Living with Nature Center Series 3
Study Tour, Research and Workshops
San Vicente, Ilocos Sur
Dr Abe V Rotor
Study Tour
Teachers and students regularly visit the place for their outdoor study,
practicum and home assignments. The Center offers assistance to
students in their thesis and dissertation, as well as screen and stage
presentations, papers and publications notwithstanding.
Shrines in the Garden
Top, Apo Baket' keeper of time honored values and tradition. Emilio
Aguinaldo, first president of the first republic of the Philippines, and
national hero Dr Jose Rizal, depicted here at the Center in his exile at
Dapitan. While in exile Rizal became a biologist, agriculturist, school
teacher, while he practiced medicine benevolently to the community.
Children's Art Workshop
School children joyfully enter the world of art, gateway to the
realm of creativity, in lieu of cellphones, malls, and loafing.
Art Evolution
Art evolution is increasing experimental and abstract. Schools
of art today continue to expand rapidly - from impressionism and
expressionism to fauvism and surrealism. Can we set its chart and
goal and make art relevant to our lives in these changing times.
Can we bring back good tradition and values of old, and the true
essence of art as a beautiful embodiment of humanity?
Ecological Art
The art of recycling such as broken ceramics (burnay), given a new
life as a home and garden decor, instead of just being thrown away.
Painted broken jars given a second life, function to aesthetics, in our
search for beauty and meaning of material things in our wastefulness
and affluent living - brokenness after all is transformation, so with life.
Church Art Workshop
Guests view the artworks of students in interpreting a biblical theme,
("I am the way, the truth and the life."), sponsored by the Archdiocese
of Nueva Segovia (Ilocos Sur), and conducted at the Center.
Cyptobiology
Nature spirit surreptitiously and subtly expressed in driftwood and
other natural forms as captured by the artist's inner eye, "an
ecological perception on the harsh treatment of nature by man."
Art and Craft
In both cases, these nature's specimens are among the most popular
museum items. Craft is often identified as the work of the artisan,
while art in its fundamental sense is the work of the artist, often
regarded as fine art.
Nature Trophies
Nature sends a vital message in awaking man's consciousness to save
the environment, which is different from the fraternal praises in gold and
silver trophies in today's acclaimed human achievements.
Indigenous Industry: Basi and Vinegar
Top, 18th century wine cellar, bottled premium basi. Table wines
made from local fruits in season, adopting the traditional process
of basi fermentation and aging in earthen jar (burnay Ilk).
Native Fowls
Native chicken, ducks, turkey, pigs, counterparts of native mango,
chico, guava, and the like. Name it and Nature has it. Let us
preserve the native genes and not alter or even lose them. Native
plants and animals are resistant to pests and diseases, and to
adverse conditions of the environment.
18th Century Well
The well has withstood the elements, principally earthquake, erosion
and siltation. It has however, lost its ability to supply water throughout
the year. It dries up during the dry months.
Pets
Pets are members of the household so to speak, when it comes to
loving and caring dogs, cats, fowls - name it and you can find one.
Having pets is therapeutic, and children grow up happy, healthy
and peaceful.
