April 11, 2013

Corazon Bacalla and her children. They have been living in this tent since the typhoon displaced them from their home. ©UNICEF Philippines/2013/KPalasi

This is inside Corazon Bacalla’s tent where she lives with her young children. Her husband supports the family through farming. Typhoon Pablo damaged acres of farmland when it struck in December last year. ©UNICEF Philippines/2013/KPalasi

A few weeks before summer started, I visited Davao Oriental with UNICEF. It was, by far, the most memorable and most touching trip I’ve taken with UNICEF.

Last December a really strong typhoon hit the south eastern part of Mindanao leaving an entire region devastated and thousands of people dead. Many homes were destroyed and the damage to property and livelihood was enormous. I visited three months after the typhoon and still there were so much debris and fallen trees around. Yet despite all the damage and destruction, I saw in the eyes of many children, a lot of hope and faith. I still have so many stories to tell about the people I met and the places I saw.

We talked to partners and barangay officials about the water and sanitation situation inside the evacuation centre in Baranggay Papag. With me is the head of the American Catholic Relief group, working with UNICEF here. In photo wearing blue vest is UNICEF Philippines’ Country Representative Tomoo Hozumi.  ©UNICEF Philippines/2013/KPalasi

Dapnan Elementary School in Baganga, Davao Oriental. Children here hold classes in temporary shelters. All structures save for one school hall remained after Typhoon Pablo struck last year. ©UNICEF Philippines/2013/KPalasi

The Typhoon Pablo story has fallen off the front pages of the newspapers too soon. It is one of the deadliest typhoons that hit our country, and yet very little news of this came out. So much still needs to be done. At the time of my visit, all international and foreign aid agencies were still at the UN camp – each working on different aspects of restoring normalcy and rebuilding.

I am pleased to share our article published by Rappler.  I hope you take the time to read the stories and please share them in your blog, facebook and twitter.

Please read our story in Rappler here.

For more info on UNICEF’s emergency response and recovery efforts, visit www.unicef.ph.

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October 8, 2012

We had a wonderful Sunday together as a family. It was a slow day and everything centred on our three daughters – their playtime, drawings and exploring of a new place. It was a beautiful day. But by 3PM I decided to cut the day short and rush home. I sent the kids to play and sat in front of my laptop. I monitored the bids. Sought out potential buyers. Flooded Twitter and Facebook. The last hour was insane. I’d never been so excited and freaked out.

Midweek, I had my doubts and panic attacks. Saturday, I said to myself, I’d be grateful if we broke P2 Million in UNICEF’s Auction for Action. The rest of the team was confident we’d sell at least P2.5 million. Auction for Action closed at 6pm yesterday with P2.85 million!!! I was just P150,000 short of hitting my P3 million target. But we’re not counting what we didn’t make.

Everything was done online. We didn’t host an event. We wanted to keep costs down so all the money raised would go to fund programs for kids. P2.85 M in seven days is a lot of money!

My Instagram: Barefaced with tears. Shot this on the last hour of @unicefphils #auction4action. We raised P2.85 million in 7days all online! That’s USD 68,700. Wow!

I can’t say it enough — thank you to all the artists and designers who donated their work completely and in part. Thank you to the bidders. Including those who didn’t win, you did a lot to raise this money. And to all my friends who took my DMs, tweets and updates and retweeted, shared and liked them, you made it happen.

This is proof that social media and the internet can easily be used to do good stuff! And further proof that anyone can make a difference! You all made a difference!! Thank you.

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October 7, 2012

We have two hours left before Unicef Auction for Action closes. I am at the edge of my seat here. It has been so wonderful! Thank you for being part of this amazing non-event. Haha. We are hitting over P2 million pesos as I type this. And we didn’t even host an event, just a press briefing. This is proof that there are boundaries for art, design and willingness to help children. It’s universal.

I can’t keep still. So I’ll just try to tell stories.

This one is about Debbie Palao, furniture designer from Cebu. Debbie generously gave two pieces again this year. She is an avid supporter of Unicef Auction for Action. Thank you Debbie.

This was Debbie’s booth at CebuNext furniture expo in 2011. She donated this red chair called Pout.

I was one of the judges of Mugna Awards then. Loved all her pieces!

Here is a version of  Pout in off white. Really awesome piece!

Debbie in Elle Decor India.

Showing you Pout at the UNICEF Auction for Action press briefing. Bid here til 6pm (Philippine time) tonight.

This is Pout. Bid here til 6pm (Philippine time) tonight. Isn’t she lovely?

There is also this bench called Crayola in the auction. Don’t let the wooden pegs fool you. This bench is cushioned. So your little tushies will be comfy when you sit. And what better symbolizes childhood play and dreams than crayons?

