Gathered together for the show titled "Sikap" (A Tribute to the Hardworking Ox) are 24 works from 10 artists who have celebrated the strength of the carabao in their art.

Included in the show are works from Dominic Rubio, Angel Cacnio, Michael Cacnio, Jovan Benito, Nell Campos, Glenn Cagandahan, Richard Arimado, Crisanto Lodronio, Dante Hippolito, Henry Ordona and Alan Rapsing.

Arlene Sta. Ana, project coordinator, said the gallery chose the title "Sikap" because "this is the message the steady and reliable ox is giving everyone: Good fortune will be attained through hard work and diligence."

Jovan Benito, said she too was "inspired by the feng shui predictions that for the Year 2009 good fortune can be attained working hard and being industrious. There is no better symbol for this than the carabao," she says. For this exhibit she painted the 40 x 55 work "Planting Rice" as well as "Serenade."

But like her fellow artists Richard Arimado and Aljo Pingol, Benito also sees the ox as a part of everyday Filipino rural life, hence their inclusion in her painting and Arimado’s painting "Karrera ng Kalabaw". Pingol’s submission is an artwork titled "Best Friend,"underscoring man’s special relations with his beast of burden.

Dominic Rubio says that he painted the hardworking carabao in his nostalgic paintings of 19th century Philippines as "essential participants in the trips taken by farmers from far flung areas to go to market."

For Dante Hippolito, the ox is depicted as "Old Reliable I" and "Old Reliable II." Sculptor Glenn Cagandahan who recently designed the trophies for the National Book Development Board sees the water buffalo as an elegant figure that is very challenging for an artist to interpret. He wanted to present the animal in an elegant, folksy but highly contemporary style. Nell Campos presents them in a frontal view of a galloping horse in his interpretation of "Carabao Race."

Galerie Joaquin main is located at 371 P. Guevarra St., corner Montessori Lane, Addition Hills, San Juan while Galerie Joaquin Podium is located at the lower ground Floor at The Podium Mall at ADB Avenue.

"This show is also a tribute to the Filipino" says Sta. Ana. "The Year of the Ox emphasizes frugality, thrift and industriousness and praises silent workers," it is as if the feng shui masters are describing the Filipino as an ideal person to be able to weather the storms and crises brought about by the closing of a turbulent Year 2008." Sta Ana notes that because this is a double Earth year, 2009, according to feng shui experts the year should bring about peace and harmony, perhaps in small doses at first but eventually as the year progresses.