TAO Photo Exhibit

Come visit " TAO" – A Fundraising Photo Exhibit by the Technical Assistance Organization (TAO) – Pilipinas on June 22 to July 31, 2007 at the gallery-café of Blacksoup Project Artspace in Cubao. The event aims to raise funds to support the projects of TAO-Pilipinas in Bicol and Metro Manila. To know more about us, the exhibit, and how to support our cause, read on below.

(Blacksoup Project Artspace is located at Shop 61, Marikina Shoe Expo, Romulo Avenue , Araneta Center , Quezon City. The gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday, from 4pm to 9pm.)

About the artists

TAO-Pilipinas, Inc. is a women-led, non-profit, non-government organization composed mainly of architects, planners and engineers committed to helping urban and rural poor communities create clean, healthy, inclusive, disaster-resilient, and environmentally-sustainable settlements.

Since 2001, TAO-Pilipinas has assisted poor communities through conducting participatory community development planning; building awareness on housing standards and laws; assisting in land acquisition, site development planning, housing and public space design; and educating and training communities on estate management, disaster risk mitigation, and solid waste management among others.

About the exhibit

" TAO " is an exhibit of photographs selected from hundreds of snapshots taken by TAO-Pilipinas staff in the course of their work. The title refers to TAO-Pilipinas as the organization; the people in the marginalized communities whom the organization has committed to assist; and to those who believe and support the organization's vision of sustainable human settlements and holistic urban development.

The selected photographs were taken while working with informal settlements in Punta Sta. Ana, Parola and Baseco, Manila; a charcoal-making community beside a garbage transfer station in Pier 18, Manila; a flood-prone resettlement area in Tanza, Navotas; barangays devastated by Typhoon Reming in Bicol; and idyllic rural communities in Infanta, Quezon.

Many of the images show various states of natural and man-made landscapes, from the chaotic to the serene. They reveal not only the fragility and vulnerability of communities, but also their strength and resilience.

Who will benefit

Proceeds from the exhibit will directly benefit the projects of TAO-Pilipinas' various programs:

· Human Settlements and Environment – the provision of planning, engineering and architectural services to urban and rural poor communities

· Education and Training – the conduct of seminars and workshops on participatory community development planning, disaster management and solid waste management among others

· Research and Publications - the production and dissemination of materials on sustainable human settlements development and holistic urban development

· Young Professionals – the program that serves as a venue for social awareness and volunteerism for students, new graduates and young professionals in the fields of architecture, engineering and planning

Through your support, TAO-Pilipinas hopes to be able to continue helping marginalized communities in Metro Manila, the Bicol Region and other provinces in the Philippines.

Make a difference! Pledge now

Support us by pledging to buy an 8" x 10" print of any of the photographs in the exhibit. Each print costs Php2,000 (buyers outside Metro Manila and the Philippines will be charged additional costs for postage and handling). A maximum of ten copies of each photograph will be printed and sold.

If you are interested to pledge, email asrodil@gmail.com and a catalogue of the photos will be sent for you to choose from. You can also see the actual prints during the exhibit at the Blacksoup Project Artspace. The prints will be sent to you after the exhibit has closed on July 31. You can also call Ms. Yeye Perdigon or Geraldine Matabang at (02) 926-9504 for inquiries.


Click here for photos from the opening.