The first ever Manila ResiliArt Earthsaving SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) Event under UNESCO patronage is set on December 2-10. It aims to show that the arts and media have the power to save lives and manifest change into the world. This event is supported by the Earthsavers UNESCO Artist for Peace and The Philippine Center of International Theater Institute or ITI (together with their social change network and their International NGO partners led by South-South Cooperation Council or SSCC).

The event follows the advocacies of the International Peace and Climate Justice Movement: Not By Force but by Art. After being rescheduled three (3) times due to COVD-19 restrictions, Art and artists worldwide can not be held back by giving the world the powerful gift art and media has to offer. 

The event under UNESCO patronage was named “ResiliArt” since it would be showcasing how art itself is resiliently progressing and evolving despite the pandemic and how art is able to ease trauma from people in the midst of the mentally and emotionally taxing pandemic. The event also tackles issues in confronting climate change and highlights the importance of cultural diplomatic initiative in conflicted areas, hence “EarthSaving”. 

Here are the 5 main pillars of Manila ResiliArt EarthSaving SDG Event: 

1. ASEAN Art Camp and Exhibits – an interactive activity involving Filipino and ASEAN visual artists in interaction to create mural paintings conveying the SDGs
2. Festival of Performances – a harvest of techno-artistic manifestations on the SDGs to be staged by foreign and local dance groups, musicians, singers, poets and other artists
3. Forum – a series of discussions to forge a platform of action for actualizing the SDGs focused on people, planet, peace and prosperity through partnerships
4. Workshops – sessions showing transformation, healing of trauma popularizing science and income-generating creative industries among the vulnerable communities namely, Prisoners, PWDs, Health Workers, Refugees and Indigenous Dislocated Families
5. Outreach Program – cultural immersion and interaction of delegates and performing groups in the Visayas (Bohol) and Mindanao (Misamis Occidental)

Internationally recognized artists and distinguished guests from a total of 25+ countries will be coming to the Philippines to participate: distinguished cultural animators, media leaders and artists of different disciplines, UNESCO Artists for Peace, Parliamentarians and Executive Officers, performing groups by partners endorsed by relevant UNESCO National Commissions. Participants for workshops and activities are vulnerable communities such as prisoners, persons with disabilities, rehabilitation center drug dependents, refugees and displaced indigenous communities. 

This said historic event will be hosted by the Senate of the Republic of the Philippines (headed by Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III with the Committee of Foreign Relations), City Government of Manila (Office of Mayor Francisco “Isko” Domagoso), National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCAA) (Nick Lizaso, Chairman), Philippine Normal University (PNU) (Dr. Bert J. Tuga, President), and the Manila Hotel (former Senator Jose D. Lina, President). The outreach hosts for Visayas (Bohol) are Governor Arthur Yap and Congressman Edgar Chatto coordinated through Gardy Labad; while for Mindanao (Misamis Occidental) are Mayor Jennifer Wee-Tan, Governor Philip Tan, coordinated through Dr. Glenn P. Reyes (President of North-Western Mindanao State College of Science and Technology). 

As the event director, Cecile Guidote Alvarez, has said “If they think Greece as the one who started the Olympics games, they’re going to remember the Philippines which started this global cultural movement – Not by force but by the power of art and media…”. The event will be making its mark in history as the platform of action for the arts: how art can build bridges between countries and areas of conflict, how art and media can strongly implement and advocate Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), how art can educate the public about environmental protection and climate justice. The Manila ResiliArt EarthSaving SDG Event unites the work of relevant sectors in the congressional committees on Environment and Climate Change, Culture and Education, Peace and Order, Health, Social Justice, Foreign Relations, and SDGs through the power of Arts. 

Know more about this game-changing event by visiting their official website at www.manilaSDGevent.info.