Stairway Foundation’s
MARINE ART COMPETITION 2018
A Call for Entries!
In 1977, Puerto Galera was the first in the country to be designated by UNESCO
as Man and Biosphere Reserve (MAB) because of its rich and diverse eco-system
of grasslands, mossy forests, mangroves, sea grasses and corals. It also hosts a number of endemic and endangered species such as the tamaraw (Bubalus Mindorensis).
In 2005, the Muelle Bay was named as one of the “World’s Most Beautiful Bays”.
No wonder, Puerto Galera is popular as one of the premiere tourist and dive destinations in the country. Annually, an average of 2 million local and international visitors flock to this town for vacation. The tourism and service sector is the primary source of income for most of the town folks, augmented with fishing and farming.
However, this development has also undeniably spawned a number of negative
effects to our local environment particularly the mismanagement of solid wastes produced by the local population, business establishments and the visitors. If this problem persists and worsens, Puerto Galera would stand to lose its very source of life and livelihood. Fortunately initiatives and collaboration from both government and non-government sector have been on the rise to address this issue.
Stairway’s EACY Program and the 4R’s Campaign
In 2014, Stairway Foundation launched its Environmental Awareness for Children and Youth (EACY) Program to the youngsters of Puerto Galera through its floating classroom the “Sea Adventure School”, along with the showing of the theatrical version of Dr Seuss’ “The Lorax” and exposure trips to its organic farm in the Mangyan community of barangay Baclayan.
To be more sustainable and to widen its reach, the program also formed community and school based EACY Clubs as venue and organization wherein young members channel projects and activities that spread awareness and responsible action among their respective communities. The initiatives include regular community and beach cleanups, mangrove cleanups, coral reef cleanups, tree-planting and recently, the 4R’s campaign (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Refuse).
The program has crafted continuous collaboration with the Department of Education and recently with the local government of Puerto Galera through the Municipal Environment and Resources Office (MENRO).
This 2018, one of the program’s major initiatives is the “Marine Art” Competition.
The competition aims to spread awareness about the local plastic pollution and garbage problem and inspire collective responsibility and positive action through marine art sculptures made from garbage debris collected from beach and community cleanups.
This competition will be held among participating schools and barangays that will culminate on the World Ocean Day on June 8, 2018. The competition is open to all interested schools and barangays that can:
- Initiate regular beach and community cleanups and segregate the debris collected
- Show the documentary films “Plastic Oceans” and “Chasing Corals” to the widest number of constituents
- Create well-crafted giant sea life sculptures from the garbage debris collected from the community and beach cleanups.
The dimension of the giant sea sculpture should have a height of about 4 feet and width of about 5 feet that stands on a 2-foot pedestal.
Deadline for the submission of sculpture entries will be on June 1, 2018, while the community cleanups and film showings should be held as many times as possible to the widest number of audience from February 15- June1.
Criteria for Judging:
Marine Art Sculpture – 50%
Community Cleanups and Film Showing – 50%
Final Judging will happen on June 8 during the World Ocean Day.
The marine art sculptures will eventually be exhibited and rove around various local, and even Manila-sites, to further spread awareness about plastic pollution and garbage problem hopefully help spawn positive attitude, behavior and action towards the issue of waste management.
For interested parties, please visit our office at Barangay Aninuan, Puerto Galera or download application form: Marine Art Competition Application Form
You may also contact us at our mobile: 0917 8431922 or email us at:
jason@stairwayfoundation.org
Deadline for the submission of application and intention to join the competition will be on February 15, 2018.
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