Sea, sun, and artful purpose in Iloilo

Boracay, with its white sand, salt air, and sunset glow, offered the perfect summer setting for former Roxas City Mayor Angel Alan Celino’s birthday escape.

Far from the formal rhythms of city life, Celino marked his special day in the island’s easy elegance, joined by his wife, Sarah L. Celino, their daughters, Allana and Alysha, and close friends who came together for a celebration shaped by sea, sport, and family.

The mood was relaxed but refined — breakfast by the shore, unhurried conversations under the sun, and the quiet luxury of being surrounded by those who mattered most.

For Celino, the island also offered time for one of his favorite pursuits: golf.

On the greens, he shared lighthearted moments with Sarah, while the rest of the family took in Boracay’s powdery sand and clear blue waters.

The celebration carried the breezy spirit of the island, from daytime beach leisure to the softer magic of evening, when Boracay shifts into a more intimate rhythm.

Among those who joined the birthday festivities were Veronica “Kitty” Duterte, Vic Singson, Ram and Bea Escutin, Arnel Malaga, Leonard Tirol, Gabriel and Hazel Bernas, Engineer Tito Bernas, and Bryan Bernas.

Together, they formed the kind of close circle that turns a private milestone into a warm society gathering.

It was a birthday framed not by spectacle, but by ease — a reminder that the best celebrations are often those filled with sunlight, laughter, and the restorative calm of what many fondly call “Vitamin Sea.”

(The following text has been updated to correct a naming error and address omissions from the previously published version. Specifically, the director of the exhibition has been corrected to Raquel Jaruda [previously misstated as Miguel Jaruda], and participating artists Candice Bacas and Maggie Candia have been properly included in the roster of exhibiting artists.)

Back in Iloilo, another kind of gathering unfolded with quiet force at Museo Iloilo.

“The Sleep Project,” an art exhibition mounted as a noble advocacy for mental health awareness, brought together artists Naty Falales of Ash Draws, Samantha Cacho, Raquel Jaruda, Kim Obsidian, Daphne Ong, Jessica Ebro of Flopsy Studio, Candice Bacas, Maggie Candia, and Miguel Zaldarriaga.

The exhibition, conceptualized by the artists and directed by Raquel Jaruda with co-organizer Samantha Montejo-Cacho, offered a thoughtful mix of styles and visual voices. Its purpose was clear: to create space for conversations on mental health, to offer hope, and to remind viewers that art can be both deeply personal and socially resonant.

Among the guests seen at the exhibit were Marilou Laus, Cole Jaco, Lester Montejo, Rosy Montejo, Maritess Maabong, and Lydia Coronado, who joined artists, supporters, and friends in marking the opening.

Running until June 12, 2026, at Museo Iloilo, “The Sleep Project” stands as more than an exhibition. It is a gentle but firm invitation to look closer, listen better, and recognize the healing power of creativity.

From Boracay’s sunlit shores to Museo Iloilo’s contemplative halls, the week offered two distinct portraits of a meaningful life — one rooted in celebration, the other in compassion, both leaving a graceful imprint.