AG Saño to paint public mural in Puerto Princesa for Coral Triangle Day

As part of Tubbataha’s 25th anniversary activities, renowned mural painter AG Saño will collaborate with local artists and volunteers to create a huge public mural celebrating Coral Triangle Day.

WHO IS AG SAÑO?

AG SAÑO is an artist who is passionate about volunteerism and the marine environment. After watching The Cove – a documentary about the annual slaughter of 23,000 dolphins in Taiji, Japan – the former landscape architect quit his job to paint murals around the Philippines raising awareness about the plight of dolphins. A key aspect of his murals is working with volunteers and communities. He draws the outline of the design and volunteers help him complete the rest of the artwork. Community involvement in Sano’s murals gives his art greater meaning and impact.

Tubbataha a haven for at least five species of dolphins: Grey’s spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris longirostris), Spotted dolphins (Stenella attenuata Pantropical), Common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), Fraser’s dolphins (Lagenodelphins hosei) and Risso’s dolphins (Grampus griseus).

Coral Triangle Day is a great opportunity to bring Saño to Puerto Princesa to create a public mural commemorating 25 years of conservation in Tubbataha.

Through the mural painting workshop we aim to:

  • Raise public awareness of the importance of the Coral Triangle and marine conservation
  • Empower the public to take action to help conserve and protect the marine environment

THE CORAL TRIANGLE

The Coral Triangle refers to a triangular area encompassing portions of the tropical marine waters of the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste.

The Coral Triangle is home to 30 percent of the world’s coral reefs, 75 percent of coral species and almost 3,000 species of fish. Ocean currents carry larvae from the coral triangle to other parts of the world supplying the globe with marine resources. It is the geographic centre of global marine biodiversity and an international priority for conservation.

Just one percent of reefs in the Coral Triangle Region are considered effectively managed. Among these are 25 MPAs in the Philippines, including Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park. Tubbataha Reef has been recognized as one of the best managed marine protected areas in the western Coral Triangle.

CORAL TRIANGLE DAY

Coral Triangle Day is celebrated on June 9 each year, in conjunction with World Oceans Day (8 June). It is a massive celebration of the world’s epicentre of marine biodiversity. Beach clean-ups, sustainable seafood dinners and exhibitions, bazaars, and beach parties – all these events carry the message of ocean conservation under the overall banner of “shared waters, shared solutions”.

This year, the Tubbataha Management Office (TMO) and the World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines (WWF-Philippines) have partnered to celebrate the Coral Triangle Day in Puerto Princesa City.

An orientation workshop for volunteers and artists will be conducted on June 8 at the Centennial Pavilion, Provincial Capitol.  The mural painting activity will be held on June 9 at the TTH Building (beside the Philippine Veterans Bank), Junction 1, Rizal Avenue, Puerto Princesa City.

Who’s joining?

WWF Palawan, Tubbataha Youth Ambassadors and staff, Provincial Government of Palawan, Aborlan Arts Group, Palawan National School, Artists for Nature …and counting.

Please join us – walk-in participants are also welcome!

Many thanks to our partners in this event:

  • WWF-Philippines
  • UNICO General Merchandising
  • Palawan National School