Dumaguete continues to showcase its creative side through “EMERGENCE: THEN and NOW,” an art exhibit featuring the works and artistic journeys of local artists Rey Labarento and Jude Millares. Presented by the Dumaguete Festival and Arts Society (DUFAS), the exhibition runs from September 22 to 30, 2026, at Café Mamia Restaurant | Espresso Bar. The exhibit brings together works that look at the artists’ beginnings and their present artistic expressions, giving visitors an opportunity to see how their creative practices have developed over time.
From Beginnings to New Expressions
The idea behind “EMERGENCE: THEN and NOW” centers on artistic growth. For visitors, the exhibition offers more than an opportunity to view individual artworks. It provides a glimpse into the development of two artists and the changing perspectives, stories, and creative approaches that have shaped their work. The journey from early works to newer expressions can also offer a closer look at how artists respond to their experiences and surroundings. In Dumaguete, where visual artists have regularly collaborated and exhibited together, these individual journeys form part of a broader creative community.
Rey Labarento’s Connection to Everyday Life
Rey Labarento is a visual artist and nature lover from Valencia, Negros Oriental. His work has focused on observing and depicting local environments and the people who inhabit them. Mugna Gallery describes Labarento's practice as an ongoing observation of his surroundings, with his works capturing people, scenes, and details of everyday life. His approach has included paper, terracotta, and other materials, while his use of outlining thread has become a recognizable element of some of his works. His participation in previous exhibitions also demonstrates his connection to the wider Dumaguete art community. In Kaleidoscopia, held in Valencia in 2023, Labarento and Millares were among five artists who presented different approaches to artmaking and personal perspectives.
Jude Millares and an Evolving Artistic Identity
Dumaguete-based artist Jude Millares has likewise explored different approaches throughout his artistic development. Mugna Gallery notes that Millares studied Fine Arts and explored abstract and psychic automatism during his college years. His practice later developed toward works that communicate personal experiences and stories, including colorful abstract compositions and figurative paintings. His solo exhibition Journals presented works connected to his personal journey and inner world. Millares has also participated in projects that bring art beyond traditional exhibition spaces. In a Dumaguete City project featuring wildlife-inspired Christmas lanterns, Millares was among the local artists involved in creating works displayed in public spaces such as Presidencia Plaza and M.L. Quezon Park.
