'Walong Filipina sa ngalan ng kalikasan' at Liongoren Gallery

Manila, Philippines - A chief of police, a cultural worker, an agriculturist, a gardener-artist, a priest, medical doctors and an inventor each person doing his work for the environment  are being honored by eight women artists in an exhibit extended until April at Liongoren Gallery.

Titled “Walong Filipina Sa Ngalan ng Kalikasan: Parangal sa mga Alagad ng Kalikasan,” the show has featured the works of close to a hundred women artists and other notable women from various disciplines from the time it was first held in March 1990.

In 2010, the project honored the contributions of eight Filipina environmentalists, whose life and works were portrayed by eight male artists. (http://walongfilipina.wordpress.com/). This year, it is the other way around: eight female artists honoring eight male environmentalists.

This edition is also dedicated to the life and works of two stellar historical figures: Jose Rizal, the unheralded environmentalist, whose 150th year of birth we are celebrating this year, and Leonard Co, the botanist who was slain while in the field.

“Walong Filipina 2011 honors the works of Gonzalo Catan, inventor and advocate of organic products; Dr. Metodio Palaypay, zero waste management expert and health worker; Fr. Alfredo Albor, forest conservationist; Lutgardo Labad, cultural worker; Col. Romeo Magsilos, Marikina chief of police and “No to Plastic” campaigner; Andy Orencio, artist and gardener; Dr. Warlito Laquihon, prominent agriculturist and researcher; and Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan, former secretary of Health, herbalist and alternative medicine practitioner.

The eight women artists who are paying tribute to these exemplary men are Lena Cobangbang, Marika Constantino, Marina Cruz, Hermogena Borja “Nene” Lungay, Goldie Poblador, Jeannie Tan, Josie Tionko and Pam Yan-Santos.

Continuing the practice started in 2010, eight researcher-writers composed of University of the Philippines art studies students, their professor and “Walong Filipina” co-curator Flaudette May Datuin and guest writer Malen Dulay team up with each pair. The students are: Hemerson Dimacale, who was part of the 2010 team; Christina Pangan and Loreli Pama, winners of the 2010 essay-writing contest; Jacqueline Ali, Aliana Gimena and Meg Fontanilla.

There will also be an essay-writing contest, details of which are to be announced later.

The gallery is at 111 New York Ave., Cubao, Quezon City.

For information, visit http://walongfilipina.wordpress.com/ or call Liongoren Gallery 9124319.