PCG, DTI launch DAYO: Footprints and Dialogue in New York

New York, USA — The Philippine Consulate General in New York, in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry's Philippine Trade and Investment Center in New York (PTIC-New York), proudly launched DAYO: Footprints and Dialogue — Filipino Perspectives in New York, a contemporary art and textile exhibition showcasing the Philippines' commitment to sharing its rich cultural heritage with global audiences, which will run from 8 to 17 April 2026.

A New Exhibition Exploring Filipino Presence in New York Through Themes of Migration, Identity, and Cultural Dialogue. (Photo courtesy of Rob Rich)

DAYO builds upon the success of HABI: Discovering Possibilities for Philippine Fibers, the traveling textile exhibition launched in 2024 that introduced Philippine fibers and weaving traditions — including abaca, piña, and bamboo — to international audiences. HABI celebrated the artistry of Filipino weaving communities, many of them women-led and deeply rooted in local tradition, while exploring the potential of indigenous materials as vehicles for sustainable innovation and gateways to global creative markets.

Where HABI highlighted the origins of Philippine cultural textiles, DAYO shifts the conversation from material to movement — from the fibers that root Filipino communities to the journeys that define them. The exhibition brings forward contemporary expressions of identity through textile-based installations, printmaking on fabric, digital art, acrylic painting, and mixed media works, while maintaining a deliberate commitment to sustainability through the creative reuse of materials from previous programs. Together, HABI and DAYO form a continuous and compelling story: from the threads woven in communities at home to the footprints Filipinos leave across the world.

Consul General Senen Mangalile, Philippine Consulate General New York. (Photo courtesy of Rob Rich)

"DAYO”   is a Filipino word that can mean two things: first, a person who is from one place and has settled in another, and second, a transplanted idea, practice, behavior, tradition. This exhibit celebrates both meanings as it features both the artists who are from the Philippines who are now based here for now, as well as the traditions and narratives of our weaving communities in the Philippines, which we aim to transplant to this part of the world," said Consul General Senen Mangalile.

PTIC-New York Trade Commissioner Alma Argayoso echoed this vision, noting that DAYO aims to create a space for new conversations with galleries, design studios, and creative professionals — conversations that can grow into collaborations, commissions, and lasting partnerships. "With enabling laws in the Philippines such as the Tatak Pinoy Act and the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act, our mission is clear: to ensure that Philippine creativity is not only celebrated culturally, but valued economically. Through this exhibition, we aim to open wider markets for our artists and position Philippine creativity firmly on the international stage," she said.

Trade Commissioner Alma Argayoso, PTIC-New York.

The exhibition features work by artists Karol Antonio and Citadel Cruz, whose pieces reflect the evolving ways Filipinos interpret heritage, build dialogue, and contribute to the cultural fabric of the places they call home. DAYO affirms how creativity serves as a powerful bridge between cultures and honors the resilience and imagination that Filipinos carry wherever they go. (A press release from the PTIC)

Read more about DAYO: https://heyzine.com/flip-book/3e6af5983c.html#page/7