MANILA, Philippines - On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Philippine-Singapore diplomatic relations in 2009, the Philippine Embassy in Singapore and art group Siningapor mount an 11-man art and photo exhibit inspired by the Filipino diaspora.

What is life like as an overseas professional worker? And what is it like to live in Singapore?what are the things that you choose to see as a tourist, and those that you are forced to deal with as a resident?

In an art exhibit titled ?Siningapor,? Singapore-based Filipino artists tackle issues such as migration, cultural identity and the resilience of Filipinos who have left their country to work abroad. They delve into the reality of living away from their home country.

Eleven artists, all full-time employees in the creative field, use painting, mixed media and photographs to express their own take on the Philippine diaspora and how the confluence of different cultures affect their identity as Filipinos.

They are editorial cartoonist Manny Francisco, architect Marc Zara, infographics artist Mike Dizon; illustrators Paul Eric Roca, Cel Gulapa, Ludwig Ilio and Noel Rosales; writer-photographer Lester Ledesma, video artist Nilo Parrilla, filmmaker Yeye Calderon and hobbyist Jasmin King.

The exhibit is curated by journalist-editor James P. Ong.

These artists are part of an informal collective that has called itself ?Siningapor??which holds a double meaning. While the direct translation is ?Singapore Art,? it could also mean being ?Singaporeanized? or integrating into the Lion City?s culture.

?Siningapor? will run Aug. 18-23, 12 noon-6 p.m., at the Photographic Society of Singapore Gallery (30 Selegie Road; Selegie Arts Centre, 180030. Tel. no. 65-6334 3361; email: felixdcut@yahoo.com.