on laptops and lamp posts to make people laugh or think. Fearless and unfiltered, she insists art is for everyone—“except assholes,” she jokes, laying down her gallery’s only hard-and-fast rule.
Mela Sinag – A tattoo artist and owner of Tintatita Studio who left a career in civil engineering to follow her creative calling. Mela specializes in delicate fine-line and minimalist tattoos, etching personal stories onto skin. Having started tattooing in 2020 as a passion project, by 2023 she made the full leap into artistry. She lives by the maxims “laging isapuso ang iyong sining” and “ang sining ay laging pakikipabaka,” believing one should always put heart into art, and that creating art is always a brave act of struggle.
Jal Abelilla – A visual storyteller with 12 years in film and media. Jal studied Communication at Southern Luzon State University in Lucban and went on to build a career crafting documentaries, TV commercials, and innovative video content. Now a senior video production specialist for a New York-based cybersecurity firm, she proves that local talent can go global. Through it all, her roots in Quezon’s creative community keep her grounded, as she continues to shape narratives behind the camera.
“Women hold up half the sky but women in art barely get a place to stand,” says Aaron Bonete, co-founder of Good Days Gallery.
Each of these artists embodies a facet of Quezon’s art scene– whether through pigment, lens, song, or ink. Visual artists like Eva Palma, with her grotesque elements and Elvira Bvlgari, with her street-meets-psychedelia approach, challenge viewers to engage with raw and unfiltered art. Aly Maano and Jil Regaspi both explore various mediums, blending writing, photography, fashion, and painting in their pursuit of honesty. Tattoo artist Re-anne Lagos brings art to the skin—celebrating life’s imperfections with vibrant color and care. There are also storytellers like Kristen Agustin and Regina Oabel, who both reflect the beauty of human connection through introspective melodies and heartfelt photography, respectively.
Their works delve into questions of who they are, where they come from, and the communities that nurture them. In a scene long dominated by men and the older generation, these women are staking their claim and enriching the arts with perspectives as diverse as their mediums.
Art, Identity, and Resistance
At a time when women’s rights – including those of trans women – are under renewed threat, celebrating women in all their gender expressions and identities becomes ever more critical. #WomeCreate stands as an affirmation that every woman’s story belongs in the art canon. It reminds us that art can be a powerful (and accessible) medium for sharing lived experiences, asserting rights, and preserving cultural truth. When we carve out space for women artists, we spark conversations about inclusion and equity in the art world.
At the same time, this movement ensures that the next generation of Filipina artists won’t have to look far to find role models who look – and create – like them.
#WomenCreate is just beginning. To follow the journey of Quezon’s women artists, check out Good Days Gallery’s Instagram, @gooddaysartgallery. Visit Fringe Magazine for more spotlights and stories from the #WomenCreate campaign – a thriving proof to how women create, inspire, and continue to hold up more than half the sky.
