CO-CREATING A NEW PH
Individuals and civil society groups seeking to “co-create a new Philippines” will gather for the Liwanag World Festival 2015 in Cebu City on Sept. 23 to 26.
It’s the third edition of a one-of-kind assembly of thinkers, doers, artists and advocates who share their journeys and creative responses to the need for social transformation.
“We are a diverse group,” explained Teresa Dosdos Ruelas, co-founder and co-convenor of MISSION in a press conference at Handuraw restaurant.
“What brings us together? We want a new, different Philippines.”
Members of MISSION, or the Movement of Imaginals for Sustainable Societies through Initiatives, Organizing and Networking, are volunteers from different fields – education, environment, health care, culture and arts, agriculture, community organizing, government, business, to name a few.
Gian Carlo de Jesus, an experimental theater artist, said they will draw out stories of change from the festival, and “hear voices from every sector.”
He said one way is to use a theater technique, a “balay-balay” approach, to come up with a “contemporary narrative” of the state of affairs today.
“If we want to change the world, we need to tap into our own creativity and co-create together,” he said.
Jay Cruz, a Manila-based dance artist and acting coach, talked about how “old realities are over.”
Even in dance, he said, the perspective is multi-dimensional, not just limited to a routine of left-turn and right-turn movements on the floor.
He posed the question, can we enjoy the “teleserye” and look beyond it as entertainment to understand what it says about the fans who follow it?
Ruelas, a Cebuana, wrote a children’s book called “I See Cebu” which has led to school field trips and a pioneer effort at community-based cultural heritage and ecotourism for kids.
She heads a campaign for a GMO-free Cebu which gave birth to a Cebu Farmers Market held every Saturday at Handuraw Cafe where local farmers sell organically grown produce and chemical-free products.
“Liwanag” is the Filipino word for light. What the festival and MISSION aim for is a “glow that sustains us for a revolution,” not just a flash or “ninging,” said Ruelas.
Many core members in MISSION supported the 2010 presidential campaign of Nicanor Perlas, an advocate of sustainable development.
“Knowing that Nicanor did not win the presidential election, we found out that there was another purpose for bringing together several societal movements,” Ruelas said.
Perlas is not running in next year’s national election, she clarified, adding that MISSION “includes and transcends politics.”
The three-day festival will be held at the Provincial Capitol’s Social Hall.
Among the “catalysts” who will attend are singer-composer Joey Ayala, Perlas, Mindanao peace activist Madett Gardiola, Ruelas, Rowena Ebdani, Jay Cruz, Ruth Mercado, Pam Fernandez and Gian Carlo de Jesus.
The first Liwanag festival in 2013 was held in Davao with 700 delegates, and focused on creativity and innovation.
In 2014, against the backdrop of typhoon Yolanda and the Cebu-Bohol earthquake, participants discussed natural calamities and disaster response.
This year, the festival’s theme is about “Co-creating a new Philippines: The next step for innovative societal movements in transforming a nation.”
Organizers called it a time “to collectively reflect” on what people are doing to change the world, and new ways to be relevant, effective and cohesive.
The calendar of activities includes lectures, “story lab” sessions, socio-mapping, a cultural night and networking to help delegates with their individual initiatives.
The evening before the festival on Sept. 23, cyclists, runners and long-boarders are invited to join a road “pilgrimage” called “Padyak Tungo sa Liwanag.”
Pre-festival activities include a photography workshop with Kevin Cabrera on August 15 and another on social media and crowdfunding.
To register for the event, visit the website www.liwanagworldfest.net. /with Mary Claire U. Catado, UP Cebu Intern