PRESS RELEASE
WDC-29-2022
19 AUGUST 2022
WASHINGTON D.C. – In celebration of Buwan ng Wika sa Amerika and the birth anniversary of the late President Manuel L. Quezon, the Sentro Rizal of the Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C. invited Baybayin calligraphist and artist Mr. George Ian “Taipan” Lucero to speak and hold a workshop titled “CalligraFilipino VI: Talk and Basic Baybayin Workshop” at the Embassy’s Quezon Hall on 19 August. Taipan also featured his artworks that perfectly blended art and calligraphy with the preservation of the Philippine ancient script called Baybayin. President Quezon was also known as the Father of the National Language due to his efforts and role in the recognition of a Philippine national language, and the establishment of an Institute of National Language.
Taipan’s presentation emphasized the importance of preserving Filipino culture and the traditional writing system especially during the digital age. He explained the two aspects of his CalligraFilipino project which are sinulat (written) and ginuhit (drawn). He also shared his views on the visual etymology of Baybayin characters and how it relates to the Filipino language. He also called on Filipinos “to be proud of what is ours.” Chargé d’Affaires Jaime Ramon T. Ascalon, Jr. said “while we are proud of our cultural treasures such as Baybayin, we should also be equally proud of our living treasures such as Taipan. We hope Taipan will continue to raise the profile of the Filipino people globally through his CalligraFilipino.”
George Ian “Taipan” Lucero is a calligraphist and visual artist who received a grant from the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) for his project CalligraFilipino, a portmanteau of Calligraphy and Filipino. His art and advocacy celebrates both pre-colonial writing and Filipino culture. His work focuses on the artistic interpretation of Baybayin combined with traditional cultural elements, such as the colorful Okir of the Maranao, the radial design pattern of Kulintangs, the Lingling-o fertility charm of the Cordilleras, among others.
The workshop was attended by scholars, museum fellows, and members of the Filipino community. His talk was followed by a basic workshop, wherein the participants get to experience writing their own names using Baybayin characters.
Mr. Lucero is also the featured artist for the 29th annual Pistahan Parade and Festival held on 13-14 August 2022 in San Francisco, California. As part of his U.S. tour, his upcoming exhibits and workshops are as follows:
- 26 August 2022, 6:00PM – Talk and Basic Baybayin Workshop at the Philippine Consulate in New York, USA;
- 16 September – 15 October 2022 – Exhibit at the Philippine Consulate in San Francisco; and
- 02 October 2022, 1:00PM – Presentation at the San Francisco Art Museum
More information on his works may be found in his Instagram account @taipanlucero ###
