THIS year's Festival of Trees
failed to reach its ambitious
target of P7 million, but
organizers, led by outgoing
festival chair Josephine Knox,
are optimistic they would be
able to raise the record
amount before the year ends.
Now on its fifth year, the
annual auction of donated
artworks from some of the country's top artists is a joint project
of the Makati Garden Club and the Philippine Business for
Social Progress.
For the last time, proceeds will benefit thousands of poor
families living in seven coastal barangays of Maqueda Bay,
Western Samar. Organizers have identified the rehabilitation and
upkeep of a bird sanctuary in Olango, Cebu as the festival's next
beneficiary.
Highest bids
Gross sales from so-called oral and silent bids amounted to P2.6
million, while direct donations reached P3 million. The latter
came mostly from big companies and ticket sales.
The P2,500-per plate dinner drew the likes of Andres Soriano,
Kitkat and Fernando Zobel, Lizzie and Jaime Augusto Zobel,
and Mandy Eduque. Each table, composed of 10 people, costs
P25,000.
Seventeen major artworks, fetched a total of P2,024,500. Dozens
of items up for silent bids brought in P504,500 so far.
Every piece up for silent bidding came with a bid form indicating
a series of incremental prices. Each guest wrote his or her name
and telephone number opposite a certain piece. The last person
who made a bid won the item.
Canada-based artist Jose Trinidad emerged as the evening's
highest paid artist when his oil painting ''En Provence'' was
snapped by businessman Windy Imperial for P280,000.
BenCab's ''Mysterious Woman 12'' went to Standard Chartered
Bank, represented by president Eirvin Knox, for P210,000, while
Anita Magsaysay-Ho's pencil sketch, ''Flower Vendors,'' went
again to Imperial for P130,000.
Other works which exceeded their guide prices are Romulo
Galicano's ''Cordova Scene'' (P200,000), Ma. Luisa Perez-Rubio's
''Rhapsody in Blue'' (P140,000) and Menchu Katigbak's
''Memories'' (P105,000).
But one of the evening's top earners was ''The Empress,'' a
15-year-old bonsai tree by Modesto Manglicmot Jr. From a
guide price of P50,000, British auctioneer Matthew Freeston was
able to convince Eduque to shell out P87,500.
Other top artists who donated their works were Malang and
Ephraim Samson, Ang Kiukok, National Artist Arturo Luz and
Ding Roces and Lanelle Abueva Fernando.
Poking fun
As in previous years, Makati
Garden Club president Ma. Luisa
Perez-Rubio poked fun by
sneaking behind prominent
guests and raising their hands
during the auction. Nevertheless,
Unilab president Butch Campos
gamely shelled out P140,000 for
Perez-Rubio's work.
''Money continue to pour in even
after the auction,'' says PBSP executive Beth Garganta. ''We will
still be accepting donations from companies and individuals
during the entire month of December.''
Admittedly, the P7-million target was double last year's
P3.5-million goal. Organizers simply wanted to end their last year
with a bang. But PBSP will still be involved with the people of
Maqueda Bay.
Whether they achieve this or not, Knox was visibly ecstatic
about the overall results. Four of the festival's five-year history
was devoted to this group of impoverished but resilient
Samareqos.
Rising income
Since then, the average income has doubled from P1,500 to
P3,000 per family. By teaching people to engage in alternative
sources of livelihood, the once-depleted Maqueda Bay is now
starting to come to life.
But most important, they have become more aware of their
environment. The rampant and destructive practice of dynamite
fishing has slowly been eradicated. Residents have junked the
practice of turning mangrove forest into firewood. They've even
replanted certain areas to ensure life in the marine sanctuary.
''I'm happy to note that they've learned through their mistakes,''
says Knox. ''By correcting them, they can now provide
themselves and their children a brighter future.''
Thanks in part to an outpouring of support from the well-heeled
during Christmastime.
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