School of Creative
Industries
Janine Cabato
Janine is an independent curator, museum consultant and cultural worker based in the Philippines. She currently leads the research and exhibition design development for Sugbu Chinese Heritage Museum in Cebu City.
Before diving into freelance work, Janine was Head of the Megaworld Museum Group, which included Chinatown Museum and Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art. During the pandemic, she successfully transitioned both museum teams to produce online educational programmes and engage with various audiences digitally. She oversaw the curation, design and construction of Chinatown Museum in Manila. Her portfolio also includes the conceptualisation and launch of Spark Museum in De La Salle Santiago Zobel School in Muntinlupa City.
Janine earned her BFA in Art Management at the Ateneo de Manila University and is a recipient of LASALLE's SEAsian Scholars Award.
When she isn’t working, she loves to walk her rescue dog Tekki.
Thesis abstract
Place branding and community based tourism: A case study on the Maginhawa Arts and Food Hub in Quezon City, Philippines
This research investigated the practice of neighbourhood place branding and community based tourism through a case study of Maginhawa Art and Food Hub in Quezon City, Philippines. It also weaved together the concepts of creative hubs as well as arts and cultural ecology. Data collection utilised mixed methodologies of fieldwork, observation, review of related literature and semi-structured interviews.
Based on the triangulation of data, the reality of the hub showed that community based tourism was not practised. Though the development and organisation of the Maginhawa Food Community was incidental, this propelled the gastronomic place brand more and also gave evidence to a thriving local economy.
In contrast, interview responses from creative entrepreneurs in the hub showed a weak art and cultural ecology. The chronological history of art events and creative businesses in the hub portrayed sporadic and independent creative placemaking which added temporary vibrancy to the neighbourhood.
In conclusion, the Maginhawa Art and Food Hub needs to improve their reality. Art and culture has always been present but its presence can still be nourished. Community based tourism should be practised to ensure consistent engagement and proper representation. Vision, intention and government support are needed to nourish the hub’s art community.