by Cynthia B. Arre | Jun 5, 2020 | Advocacies, Press, Updates
Very grateful to have been featured in Girls Club Asia where I talked about my journey as a female creative, the woman in my life growing up, living in Quezon City, artistic influences, and my dream collaborator. [ GO ]
Also thrilled to have been interviewed in NoliSoli.Ph where I was asked to talk about the #DrawNativeTreesPh campaign plus how my advocacy got realized, and also how the collaboration with Forest Foundation Philippines began. [ GO ]
Was also invited by Team Asia to be a guest in Part 3 of their live webinar series, “Experience Online” with the theme, “Live to Drive Passion.” The other guests were singers Karylle Yuzon and Acel Bisa van Ommen, and dancer Stephen Biadona. We all talked about how our passions fuel us to pursue our advocacies and live with purpose. You can watch the hour-and-a-half-long webinar on Team Asia’s FB page via this direct link to the video.
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by Cynthia B. Arre | Apr 29, 2020 | Press, Updates
My work with Forest Foundation Philippines was featured recently on Adobo Magazine. Hope you can read the full interview, here. 🙂
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by Cynthia B. Arre | Apr 22, 2020 | Advocacies, Downloadables
Happy Earth Day! Even in this time of Covid-19, let’s also think about the steps we can take to protect the home that has nurtured us since we were born. It can be as simple as reducing (if not, completely avoiding) the use of single-use plastic, walking instead of taking your car, supporting our farmers and forest watchers, recycling / repurposing old items instead of throwing them away, and composting kitchen waste, among others. A healthy environment can also care for us more efficiently as we fight this pandemic together.
Also taking this moment to spread the love for our Philippine native trees and their importance in forest conservation and protection. Without our forests, our food and water security will be compromised andof course we can’t allow that to happen especially during this very challenging period.
Sharing these desktop and mobile wallpapers featuring some of the fruit-bearing trees that Forest Foundation Philippines and I showcased in our ongoing #ForestFruitsPh project.You can download them straight from FFP’s site, provided through the links below. Feel free to share them with your friends, hopefully along with the message of conservation. 🙂
Download from Forest Foundation Philippines:
#ForestTreesPh desktop wallpaper (2880 x 1800)
#ForestTreesPh mobile wallpaper (750 x 1334)
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by Cynthia B. Arre | Apr 20, 2020 | Updates
I’ve known veteran and well-respected documentarist and journalist Mr. Howie Severino for a long time, but only in the way that most people know him — by name, and through his body of work. I’ve never met him in person. Therefore it took me by surprise a couple of weeks ago when I saw that he had followed me on Instagram. His IG was on private, but I requested to follow back anyway because… why not? 😀
At that time, it hadn’t been publicized that he unfortunately contracted Covid-19, and I only learned about it when he accepted my follow request and I got to see the photos on his feed. He also sent me this very touching direct message, and with his permission, I shared the gist of our encounter with my private list on IG Stories, and a few days later, on Twitter. Reposting the thread below for documentation.
While trying to deal with pandemic-related uncertainty, stress, and anxiety, I’ve been thinking on and off if art ~ the only thing I can do – had any use at all, but Sir Howie’s message (above) made me see its worth even at a time like this.
Sir Howie also showed me an awesome photo of him, his wife, and son, posing by the roots of a huge Dao tree and wondered if he could commission me to draw it. I don’t accept portrait commissions anymore, but this was different. Around that time, his essays, “Ako si Patient 2828” and “The Anti-virus Warriors in My Blood” had already been published on the GMA website, and I read both of them in one sitting.
While drawing, I kept thinking that there’s no way I can accept any payment after he had been through so much suffering. It was going to be my gift for all the good he has done, and is doing – undergoing even more tests in the name of medical research, and continuing to share what he knows in order to help others.
After I told him, he sent yet another touching message.
https://twitter.com/arncyn/status/1250629901880705025?s=20
If there’s anything I will remember during these past 1.5 months of extreme-whatever lockdown, this experience would be it. In case you get to read this, thank you, Sir Howie. I’m actually the one who received a “gift” through our encounter because it has inspired me all the more to keep creating and helping in any way possible. 🙂
Edit (April 24, 2020): I just learned that our exchange was also featured in an article on the GMA News website.
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by Cynthia B. Arre | Apr 12, 2020 | Advocacies
Along with WWF Philippines, I am inviting you to help support our forest frontliners, the Bantay Gubat. Our water security relies greatly on them, and in these times of pandemic, we know just how important it is to have clean water at the ready. (I mean, how do we wash our hands without a supply of fresh water? How will our healthcare workers care for patients efficiently without it, right? We normally take our water supply for granted because it’s there everyday, not knowing that unsung heroes working behind the scenes also need our help. ( I wasn’t aware as well until I learned all about what they do so I am sharing it here.)
These rangers tirelessly patrol and monitor the Ipo watershed, a vital link in the Angat-Umiray-Ipo watersheds system that supplies about 96% of our water needs in Metro Manila, and they are in dire need of our support.
Bantay Gubat are not only responsible for protecting the watershed, they also help in forest and biodiversity conservation as they go about their rounds, checking for invasive species and signs of illegal activity. However, they can’t do this efficiently when they are lacking in equipment, and this is where we can help.
Please go to https://bit.ly/help-bantay-gubat . With the click of a button, you can donate any amount you can to help our forest rangers in securing our water supply, and in conserving our forest resources.
P.s. I have gifts for you ~
As a humble token of appreciation, I prepared exclusive desktop and mobile wallpapers featuring Philippine endemic forest birds for you kind-hearted nature nurturers! Just leave a comment below or send me a note if you’ve donated and I will send you the link to the high-res files. 🙂
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