Pushing forward its bid to make the Philippines Asia’s Premier Creative Hub by 2030, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) staged the inaugural Malikhaing Pinoy Creative Expo (MPEx), a five-day celebration of local talent at SMX Aura in Taguig.
Held in celebration of the Philippine Creative Industries Month (PCIM), MPEx is the first event to gather all nine creative domains—audiovisual media, visual arts, digital interactive media, design, performing arts, publishing, traditional cultural expressions, creative services, and cultural sites—and their 73 sectors.
Visitors experienced a dynamic showcase inside dedicated creative pavilions featuring visual art, sculpture, animation, comics, art toys, and literary works.
MPEx also hosted “Malikhaing Pinoy Chats,” a series of engaging talks uniting industry professionals, creatives, and policymakers for insightful discussions.
A highlight for the digital interactive media domain was “Creative Matchmaking for Filipino Games,” where indie and student developers pitched projects to industry leaders and potential investors. The game Dungeon King by Midnight Equinox won the Best Game Pitch award.
The expo also brought together top exhibitors and organizations such as the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), Game Developers Association of the Philippines (GDAP), Design Center of the Philippines, Philippine Fashion Coalition, Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), and Ayala Museum.
MPEx is a flagship initiative of the Malikhaing Pinoy Program, led by the DTI through the Philippine Creative Industries Development Council (PCIDC).
