UMA NESKA will bring together 52 artists, designers, and creative industry players for the
2nd Lokhalaya Expo, which kicks off at Ayala Malls Abreeza from Sept. 18 to 20.
Allyza Balois, Uma Neska founder and chief creative officer, said the three-day event will highlight the creativity of young local entrepreneurs and startups.
She also said it will focus more on homegrown artists, including developing a database to gather multimedia artists in Davao City.
Balois highlighted that the expo will bridge the gap between government programs and the local creatives.
“We really want to highlight Davao City’s creative scene because we see the value, the culture of the artists, and local startups also,” Balois said during the Habi at Kape media forum on Sept 2.
Lokhalaya 2026 will feature a wide range of participants from the creative community, including students, innovators, performers, government agencies, industry partners, and many others, where they will be presenting their works, exchanging ideas, and exploring opportunities for collaboration.
Day one of the expo will involve a ribbon-cutting ceremony, discussions on the creative industry and enterprise, and community networking and exhibitions.
Day two will spotlight the performative arts, which include the Mindanao Film Industry, while day three will feature workshop sessions on visual arts.
Lokhalaya 2026 is co-presented by the City Government of Davao through the City Economic Enterprise Office and Davao City Office for Culture and the Arts. They also partnered with the Department of Trade and Industry Region XI and the Design Center of the Philippines.
In celebration of Creative Industries Month, the group recognizes the creative economy as an important contributor to the Philippines’ cultural and economic development, as mandated by Republic Act No. 11904, or the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act, signed on July 28, 2022.
