Water- conserve and protect!

WATER is life – and life is here – thus they say that the next world war (God help up us all!) will be fought over water, or the want for it. Drinking water.

Today, many Davao City residents enjoy affordable, world-class drinking water because this finite resource comes from the underground aquifer so it’s practically pure with minimal cleaning treatment. But let’s realize that the water we DRINK from DCWD is also the same water provided for industrial and commercial use – for watering plants, mixing cement, for laundromats and car washes. And aquifer water is a finite resource and may run out if we don’t learn to conserve or use intelligently; we must also try to find alternative sources of water like DCWD’s project with the Aboitiz’s Apo Agua in water-treating the Tamugan River. But with the population explosion and the influx of new build-buildbuild projects here, we must find other sources.

I propose that we establish a waste water and sewage cleansing plant that will access our canals, esteros- and the Davao River. Perhaps, a dam has to be built not only as a water source, but also as an electrical POWER source. This will be a major project that will be funded by the city government, DCWD and private partners. This will be a big ticket project – but necessary for our long-term WATER SECURITY.

Davao Artists Federation

In amending our PH constitution, there’s a serious move from a unicameral-presidential form of government to a FEDERAL one. A “federation” is a CENTRAL government affiliated with several semi-autonomous local governments – like Malaysia, Germany, Switzerland, UK, US and many others. In the Art Summit on Nov. 9 at Vic Secuya’s Trinidad Hills, Ma-a “Santuaryo,” a key agenda item to be discussed by several leaders of art galleries and groups will be the formation of the Davao Artists Federation.

This idea has been brewing long before the Mindanao Art Fair. This idea came about – at least for me – during a coffee session at Swiss Deli with Arnel Villegas, who was a member of the Davao Art Foundation, a brainchild of the late watercolor master, George So. At his wake, George’s widow asked Arnel to revive the foundation – and he agreed. Arnel and I discussed the pros and cons of such a move – and why it went kaput. To establish, a foundation nowadays requires a SEC certification for at least Php 2M – which we artists are not willing to shell out.

Another difference is the D.A. Foundation which was composed of individual artists while the D.A. Federation will consist – if agreeable to the majority – of Art Groups and Galleries. This organizational set-up – in my humble opinion – is more effectively managed. It is conceivable that the charter, founding group-leaders will have seven board of directors which will then elect a president. But this management set-up will have to be discussed and agreed upon.

Advantages of a federation:

1. This will unite the different art groups (while maintaining their individual advocacies) and this united voice can help the Davao artists in negotiating with the local governmnet and national agencies (D.O.T., NCCA, etc.).

2. The Federation with its common vision, mission, goals and objectives better guide the destiny and direction of the art community here.

3. The federation can help establish an ART INDUSTRY where the CREATIVE economy can help realize the artists’ dream of earning a living creating art works. There will be more ideas that will be discussed at the Nov. 9 Art Summit. I believe this is an excellent FIRST step of a long fulfilling journey.

Art Calendar

1. TABULA RASA @ “THE VIEW”, 7th flr., Blue Lotus Hotel: until NOV 15. with guest artists: Kawing Pino-on & Ega Carreon. Laut Seafood Palace – Malaysian-Chinese Cuisine.

2. “COLORS OF PEACE”. Non-figurative works. Opening: Nov 20, 6 pm until Nov. 30. Art Centrale, Felcris-Quimpo Blvd.

3. Art Centrale, Felcris-Quimpo BLVD. Group Exhibit

on-going.

4. Art Portal, Legaspi ST., Young Contemporary Artists. 5.Arnel Villega Solo, Abreeza 3rd flr. Pen & Ink – outstanding works!

6.Carlotta de Pio Retrospective: Pen & Ink. 6th Republique Café – the latest art & poetry center in Juna Subd. Beautiful place.

7.Morning Light Gallery. On-going group exhibit + artist supplies. 8.Bintana Art Galler. Alex Alagon + others. NCCC/Victoria Plaza, 2nd flr. A 75th Bday for the ages

Mar Ong Ante, our classmate (AdD HS ‘60), celebrated his 75th b-day at the 5-star DISCOVERY PRIMEA Hotel in Makati the other night — a “SMALL” affair of only about 300 close friends and relatives who came from Davao, GenSan, US, and New Zealand. As I told Mar, we could not miss this one, because in the next one — we’ll be 150 years old!

Mar’s DVO classmates were Alvin & Elena Babista, Yoly & Lolit Salazar, Pribu Balcand who came “solo”; Ting & Ching Valdez (who just arrived from SF the night before).

The evening’s entertainment was not bad. There were 2 female & 1 male singer who sang mostly broadway hits from Phantom and Sound of Music. Aleli, Mar’s wife, sang too.

And then a true Blast from the past - the “Hitmaker Trio” — Rey Valera, Hadji Alejandro and Marco Sison who sang their timeless hits.

The evening ended at about 11PM — with ballroom dancing with male and female D.I.’s. But Mar and Aleli, Ting and Ching didn’t really need them as they danced thru the night. Thank you — Mar and Aleli.