Subic students hold exhibit for Japan quake, tsunami victims

MANILA, Philippines - Grade school students of the Casa Kalayaan International School (CKIS) in the Subic Bay Freeport held an art exhibit recently in an effort to raise funds for victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Armand Arreza, administrator of Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), said the grade school students took the initiative to raise funds in their own way.

“They put up their own first exhibit, not to profit from the sale of their artworks, but to help in their own little way the victims of disasters in Japan,” Arreza said.

“Their parents should be proud of them, like how proud I am of these kids,” he added. Arreza’s children, fifth grader Lorenzo Gabriel and fourth grader Danielle Bianca, participated in the exhibit.

CKIS principal Joanne Prieto said that the arts exhibit was conceptualized after seeing several beautiful artworks the students had made at the Subic Lighthouse Marina.

Prieto then made arrangements with Lighthouse manager Argee Gomez, who agreed to host the exhibit “Towers,” to save life in Japan. “The destructive earthquake and devastating tsunami had inspired several students to make posters on Japan, representing hope for their recovery,” CKIS student council president Michelle Prieto said. The young artist said that there were about 20 paintings in the exhibit, each selling for P2,500 to P8,000.

“Fifty percent of the sales will go towards helping Japan,” Michelle said.

Aside from the fundraising efforts of CKIS students, the Subic Freeport community also responded to a relief drive initiated by SBMA in the aftermath of the disaster. The Subic Bay Freeport Zone is home to more than 40 Japanese locator-companies, some of whom were pioneering enterprises that helped develop the free port in its early years.