Over the past three weeks, young artists in Cochrane have been diving into a unique Filipino art form—and their colourful creations are about to take centre stage.
Their artwork will be on display during Cochrane’s upcoming celebration of Philippines Independence Day on June 7.
The youth added the final touches to their dot paintings this week, working on special woven bamboo canvases—known as bilao—shipped directly from the Philippines.
The sessions were led by President Mila Prout and Vice-President Edwin Aguanta of the Filipino Canadian Association of Cochrane Alberta (FCACA), and hosted at the Cochrane Public Library.
Aguanta explained that bilao is deeply rooted in Filipino tradition. Originally used to transport rice and other food, it’s now commonly used to serve dishes like fruit and snack platters—and has recently gained popularity as a medium for street art.
During a visit to the Philippines, Prout was inspired by a street artist painting with just black and white dots.
“She was using black and white, and I thought, it’s just amazing,” said Prout. “So I brought the idea back to Cochrane—but instead of black and white, I thought, let’s go wild and add different colours!”
Philippines Independence Day remains a joyful and meaningful celebration, not just for Cochrane’s 1,000-plus Filipino residents, but for the entire community. The event is filled with music, dancing, family games, and—naturally—an incredible Filipino feast.
