Play for a cause

MANILA, Philippines - With an estimated value of P265,000 and a starting bid price of P212,000, it is one of the outstanding high-value items in UNICEF’s “Auction for Action” currently on display at the Yuchengco Museum in Makati City. The 35x12x12-inch brass sculpture by Michael Cacnio called “Sweet” was  inspired by “the wildly popular game, Candy Crush,” noted UNICEF Special Advocate for Children Daphne Oseña-Paez. This “playful rendering of three colourful candies,” one on top of the other, candidly captures this year’s theme, “Play.”

UNICEF’s Auction for Action brings together over 90 artists in art, design, furniture and jewelry in an online auction to benefit a unique education program called Supervised Neighborhood Play Program (SNP), which provides disadvantaged children access to early learning. Studies showed that only three out of 10 children under six years old have access to day care or any form of early learning, especially in remote and conflict-or disaster-affected areas. UNICEF supports the SNP program in these communities as well as in informal settlements located in urban and rural areas.

“Children who have access to early learning are more prepared for regular school and are less likely to drop out,” remarekd UNICEF country representative Tomoo Hozumi. “The early years are the formative years that prepare a child for life. The first years last forever.”

From a video presentation, we learned that SNP is “a simple, low-cost and easy-to-organize home-based early learning program where trained day care workers or parent volunteers gather young children in a house, a shaded play area or under a tree for two to three hours, five days a week for 10 months to help children through organized play.”

“Play makes children happy and children who feel secure and loved usually do better in school, are more self-confident, have good self-esteem and are able to cope more easily with life’s challenges,” Daphne said. It also helps them cope with trauma. During a visit with victims of typhoon Pablo in a town called Boston in Davao Oriental, Daphne recounted, “I met a teacher named Joy who taught the children a ‘raindrop song’ and through the actions and lyrics, positive feelings and good expressions were generated.” 

She added, “UNICEF ‘Auction for Action’ is one of the fun ways we can make an impact in the lives of children in the Philippines. Filipino creativity gets highlighted and at the same time we raise funds and awareness on important children’s issues. We do it online to  minimize costs and we’re very happy to have partners donating their resources to make the auction possible.”

For the first time, it is possible to actually view the items, courtesy of the Yuchengco Museum, which provided the space for the exhibit, prior to the online auction. At the media preview, Daphne annotated the curated items as she walked the guests through the exhibit.

An outstanding item is the Anemone Table Lamp by Olivia D’Aboville for HIVE, which resembles a living anemone when lit. What makes it even more special is that  it was part of a lamp collection, which was shown at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in Paris for ELLE Decoration’s 25th anniversary early this year. And now, a lucky bidder can own it. With an estimated value of P49,000, starting bid price is P34,300.

A number of items were made exclusively for Auction for Action such as the delicate ostrich egg carved with scenes of children at play titled “Laro” by Danny Rayos del Sol — described as “an exquisitely carved ostrich egg suspended on a porcupine quill and delicately balanced on a brass stand” — as well as Sipa Candleholder by Chito Vijandre and Ricky Toledo for Firma.

There are a number of interesting furniture pieces such as the pink Daphne Chair by Daphne Oseña-Paez from her own trademark furniture collection. The Cone Chair by Ed Calma is “made from plastic wicker woven around a powder-coated steel frame” for both indoor and outdoor use, with a hollowed center that can be used as a planter.

A stunning piece is the Red Joe Wooden Seater by Niccolo Jose which used reclaimed Philippine wood such as red narra, molave, and mahogany, and made without  nails. An image of young boys “quietly looking up in veneration” was burned into the wood and enhanced with natural stain. The artist’s intention was for it to be a “literal reminder to the youth to give respect for traditional values.” Estimated value is P80,00, with starting bid price of P56,000.

“Hari Sonik” is one of 45 limited-edition art toys of Elmer “Emong” Borlongan. It is described  as a “three-foot, free standing sculpture made of fibreglass, resin, mahogany and acrylic, which portrays an everyman with a speaker for a body.” This art toy “brings Filipino culture to life by portraying the Pinoy’s distinctive way of life and his passion for music.” Estimated value is P135,000, with starting bid price of P94,500.

A number of pieces were donated by well-known artists such as the peach amber crystal sculpture titled “Frolicsome” by Ramon Orlina, and “Eternal Christmas Tree” by Impy Pilapil, a foot-high table glass sculpture with hand-blown glass bubbles. “Coral” by Kenneth Cobonpue is a hand-woven sculpture which mimics a sea coral’s delicate branches.

The same artists who donated to last year’s auction again donated paintings this year, among them, “Father and Two Sons” by Dominic Rubio, “Botanical I” by Popo San Pascual, “Filipino Family” by Manny Baldemor, and “Faithful Blooms” by Juvenal Sanso.

Willibald Zeck, an Austrian medical doctor who is currently the chief of the health and nutrition section  of UNICEF in the Philippines donated two paintings, “Odyssey” and “Motion.” While visiting the victims of typhoon Pablo in Davao Oriental, he saw the wide disparity in the conditions of those who lived there and those in cities like Makati, where he works.

UNICEF is funded entirely by voluntary contributions, and projects such as the UNICEF Auction for Action go a long way in helping make a difference. Now on its third year, from one million on its first year to three million last year,  the target this year is to raise at least five million from the online auction.

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For a preview, go to the Yuchengco Museum at the RCBC Plaza in Makati until Oct. 26 or visit www.unicef.ph. The auction goes live from Oct. 21 to 27 at www.ebay.ph/unicef. Photos by JULIE CABATIT-ALEGRE