The Capri Island Vegan Café in San Pedro City, Laguna is not just a place to hang out or have a cup of coffee.
Today, the small “plant-based vegan” café located near the San Pedro City Hall is now host to a growing collection of artworks representing the city’s rich culture.
Last February 7, the café, in partnership with the San Pedro Art Collective (SPACOL) and the San Pedro City Tourism, Culture and Arts Office (CTCAO), led the launch of its Art Corner Gallery.
The exhibit, which is part of activities for National Arts Month this February, showcased artworks, mostly paintings, made by San Pedrense artists.
This isn’t the first time the café has partnered with the local artists’ group and the city government since the venue was opened in 2021, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Actually, matagal na po to, pero ngayon lang po sya na-expose,” Raine Sy, a local artist and photographer who is also a café employee, told OpinYon Laguna.
“I think maganda po syang step para kumbaga eto pong mga artist na to. Ngayon lang din po namin nakilala pero parang di mo po ine-expect na may mga artist pa pala sa San Pedro,” she added.
For café owner Aster Bedico, the creation of the art gallery is also a welcome opportunity for San Pedro’s homegrown talents to connect with each other and promote their artworks to a growing, discerning audience who have never before experienced art.
“Yung mga mangyayaring event na supported ng LGU, kami ay natutuwa na makipag-partner sa kanila. Kasi of course, community, lumalaki siya, [so] magandang ma-reach natin yung iba’t ibang sulok ng San Pedro,” Bedico added.
Aside from art exhibits, the Capri Island Vegan Café also hosted a lineup of other activities such as a flower arrangement workshop and a mini-film fest.
It is set to close National Arts Month with the Likhang Esoterika: Gig for a Cause and Fashion Show on February 28.
However, Sy added that the café will continue to host exhibits and art-related events after February.
“Actually, mag-i-stay pa sya dito unless kunin na ng artist yung work, tapos for next month naka-plano na kaagad kami for Women’s Month. Next [month] kasi ako mage-exhibit, about ano siya ‘photo' naman,” she said.
Capri Island Vegan Café is located at 289 Mabini Street, Poblacion, San Pedro City, Laguna near the access road to the San Pedro City Hall and the GMA/San Jose (Cavite) jeepney terminal.
Operating hours are 4:00 to 10:00 p.m. from Tuesdays to Thursdays and 2:00 to 10:00 p.m. from Fridays to Sundays.
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