The COVID-19 pandemic does not halt the government in celebrating the “Month of the Ocean” this month as the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) launched its first ever online art exhibition and competition, depicting the importance on taking care of the province’s ocean and its natural resources.
As PCSD launched the “Buwan ng Karagatan Online Art Exhibition & Competition” last May 22 and later on partnered with the Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI), all Palaweño visual artists are now invited to join and submit their entry or entries from May 24 to 10:00 PM of May 29 in order to showcase their skills in arts and win a cash prize. The exhibition will feature mixed media visual artworks made by Palaweños.
As the concluding part of the celebration of the “Month of the Ocean (MOO),” voting for entries will be held from 9:00 AM of May 30 to 11:00 AM of May 31, 2020.
In the mechanics, PCSD announced that the event is open to all ages, to all artists and regardless of their level or profession in arts, provided that their artwork would relate to the celebration through showcasing Palawan’s beaches and coastal areas, oceans, and underwater sceneries.
Also, old artworks, new made or works in progress are welcome in the said exhibition, to include also paintings in all media, sketches, digital paintings, sculptures and clayworks, and other forms related to visual media. In order to submit, the artists are advised to take a photo or scan their works and if it is digitally-made, it should be in PNG/JPEG format and send it to PCSD email at eeed.pcsd.@gamil.com or through the official PCSD Facebook page at “Palawan Council for Sustainable Development.”
The Council also reminds them that in submission, their entry should contain a header or first line as “PCSD Ocean Month Online Exhibition Entry.” Most importantly, the entry must contain the artist’s full name or pen name, title of the artwork, medium used, original canvass size/size of the sculpture, and short description of the artwork. Each participant may submit multiple entries.
The winner will determine by most number of likes and reactions and reacting to photos until May 31. After this, the album will be set to private and the votes will be tallied.
PCSD likewise warns the participants to submit only their created artwork or artworks because plagiarism and art theft will automatically disqualify the entry. They will not also accept artworks with offensive and malicious contents.
Also included in the criteria is the agreement between the participants and the PCSD that the artists’ artwork will be posted to PCSD’s different social media platform such as Facebook, website, publications, et cetera and will allow the Council to use the said images in non-commercial prints, such as feature magazines, annual reports, slideshows, with the proper citation of the original artist.
Meanwhile, in a text message, PCSDS Spokesperson Jovic Fabello said that Presidential Proclamation No. 75 mandates the DENR and DENR-BFAR to spearhead the activities of MOO in collaboration with the different sectors of the society. And as an attached agency of DENR, the PCSD co-celebrates the activity of the MOO, now thru an online platform due to COVID-19 health protocols, in the culmination of the MOO celebration with this years’ theme of “PAra sa Tao: Protected Areas for the Protected Future” which focuses on Marine Protected Areas of Palawan.”
“The PCSD is continuously helping LGUs in expanding MPAs in their jurisdiction to safeguard food security and sustainability of our coastal and marine resources,” Fabello said
Every month of May, the “Month of the Ocean” is celebrated annually in the Philippines by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 57 issued in 1999.
“Activities to be conducted in observance of the MOO aims to highlight the importance and significance of conservation, protection, and sustainable management of Philippine coastal and marine resources,” PCSDS Spokesperson added.