Unang Taon ("Year One") Ed. 1 of 10

This collage brings together my most cherished Filipino-themed works from my first year back to painting after a 15-year hiatus in IT.

All three featured portraits hold special meaning for me:

Left: A triumphant Badjao boy with a fresh catch of octopus, representing the indigenous group near where my family is from in Zamboanga City. This piece received a commendation at the Blackwood Rotary Art Show.

Center: An Ifugao man, previously shown at the Migration Museum in Adelaide. The original now lives in a Filipino collector’s heritage home in Salem, Massachusetts, USA.

Right: A T'boli girl, which won first prize in the watercolour category at the Royal Adelaide Art Show. I struggled so hard to finish this piece, almost gave up many times, and I’m so glad I pushed through!

The overall collage reminds me of the Philippine flag and fills me with pride and gratitude. Though I’m now here in Australia, the Philippines remains my muse, and I’m thankful I can share that with my kababayans down under.

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Hi! I'm Peter. I'm a Filipino-born artist based in Adelaide. My work is a reflection of my cultural heritage and my journey as an immigrant in Australia. Through painting, I explore themes of identity, nostalgia, and belonging, with a strong focus on Filipino culture. My art has been exhibited across Australia and is held in private collections worldwide.

I have studied extensively, taking workshops at the Adelaide Central School of Art and learning from renowned international artists. In 2022, I was honored to win first prize in the watercolor category at the Royal Adelaide Art Show for my portrait of a T’boli girl.

Although I work full-time in cybersecurity, painting remains my passion and creative sanctuary, allowing me to celebrate and preserve the richness of Filipino culture.

Artist Statement
My art is a vivid tribute to my Filipino heritage, deeply rooted in the rich traditions, flavours, and stories of my homeland. Nostalgia fuels my creative process, compelling me to capture moments that connect me to my past. Specialising in watercolour, oils and acrylic gouache, I focus on intricate details, textures, and patterns that preserve the beauty of my memories and cultural identity.