MANILA, Philippines?As Manny Pacquiao pumps his fists and throws the first punch against David Diaz next Saturday, an entirely different kind of showdown will be taking place a million miles away from the Mandalay Bay arena.

Make that the leafy, open grounds of Velasquez Park in Salcedo Village, Makati, where Pinoy art freaks of every stripe will attempt to out wit, out play, and out bargain one another in the fifth edition of Art in the Park, the country?s bi-annual affordable art fair.

Since it was launched in 2006, Art in the Park has provided a relaxed, unstuffy venue where art aficionados and enthusiasts can browse, buy, and learn about contemporary Filipino art.

The fair has managed to draw in a diverse cross-section of society?from budding enthusiasts and established collectors, to expat families and young professionals, to newly-married couples furnishing their first homes?all of whom are in search of enticing bargains, or the occasional steal.

Tucked away within a sea of booths and stalls are paintings, drawings, sculptures, photographs, and original prints, all priced at P20,000 and below.

A Mighty Art

The whole purpose of the fair, according to Trickie Colayco-Lopa?a trustee of the Museum Foundation of the Philippines (MFP), the main beneficiary of the event?is about finding accessible art in unintimidating surroundings.

?Our goal is to showcase a wide variety of artworks that may not be seen in traditional galleries, as well as to provide buyers and would-be collectors a less formal setting to view these pieces,? shares Lopa, who organized this year?s fair along with MFP members Lisa Ongpin-Periquet, Mailin Locsin, Tana de Leon-Lopa, Pepper Roxas, Dindin Araneta, Rhona Lopa-Macasaet, Gigi Buenaventura-Perrett, Mel Francisco, and Menchie Duremdes, the foundation?s Executive Director.

Once again, the group hopes to simulate the homey, neighborhood-oriented atmosphere that has become synonymous with the Salcedo Saturday Market, which Lopa and Periquet established four years ago together with Barangay Bel-Air.

Art in the Park features a mix of established and emerging artists, art galleries, and art groups. Among the participants on Saturday, June 28, are Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan, Art Inday, Art Wednesday, L?Arc en Ciel, Neo-Angono Artist Collective, Philippine Association of Printmakers, Putik, Sheer Joy, Art Informal, Blanc Art Space, Galeria de las Islas, Galerie Astra, Nineveh Artspace, Tin-Aw Art Gallery, Jay Camus, John Silva, Whitebox Studio, Ral Arrogante, Anthony Palomo, Jonathan and Mariano Ching, FEATI University, U.P. College of Fine Arts, Far Eastern University and finalists from the PLDT-DPC Visual Arts National Competition.

Art of Darkness

In a special take on this year?s fair?which, incidentally, coincides with the Salcedo Saturday Market?s fourth anniversary?an evening art fair has been planned. From 5 p.m. onwards, Art in the Park transforms into Art After Dark.

Beneath the warm glow of lanterns hung on trees, in an atmosphere made mellow with jazz music from saxophonist Vince Lahorra, visitors can pop into any one of six ?art spaces? and interact with the pieces on display?wield the cold, weighty steel of a sculpture, or sweep a hand over the smooth, fine finish of a chair?as well as discover more treasures in the form of paintings, photographs, and prints.

Right outside these ?art spaces,? cocktail tables will also be set up, while Terry?s will be providing a drinks and tapas bar, inviting visitors to linger awhile and admire the art, with a plate of tapas or a glass of wine in hand.

Art After Dark will showcase the works of Agnes Arellano, Space Philippines, Avellana Art Gallery, Charlie Co, Art Cabinet and Alliance Française. ?The pieces on sale during the evening are also guaranteed to be beautifully provocative, one-of-a-kind, and well worth the investment,? says committee member Rhona Lopa-Macasaet.

Rather than being a high-end affair, the focus of Art in the Park and Art After Dark is on affordable everyday art, allowing people to purchase a few eye-catching pieces rather than making one or two large investments. (Unlike the international auction scene, which is driven by sales and profit, this event is fully committed to a worthy cause: to raise funds and awareness for the National Museum and its network.)

?People have likened the experience to a treasure hunt,? says Lopa. ?You just have to look around and enjoy. Part of the thrill?and the fun?is in the browsing and the trawling. It?s a great way to open your eyes to all sorts of pieces.?

Art in the Park & Art After Dark, which is sponsored by Barangay Bel-Air through Barangay Captain Jun Gomez, will take place at Velasquez Park, Salcedo Village, Makati, on June 28, Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. & 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. For inquiries, call the MFP at 404-2685 or visit www.museumfoundationph.org.