Features

Capturing Small Moments: Immortalizing Filipino Culture Through Munting Buhay

By Nicholas Endencia | January 17, 2025

MUNTING BUHAY: a celebration of Filipino culture that everyone, not only Bedans, should appreciate. Through art, the nation’s memories come alivereminding people that the smallest details of everyday life define its identity.

     On Jan. 16, the 6th floor of the Our Lady of Montserrat Building at San Beda College Alabang set the stage for a remarkable cultural experience. The opening of Munting Buhay, a solo exhibition by miniature artist Julius Paladin, showcased intricate dioramas that highlight moments of Filipino heritage. From rural simplicity to modern influences, these miniatures preserve and amplify stories that often go unnoticed.

Small Pieces, Big Stories     

     Paladin's miniature artworks mirror the joys, struggles, and everyday moments of Filipinos. From the humble farmland, Lumaki po ako sa Bukid, to fantastical landscapes like Bilbbo Baggins’ house, the artist brings different facets of life to scale.

     Each piece tells a story. For instance, Kalapaw ni Apo portrays the beauty of simple living surrounded by lush greenery grounded in tradition. Meanwhile, The Hobbiton Bridge and Millhouse invite viewers to experience harmony with nature through an imaginative lens. They both remind us that art can be a lens through which we can view life’s simplest yet most meaningful moments.

     Paladin’s art captures the delicate balance between preservation and creativity. By merging cultural heritage with concepts that were present in his daily life, his work shows what it was like to be a Filipino from his perspective. He encourages viewers to value their roots while embracing new perspectives that inspire the audience to see beauty in the mundane and value in the overlooked. These miniatures serve as an artistic expression and catalyst for reflection on the essence of Filipino identity and creativity.

Communities, Culture, Creativity
     Munting Buhay is more than an art exhibit; it’s a call to revisit cultural roots. The curator highlighted the importance of remembering how traditional values and everyday practices contribute to the Filipino identity.  It emphasizes that even the most miniature representations can ignite pride and understanding of our heritage. 

     Through this event, SBCA has become a hub for cultural awareness and value in our environment. Rector President, Rev. Fr. Gerardo Ma. De Villa, in his heartfelt message, imparted a blessing upon the exhibit right before the start of the ribbon-cutting ceremony: "May the Lord bless your exhibit and may inspire people to take care of nature, to take care of our environment so that we may not only picture them but actually live in such an environment." His words highlighted that the exhibition is not just a static representation of our culture but also a reminder of the importance of preserving, protecting, and living out the value it portrays and tells us to go beyond merely appreciating nature and heritage through imagery and also actively to preserve and sustain them for future generations.