22 November 2016 — The Philippine Consulate General in Sydney in cooperation with Filipino community organizations, co-hosted NARRA Cooperative Limited and Plaza Filipino Incorporated, a talk on linking concepts of sustainable art, environment and youth empowerment by Cebu-based artist and designer, Francis Sollano, on November 06.

The event was held at the recently-inaugurated Philippines-Australian Arts, Culture and Innovation Central (ACI Central), a culture and innovation hub, operated by NARRA Cooperative Limited and Plaza Filipino Incorporated in Campbelltown City, New South Wales, Australia.

Mr. Sollano is the Co-convenor and Executive Director of Youth for a Liveable Cebu. He is known for his contemporary take on upcycling garbage into wearable art and art installations. His works have been shown across the globe in major cities including London, New York, Paris, Tokyo, Singapore and Bangkok.

The talk by Mr. Sollano focused on youth empowerment in sustainable development and creating art pieces, and providing livelihood, from trash such as plastic bottles, grocery plastic bags, sticky paper, and drinking straws. Mr. Sollano was accompanied by Ms. Stephanie Jarina also of the Youth for a Liveable Cebu.

The event was attended by members of the Filipino community in New South Wales, including newly-elected Campbelltown City Councilor Rey Manoto, whose family hosted Mr. Sollano and Ms. Jarina during their stay in Campbelltown City. A group of Filipino-Australians who hail from Cebu pledged to help Mr. Sollano in the implementation of the projects of Youth for a Liveable Cebu.

In her remarks at the event, Consul General Anne Jalando-on Louis thanked the NARRA Cooperative Limited and Plaza Filipino Incorporated for collaborating with the Consulate on arranging the talk by Mr. Sollano at the ACI Central.

She also acknowledged the assistance extended by the Philippine Embassy in Canberra and Cebu Pacific Air to Mr. Sollano and Ms. Jarina for their visit to Australia. Prior to his talk in Campbelltown City, Mr. Sollano was a guest artist at DESIGN Canberra. END