Bologna, Italy. – The event called MaDittz @60 -Strokes, Stitches & Scribbles: a three-in-one (An Exhibit… an Experience… an Expression) by Merceditas “Dittz” Centeno de Jesus opened on November 3 at the Centro Delle Donne, Via del Piombo 7, Bologna, Italy.
Stitches & Scribbles featured Centeno-De Jesus’ works as a visual artist, poet, arts tutor, fashion dressmaker, feminist and activist. It celebrated Centeno’s 60th birthday. It shone the spotlight on the campaign to surface Centeno’s son Gene “Bazoo” Roz Jamil who was forcibly disappeared by state forces in the Philippines on April 28, 2023, together with Dexter Capuyan. Both Bazoo and Dexter are indigenous rights’ activists.
As a description of and an invitation to the event, Centeno-De Jesus wrote this post on the Filipino Women’s League – Bologna, Italy FaceBook page: “How should I celebrate a great milestone in my life….that of turning 60 years old ….with grief and depression because someone very dear in my heart is still missing?
For those who are following my journey and loving me with all my imperfections and turbulent emotions ….. This is my way of giving back and sharing a part of me. I offer my brush strokes, my fashion stitches and scribbles of poems in an exhibit of experience and expressions.”
Mercedita “Dittz” and husband Gene both opened the exhibit with the cutting of the ribbon. Friends and allies came to celebrate Dittz’s 60th birthday with flowers, poetry, and food. They also brought their messages of support to Dittz and Gener, some arrived like this post on FaceBook: “Nais din po naming iparating ang aming patuloy na suporta at panawagan na ilitaw na sina Bazoo at Manong Dexter. Kasama po ninyo kaming mga kapwa Human Rights Defenders ni Bazoo sa paghahanap at pagpapanagot sa mga dumukot sa kanila.“
Known for her artist name MaDittz, Dittz is well-known because of her many art exhibits in Bologna and other cities like Milan and Florence. Shevalso writes a blog called the MaDittz Arte Creativa (Arts and Crafts). She also conducts art workshops to children, youth and elders in Bologna. MaDittz has been called “ang unang Pinay Painter ng Bologna” (the first Pinay Painter in Bologna).
Dittz, a Filipino worker in Bologna, is known not only as an artist but as an active member of the Filipino community in Bologna. She is the founding President of the Filipino Women’s League in Bologna, co-founder of the Council on Youth Leadership and Development in Northern Italy, the Secretary-General of the OFW Watch Italy and an active leader in other Filipino community organizations in Italy and in the Philippines. In 2018, Dittz began the Sartoria di Fashionista Filipina with fourteen different ladies to learn to sew clothes for themselves.
She is also a journalist, telecaster, and media person with the Diaspora News and Stories-OFW Watch Italy and the Ako ay Pilipino.
Dittz summed up her thanks in these words: “My heart was filled with love and gratitude to all …those who attended the event, MaDittz @ 60 exhibit and advocacy, those who sent greetings and messages from near and far, those who brought gifts, flowers, plants, food and drinks and donations to Family Fernando-Bugayong, and for the DayCare School, those who helped me and Bok Gene in managing the whole event (kitchen, hall, gallery, video and pics and program) , Mariangela Momboli and the Centro Delle Donne, Mhang Tonelada food catering, Ferdinand Milano’s pandesal and friends who brought food and all those who supported us ever since we started our journey and advocacy for our son, BAZOO and the other DESAPARECIDOS. Our family in the Philippines is also extending their gratitude to everyone.”
From the PinoyAbrod Canada staff: Happy Birthday and Congratulations on your latest exhibit, Dittz! ###
