Bagong Liwanag (A New Light) is a solo exhibit by Jeff M-Seva Quintano exploring the revival of Baybayin, the ancient Philippine script, through tattoo art. The exhibit highlights the growing Baybayin tattoo movement and its role in challenging the stigma around tattooing while reconnecting Filipinos with their cultural heritage.

The exhibit debuted in January 2024 at the Sentro Filipino Cultural Center in San Francisco, followed by a presentation at the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco. It was subsequently showcased at the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) Museum in Stockton, California, and later at the National Museum of the Philippines–Bicol.

Bagong Liwanag brings tattoo art into cultural and institutional spaces, documenting how contemporary tattooing can become a medium for cultural education, identity, and heritage. Through Baybayin tattoos, drawings, and supporting materials, the exhibit explores the growing connection between Filipino identity and tattoo culture.

As part of the exhibit's San Francisco presentation, Jeff also produced and organized the first Baybayin symposium in the United States and premiered his Baybayin documentary, creating a space for discussion around cultural identity, language, and heritage.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Jeff Maronilla-Seva Quintano is a Bicolano tattoo artist and cultural advocate specializing in Baybayin and Filipino cultural tattooing. A University of Santo Tomas Fine Arts graduate and “Thesis of the Year” awardee, Jeff has been tattooing professionally since 2013.

In 2021, he self-published Baybayin: Panimula sa Pagbasa at Pagsulat ng Baybayin, now in its fifth printing. His work has been featured by TFC, TV Patrol, Manila Bulletin, Inquirer Philippines, Tattoo Life Magazine, and Inked Magazine.

Through tattooing, writing, workshops, and cultural projects, Jeff continues to contribute to the Filipino tattoo and creative communities.