Bid now. Two hours left. ebay.ph/unicef

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October 3, 2012

Last night I fell in love.

I was guest of honour at the gala opening of ManilART. A whole post on that after this.

I fell in love with the works of Elmer Borlongan and Plet Bolipata at the Boston Gallery’s booth. I’ve seen their works before. But never together in one spot. This is what I’ve been hungry for. That “feeling.” I’ll stop gushing because you’ll all think it’s crazy talk. Haha.

It is an honour to have a Bolipata and a Borlongan in this year’s UNICEF Auction for Action. Bidding continues until October 7. This is a rare chance to own their pieces way below gallery/market price. So please spread the word. Plet and Emong donated their works 100%. All proceeds go to UNICEF programs for kids in the Philippines.

Love.

“Cain and Abel. Baa Baa Black Sheep and Waa Waa White Sheep: Sibling Rivalry”, (H:63″, L: 94″, D: 29″, each). Behind it on the wall is a painting by Elmer Borlongan.

Owner of Boston Gallery, Dr. Joven Cuanang.

Half of the “Cain and Abel” story. This is “Waa Waa White Sheep: Sibling Rivalry”, (H:63″, L: 94″, D: 29″)

Here’s how they look like together. Complete madness! I love them. Photo from Plet Bolipata’s Facebook.

Brochure from a recent Alliance Francaise show – for husband and wife, Elmer and Plet

Public art galore! Adorable animal sculptures in Plet’s garden in Zambales. These were the lovelies in her show “imagiNATION” at Bonifacio Global City’s Offsite Gallery. Photo by Elmer Borlongan, from Plet’s Facebook.

From Plet’s Facebook, her caption reads, “Ev’ry time we say goodbye, I die a little…” Goodnight, peeps. This little kitty cat wants to sleep. Photo by Elmer Borlongan

Plet donated the pink kitty cat to our UNICEF Auction for Action. Photo by Elmer Borlongan, from Plet’s Facebook.

And Elmer donated his work from 2006. He said he didn’t have enough time to paint something new that fit our theme “Play” so he gave a drawing from his archives. Convoy, Pastel on paper, 16.5 x 23 inches, 2006. (Apparently the original painting of this is owned by Karen Davila). It currently has the most bids among the lot, and it’s only Day 3. You can keep track here.

Black Hat in a Pink Kitty by Plet Bolipata. This is how it appears in the www.ebay.ph/unicef site. But this photo doesn’t quite give the piece justice.

The scale, the proportion, the craziness. Please keep track of Plet’s Kitty Kat in the auction here.

This was the note Plet sent me a few weeks ago near our Auction deadline -

Dear Daphne

My parents, when they were younger and newly married, co-authored a book on stories of UNICEF which they published and distributed in public schools all over the Philippines. I grew up with this book so it sentimental for me to help in anyway possible.

I was able to finish one fiberglass resin kitty cat for the auction. Happiness!

Plet

Thank you, Plet. I want a piece of your world now. I want to see life through the eyes of a child. Lily, my 6 year old, just saw your photos and she was giddy! “It is the same sculptures from the park I went to.” Patrick took her to Bonifacio weeks ago. She wants to be an artist just like you. And she wants this pink kitty in her bedroom. Haha! Thank you for sharing your wonderland and for making a huge difference in the lives of children!

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October 3, 2012

Back in 2008, I had the chance to spend a day in this beautiful cottage near Tagaytay. This is the home of artist Araceli Valencia. We all call her Tita Baby. She is the mother of fashion designer Rhett Eala. I met her through artist Popo San Pascual.

Her garden was endless. I was inspired by creative people like Tita Baby, Tita Sonya (of Sonya’s Garden), Tonyboy (of Antonio’s Restaurant) and Popo to one day own a part of this world and make a home in it.

Her garden was so lush. And she had this special Medinilla sp. plant found in the jungles of Quezon province. According to my plant and wildlife expert friend Dr Rico Quimbo, “They’re not cheap. They’re all over the phiippines but the best and showy ones are in the Southern Tagalog area. Saw a truly resplendent representative in the Samar Island National Park.” I love our endemic vegetation.

Her cottage had a beautiful wrap-around porch.

Her cottage had an open plan. You see the dining area and sleeping quarters all under one roof.

Her bedroom, visible from the living and dining areas.

She surrounded herself with beautiful objects – both created by man and by nature.

Jasmine flowers from her garden.

Washed up corals and antique dishes.

Her paint brushes.

And just by her back porch hangs this beautiful painting. (Found this coincidentally! This photo is from 2008).

This is the same exact painting she donated to UNICEF’s Auction for Action. Baby Valencia’s “A Corner in My Garden”. Beautiful.

You can keep an eye out or bid on this painting at UNICEF’s Auction for Action here.

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