French Hubert d'Aboville organizes ethnic festival / Rotary sculpture exhibit

Frenchman Hubert d’Aboville, who has acquired from his Filipino wife Ara Valenzuela the love for native art and culture, including the ethnic, is organizing a two-day festival of traditional and contemporary art and culture. The stunning outdoor setting is in Puerto Galera at the foot of Mt. Malasimbo, the northern-most tip of Mindoro island which overlooks one of the most beautiful bays in the world.

The festival will open a Mangyan Village which will showcase seven different houses of the seven distinct Mangyan tribes and their indigenous arts and crafts; e.g., handloom weaving by the Hanunuo, basket-making by the Iraya, jewelry-making, etc. whose finished products will be for sale.

An exhibit of contemporary installations by noted artists will blend with nature. Led by internationally renowned sculptor Agnes Arellano, they are Olivia and Maia d’Aboville, Denis Lagdameo, Grace and Dondi Katigbak, Kawayan de Guia, Vernon Perez and Chitz Ramires.

The festival’s musical part, to be produced by international director Miro Grgic, will be a variety of eclectic entertainment by both local and foreign artists: the legendary Japanese DJ Krush, Miguel and Evelyn Juteau and the Aquarela, Diwa de Leon and his friends and Cynthia Alexander.

The festival’s eco bazaar will offer eco-friendly products, a yoga workshop, a massage spa where weary city dwellers can relax, enjoy nature, and partake of delicious food al fresco while listening to the music.

The festival aims to raise funds for a reforestation project as a sustainable source of livelihood for the Iraya Mangyan community of Barangay Baclayan. For every ticket sold, a tree will be planted that will carry the name of the ticket buyer as donor. The trees will be planted by the Mangyans in their ancestral domain of Baclayan. For two years, they will receive a monthly compensation for the trees’ maintenance which will come from ticket sales.

The festival aims to upgrade and further develop the tourism industry of Puerto Galera which primarily depends on tourism for its livelihood, and to counteract its negative image as a backpacker’s paradise.

Festival sponsors are the Tourism Department, Royal Cargo and the Municipality of Puerto Galera. Hubert d’Aboville’s brainchild is an ideal example of a Public-Private Partnership which President Aquino advocates to fast track the country’s progress.

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The Rotary Club of Makati West (RCMW), headed by President Eric Angeles, will again sponsor “Alay Sining 3-Art with a Heart” on Feb. 9 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel ballroom. Art patron Jaime Zobel de Ayala and National Artist for Sculpture Napoleon Abueva have been invited to cut the ceremonial ribbon opening the show. Cocktails will be held at 7 p.m. for Rotary members and guests.

The one-day exhibit and sale will raise funds for RCMW’s “Gift of Life” program that provides free heart operation for indigent children while promoting sculptural art. To date, over 200 children have been beneficiaries.

Participating sculptors in the exhibit, to be curated by Nonon Padilla, are Napoleon Abueva, Adel Agubang, Agnes Arellano, Fred Baldemor, Wilson William Baldemor, Michael Cacnio, Lor Calma, Ed Castrillo, Kylo Chua, Seb Chua, Joe Datuin, Noy Gepte, Juan Sajid Imao, Pete Jimenez, Maria Magdamit, Jose Mendoza, Carlito Ortega, Ramon Orlina, Impy Pilapil, Ton Raymondo, Ronel Roces, Jonahmar Salvosa, Rinald Sotto, Jing Turalba, Francisco Verano and Jun Vicaldo.

RCMW’s    Culture   Committee    is   headed   by

National Artist I.P. Santos, chairman; Carmelino Alvendia, co-chairman. Members are Ed Balois, Paolo Delgado, Ernesto Fajardo, Roy Moreno, Rene Nieva and Roque Tordesillas.

Angeles invites businessmen, professionals and art-lovers to the exhibit.