Fisherfolks launch Faces of Creation Photo and Poetry Exhibit on Environment in Sorsogon

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GUBAT, Sorsogon — In celebration of the Season of Creation—a time when Christians globally come together to reflect on and care for the environment—the Save Gubat Bay Movement (SGBM), composed of local fisherfolk and crab farming groups, including Cota na Daco Crablet Workers, Samahan Alay sa Kalikasan Cooperative, Alyansa san mga Parasira san Sorsogon, and Sorsogon King Crab Association Inc., launched the Faces of Creation: A Photo and Poetry Exhibit on October 11, 2024, at St. Anthony of Padua Parish Church in Gubat, Sorsogon.

The exhibit highlights the ongoing destruction of natural resources in Sorsogon and its impact on local communities.

The exhibit featured works from an open call for submissions, bringing together contributions from various individuals, as well as entries from the recently held Worldwide Photowalk in Sorsogon City. These submissions captured the beauty of the local environment and its vulnerability, highlighting the urgent need for community-driven ecological action.

In partnership with the Parish Pastoral Council (PPC-St. Anthony de Padua Parish Gubat) and community-based organizations—Kurit-Lagting Art Collective, Concerned Artists of the Philippines Bicol Chapter (CAP Bicol), Rhymes of Peg, and Delta Beta Omega, all part of the broader Sorsogon Initiatives for Culture and Arts Development (SICAD)—the exhibit showcased both photographs and poems that address the critical environmental issues facing local communities.

Alongside stunning photos capturing the beauty of nature, the poems spotlighted the challenges of coastal community households who have been facing imminent destruction due to man-made projects, including bike lanes, coastal roads, casinos, resorts, and commercial complexes that threaten the area’s biodiversity.

“These projects pose a serious threat to our environment, endangering trees, mangroves, and reefs, as well as vital fish, crab, and turtle spawning grounds. Furthermore, this exhibit highlights the severe socio-economic losses, potential population displacement, and detrimental changes in livelihood that our communities face because of these destructive projects,” said Allan Espallardo, President of SGBM.

“The photos and poems presented in this exhibit are a call to action for everyone. They articulate the voices of those who are often unheard, highlighting the intimate relationship between our communities and the environment. Through these words, we aim to ignite passion and urgency for the preservation of our natural resources,” remarked Judy Azul of CAP Bicol.

Through the lens of the exhibit, the Faces of Creation powerfully reflects the themes of the Season of Creation and Laudato Si’, Pope Francis’ encyclical on the environment. It visually showcases the interconnection between nature and marginalized communities, who bear the brunt of environmental destruction. The exhibit also calls for urgent ecological action, grounded in the values of justice and care for both the planet and the people who rely on it for their livelihoods.

“Art has the power to change perspectives. Through this exhibit, we hope to inspire action and ignite passion for protecting our environment. The stories told through these photographs and poems are the stories of our community, and they deserve to be heard,” emphasized Allan Abrigo and Choi Carretero, co-founders of Kurit-Lagting Art Collective.

“The poems in this exhibit serve as a powerful reflection of our community’s struggles and resilience. They capture not only the beauty of our environment but also the urgent need to protect it. Through our words, we hope to inspire action and foster a deeper connection between people and nature,” added Ruth Jocutan of Rhymes of Peg.

The exhibit was curated by SGBM members with the help of visual artist Gilbert Catabian of Kurit-Lagting and CAP Bicol.