Aginod

As part of our Art Month celebration, we open this exhibition with care and awareness. In a city still drying its streets, still checking on each other, still making sense of what the flood left behind, gathering for art feels different this time. It feels quieter, more intentional.

Aginod is a Bisaya word that means to move slowly and with effort. It reflects how art grows in cities that are not yet seen as creative centers. Nothing here moves easily. Nothing arrives without labor.

In this exhibition, the sikad is not just a symbol. It becomes the very structure that carries the works. It holds the weight the way artists hold their practice. Every artwork placed on it adds burden and meaning. The journey moves forward not because it is fast, but because someone continues to push.

Right now, Iligan is still in the middle of rebuilding routines and spaces. AGINOD stands within that reality. It reminds us that movement happens through shared effort. Artists, communities, friends, and institutions all have a role in keeping the sikad in motion. Progress may be slow, but it becomes possible when it is collective.

This is not about spectacle.

It is about showing up for each other and choosing to continue.

February 14, 2026

Inato Gallery, Bagong Silang

Iligan City, Philippines