Filipino and Latino artists come together to show their art – and their cultural similarities.

Through paintings, photographs, digital art and an Undas – an altar that brings together the living and the departed, similar to Day of Dead altars – two organizations are celebrating Filipino and Latino contributions to American culture.

Filipino American History Month and Hispanic Heritage Month coincide in October. So Urban Arts Collaborative, a community-based art organization, and Paraluman Salinas, a Filipino American festival, are hosting events, starting with an art show on Oct. 18 and culminating with a gathering on Oct. 26.

“Something that we wanted to highlight through the art exhibit are the similarities that the Filipino culture has with Latino culture,” Athena Ereno, a Paraluman organizer, says. Both, for example, share a history of Spanish colonialism. The exhibition includes imagery by Latino and Filipino artists from Monterey County and San Jose.

Lee Abellana, a Paraluman organizer and artist known as Basic Lee, has few paintings in the show. One is a portrait of Manny Pacquiao, a famous former boxer-turned-politician. Another features a child vendor selling sampaguita, a white, star-shaped blossom with a sweet aroma that is the Philippines’ national flower.

Abellana drew inspiration from his childhood in the Philippines. Justin Flores, a Salinas tattoo artist, uses a canvas instead of skin to produce tattoo-like imagery. Jessica Soriano looks to nature to create her paintings.

The exhibition features an altar installation called Ambag, which means “contribution” in Tagalog. Visitors are encouraged to bring images of their loved ones and participate collectively with the altar installation.

“Paraluman” translates as “lampshade” or “enlightenment.” Locally, the festival began last year to showcase the contributions of Filipinos in Monterey County. “A main focus of our festival – in addition to bridging those cultural and generational gaps – is to promote our local artists and to enrich the art scene of the Salinas Valley,” Ereno says.

Abellana adds that in addition to the display of local talent, the event is also fun – “Doing the things we love to do as Filipinos, with our families,” he says.

PARALUMAN ART SHOW opening reception 4:30-8pm Friday, Oct. 18. Urban Arts Collaborative, 21 Soledad St., Suite C, Salinas. Free. urbanartsco.org.

PARALUMAN FESTIVAL noon-6pm Saturday, Oct. 26. Filipino Hall, 250 Calle Cebu, Salinas. Free. Parking available at Salinas Adult School.