MANILA, Philippines - The artists and honorees of “Walong Filipina Sa Ngalan ng Kalikasan: Parangal sa mga Alagad ng Kalikasan” 2010 to 2011 will reunite in a show that is on view until Oct. 29 at Sining Kamalig art gallery, fourth floor, Gateway Mall, Araneta Center, Quezon City.
A tribute to Rizal and Leonard Co, the botanist who was slain while in the field allegedly because he was caught in the crossfire, the 2011 edition was launched last March at Liongoren Gallery, New York, Cubao.
The honorees are Gonzalo Catan, inventor and advocate of organic products; Dr. Metodio Palaypay, zero waste management worker; Fr. Alfredo Albor, forest conservationist; Lutgardo Labad, cultural worker; former Marikina chief of police Col. Romeo Magsalos, “No to Plastic” campaigner; Andy Orencio, artist and gardener; Dr. Warlito Laquihon, sloping land technologist; and former Secretary of Health Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan, herbalist and alternative medicine practitioner. The eight women artists who are paying tribute to these exemplary men are: Lena Cobangbang, Marika Constantino, Marina Cruz, Hermogena Borja “Nene” Lungay, Goldie Poblador, Jeannie Tan, Josie Tionko and Pam Yan-Santos.
These pairs will be joined by the 2010 Filipina environmentalist-honorees: Evelyn Cacha, co-founder of Alyansa Laban sa Mina (ALAMIN) in Mindoro; UP Tacloban Dean Margarita dela Cruz; Sister Luz Emmanuel of Assumption Antipolo; environmental lawyer Ipat Luna; Judea Millora, a waste management expert; Jurgenne Primavera, world renowned advocate of sustainable fish farming and a mangrove conservationist; Lydia Robledo, butterfly habitat conservation advocate, and Luz Sabas, 80 years old, who together with her late husband pioneered waste management in the Philippines.
The advocacies of these eight women were portrayed by eight male artists: Egai Talusan Fernandez, Efren Garcellano, Renato Habulan, Rico Palacio, Mario de Rivera, Mark Salvatus, Jojit Solano and PG Zoluaga
The artists worked on their subjects based on research supplied by student and guest writers supervised by “Walong Filipina” co-curator and University of the Philippines art studies Prof. Flaudette May Datuin. The student researchers for 2011 are: Hemerson Dimacale, who was also part of the 2010 team; Christina Pangan and Loreli Pama, winners of the 2010 essay writing contest; UP art studies majors Jacqueline Ali, Aliana Gimena and Meg Fontanilla. They were joined by guest writer Malen Dulay. The student researchers in 2010 were Ceres Canilao, Hemerson Dimacale, Aleth Gayosa, Romena Luciano, Virna Odiver Mai Saporsantos, and Debbie Virata.
There will also be an essay-writing contest, and a forum-workshop featuring waste management advocate Dr. Metodio Palaypay. Dr.Palaypay is one of the eight honored environmentalists of the 2011 Walong Filipina” exhibit.
For updates and more details, visit http://walongfilipina.wordpress.com/ or call Liongoren Gallery at 912-4319. Liongoren Gallery is at 111 New York Ave., Cubao, Quezon City.