The area just outside Olympia Bakery in Kalk Bay was a hive of activity on Tuesday as Filipino artist Pancho Piano worked on a mural to honour the area’s Filipino history.
The mural will pay tribute to the seafarers from the Philippines who first settled in the area in the 19th century, says Mr Piano.
His work was admired by passers-by and several schools including pupils from the St James RC Primary School who posed for a photograph with him.
Visiting Cape Town and Kalk Bay for the first time, he said the history and elements of Kalk Bay inspired the design of the mural after a walk-about of the village and the Manilla Steps, which in 2018, were named in honour of Filipino settlers (“Kalk Bay steps now named Manilla Steps,” Echo, October 29, 2018).
“Kalk Bay is a beautiful community,” he said.
He started the mural, from scratch, on Monday and was expecting to finish it by Wednesday.
With more than 150 murals and stained-glass works, many of which are located in religious and public spaces across the Philippines and Europe, Mr Piano is well-known for his artworks.
The mural is between Olympia Bakery and an outdoor exhibition, The Sea is in our Blood, which focuses on the erased histories of Kalk Bay’s Indigenous fishing communities (“Exploring Kalk Bay’s indigenous fishing roots,” Echo, January 13).
In a statement, the consul general of the Philippines in South Africa, Steven Chaimowitz, said the mural would be a striking tribute to the Filipino community’s rich history in the area.
“South Africa and the Philippines share a bond rooted in history, forged through the brave men who first sailed across the seas in the 19th century,” he said, adding that the mural was not just a tribute to the Filipino seafarers but also the enduring friendship between the nations.
While many Filipinos had returned home after the Philippines had been ceded to America in 1898, around 60 families had remained, and some of their descendants still called Kalk Bay home, he said.
Steve Herbert, secretary of the Kalk Bay Historical Association, said Filipino culture was a key part of the area’s character.
“This mural will serve as a poignant reminder of the courage and resilience of the Filipino community and how they became a cornerstone of Kalk Bay’s vibrant history,” he said, adding that it was not just a piece of art, but a tribute to the enduring spirit of those early settlers and the generations that followed.
He said the Philippines had long been recognised as a maritime powerhouse, with over 500 000 Filipino seafarers working on ships around the world.
The mural was a salute to those on the high seas today and the Filipino families who had helped establish Kalk Bay as a diverse and flourishing community, he said.
Mr Piano’s work has appeared in international art events across America, Europe, and South-east Asia. He is currently exhibiting his work at the Castle of Good Hope, co-curated in collaboration with the Koena Art Institute, until Sunday.
His next mural will be in St Helena Bay.
