Art off the kiln
MANILA, Philippines – A huge rotating kiln, which serves like a “giant oven” to manufacture cement, met the curious eyes of art and communication students as they walked the “Si Mento at Ako” guided tour at the largest and most innovative cement plant in the Philippines.
In the industrial city of Naga, Cebu, six student artists Jhon Michael Macariola, Mark Anthony Laza, Christian Cedrick Dela Paz, Gino Paolo Garrido of MAPUA, Marco Mata of PLM and Angie Cariaso — major winners of the just-concluded Impact Students’ Festival organized by Cemex Philippines — visited the Cemex Apo Cement Plant to observe how nation-building and art go together.
They’re from Mapua Institute of Technology, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM), Eulogio “Amang” Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology (EARIST), and the University of Perpetual Help.
“Nation-building and art may seem like two opposite fields, but for us they are complementary,” said Chito Maniago, corporate communications and public affairs director of CEMEX Philippines. “Cement and concrete aren’t just for building houses and roads. They’re also building solutions designed to create safe homes and pave the road to one’s future.”
During the painting session at the lagoon, the students depicted how life and work co-exist inside the Apo Cement plant through canvas.
“I never thought a cement plant could look so green. Inside the plant was a lagoon with thriving animals,” said Jhon.
Nineteen-year-old fine arts student Christian Cedrick Dela Paz recounted the challenges he experienced while working on his contest piece.
“I found the theme challenging at first, but because of the Cemex Impact (awards), I now have an idea what nation-building really means,” said Dela Paz.
Student photographer Gian Paolo Garrido of Mapua learned that the technology used in cement-manufacturing also involves sustainable processes.
“Visuals are very powerful. I would like to use photography to show our country’s culture and brilliance,” hesaid.
Cemex Impact Students’ Festival is a competition organized by Cemex Philippines to encourage the youth to showcase their skills in promoting nation-building. The guided plant tour dubbed “Si Mento at Ako” is an educational trip offered inside Cemex’s cement plants in Antipolo, Rizal and Naga, Cebu.
