GALLERY of the Sea featuring 25 sail paintings made by Angono Ateliers with Cuadra Manila was launched on August 13, 2019 at the Manila Baywalk.
The Gallery of the Sea is about the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development (SDGs) with a special focus on the care of the ocean. It is a cultural feast of colors and design interpretation to inform, reflect on actualizing the vision of fighting poverty and hunger, confronting climate change, building peaceful and resilient communities, promoting gender equity, education and employment with partnerships to achieve peace, climate justice and sustainable communities. The SDG gallery is a virtual creative class room dynamically applying the arts as a force for inclusive lifelong learning.
Papal Nuncio Gabriele Caccia officiated the blessing at Manila Baywalk by the Yacht Club headed by Commodore Robert Joseph. This was announced by former Senator Heherson Alvarez, currently Climate Institute Advisory Board chair. During the project organization, Alvarez explained that “the ecological time bomb of global warming must be diffused today to save tomorrow. Every medium must be used for education, a crusade; the moral equivalent of war in confronting climate change must be waged effectively, swiftly. What it takes to save the earth is a change of attitude, lifestyle, consumption habits of thinking and viewing creation. We must pool efforts and resources together for sustainable development. Nothing short of a social movement not a collective undertaking is essential to ensure the very survival of mankind, life in the galaxy.”
The steering committee includes Unesco artist for Peace Cecile Guidote-Alvarez who is the director of Earthsavers and Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, president of the Philippine Center of the International Theatre Institute. In partnership with the Manila Bay Task Force led by DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu, DILG Secretary Eduardo Año, DPWH Secretary Mark Villar, DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat with the DFA Maritime and Ocean Affairs, NCCA, PIA, SMTV, and DZRH Radyo Balintataw.
In support of President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to clean up polluted water bodies, the SDG Gallery of the Sea has been endorsed by relevant senate committee chairs, Senator Francis Tolentino of Local Government, Senator Cynthia Villar of Environment, Senator Bong Go of Health, Senator Koko Pimentel of Foreign Affairs and Red Cross chair Senator Richard Gordon.
Coordination of the project was undertaken by the ITI Design Committee chair, Nemi Miranda assisted by Kim Marcelo with secretariat work done by Susan Claudio of Caffeinated Palette. A text tula competition will be coordinated by ITI distinguished poets Frank Rivera and Jolad Santos.
The 25 artists are: Atoy Apostadero, Dolpee Alcantara, Aaron Bautista, Lito Balagtas, Cezar Hernandez, Boy Mata, Maia Magpantay, Ed Castor, Keiye Mirnda, Wire Tuazon, Pete Velasquez, Egay Fernandez, Cee Cadid, Roland Santos, Nik Masangkay, Andy Urag, Bing Sichuan, Peter Ng, Nan Molata, Raks Molata, Liza Opus, Cesar Del Mundo, Augusto Santiago, Jun Rocha and Nemi Miranda.