WHEN Bernard Restificar of Oikos Orchard and Farm saw the devastation wrought by Typhoon Odette in his vicinity (Barangay Bae in Sibonga, Cebu), he knew artist Celso Pepito was the person to call for help.
What Pepito saw made him launch an art exhibit dubbed “Tabang ta Bae” in ArtPortalCebu, solely for the reason of raising funds for the typhoon survivors whose homes were wrecked.
When his artist peers from Cebu Artists Incorporated (CAI) learned about it, they also joined in the exhibit. Local artists gave back, offering their paintings to the cause which is a project done also in coordination with Danny Reyes del Sol’s Mirasol Outreach Foundation Inc. (with Secours Populaire Francais, Manila Art Foundation and Zonta Fort Bonifacio). The outreach foundation requested Pepito to look for typhoon survivors who were in need of help, and promised to give them water purifiers.
CAI artists who donated their paintings were Maria Lida Aguilar, Cesar Castillo, Jess Dinglasa, John Dinglasa, Renulo Pautan, Celso Pepito, Fe Madrid Pepito, Lucilo Sagayno, Marlone Ylanan and Sonia Yrastorza.
Other donors were Jonathan Enad from Carcar; Romeo Cortez of New York; Joel Cristobal of Baras, Rizal; Angelico Villanueva from Montalban, Rizal; Aladin Antiqueno of GK College; Neptalie Aunzo from Antipolo, Rizal; Nante Carandang from Montalban, Rizal; Sherwin Gonzales from Baler, Aurora; and Charlie Co from Bacolod.
Among collectors who readily responded to the call to help Odette survivors were David and Debbie Aguilar, Rebie Victolero Abas, Armida Caguitla, Glenn and Marisse Dongallo, Argee Gallardo, Gordon Alan Joseph, Dr. Adonis Jurado, Beatriz Kyamko, Raul Luis Manaligod, Mr. and Mrs. Van Montecillo, Jane Panganiban, Mayette Flormarie Puao, Patricia Ranises and Kristin Seno.
The group has identified 40 beneficiary families in Bae whose houses were totally damaged. They will be given 10 galvanized iron sheets and two kilos of umbrella nails which Bae’s barangay captain (Marcelino Padigos) said are initial materials that can help the survivors start to rebuild their homes. The same materials will be given to identified survivors of Typhoon Odette in the towns of Liloan and Consolacion, Cebu.
“Tabang ta Bae” is a platform where well-meaning artists have donated their art works to help Typhoon Odette survivors, and it allows collectors to acquire artworks with the spirit of helping the survivors of Typhoon Odette. Though the exhibit ended on Jan. 15 at ArtPortalCebu, the group will still welcome donations until the end of February.
The formal distribution of the building materials for Barangay Bae will be on Jan. 22, 2022 at the Oikos Orchard and Farm at 11 a.m., after Holy Mass at 10 a.m.