GET ready for a fun and unique shopping experience as MaArte Fair at The Pen happens at The Peninsula Manila from August 13 to 16.
Now on its 17th staging, the MaArte Fair is a much-anticipated event for lovers of Philippine-made crafts, clothes, houseware, accessories, and food items.
The fair found its home at The Pen in 2017, with a brief hiatus during the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021. This year marks the event’s eighth edition at the five-star hotel.
Open to the public, the gathering of artisans widens the appreciation for Filipino artisanal products while visitors enjoy the comforts of a luxury hotel.
The unique room-by-room setup adds to the excitement of the experience, giving the feel of visiting a friendly neighborhood block party.
CARNIVAL OF FINE FINDS
THIS year’s theme Karnabal promises to be a whimsical, nostalgic, and contemporary reimagining of the iconic Manila Carnival-an annual spectacle held from 1908 to 1939 featuring trade fairs, parades and pageantry. It has since become part of Philippine culture and lives on today as the ubiquitous perya.
‘Karnabal is our way of turning the fairgrounds into a living tribute to a piece of Filipino history that many younger generations have only heard about in passing,’ said Danny C. Jacinto, president of the Museum Foundation of the Philippines (MFPI).
‘Every exhibitor here is helping us keep that story-and the artisans who carry it forward-alive for the next generation.’
Mariano Garchitorena, The Peninsula Manila’s director of public relations, told BusinessMirror, ‘Karnabal is a celebration! The year 2026 is our 50th anniversary, so this is part of our celebration of the best and the brightest of Philippine artisans.’
Officially opening on September 14, 1976, on the corners of Ayala and Makati Avenues, The Peninsula Manila’s Brutalist architecture, designed by lead architect Gabriel Formoso and consulting firms, is considered an important landmark of Makati City. Its lobby, with the iconic Sunburst sculpture by National Artist Napoleon Abueva above it, has witnessed various social milestones and historical events.
On what to expect at MaArte Fair at The Pen this year, Garchitorena summarizes it in three words: ‘Bigger. This year has the most number of artisan exhibitors at more than 200.
‘Filipino. MaArte celebrates the country’s creative identity.
‘Curated. Not just because the exhibitors are selected, but because every piece on offer reflects a certain level of artistry, craftsmanship, and authenticity. MaArte is about ‘gawa sa kamay,’ not mass-produced.’
The MaArte Fair is the flagship fundraising event of the Museum Foundation of the Philippines (MFPI), a private non-profit organization committed to promoting and preserving Philippine cultural heritage.
A portion of the fair’s proceeds will serve as grants to deserving organizations or individuals engaged in cultural preservation projects.
Shoppers can look forward to getting their coveted stash from MaArte mainstays, such as Happy Andrada, PamPinay, A.Mara, and OneWeave, plus new exhibitors Genes and Hails, Locallae´, Lookal by Alixia Marie, Ligaw Travel Accessories, Dermtropics, Mele + Marie, and Fam PH.