| A street art or a Mural that is painted in the confines of the public is purely underappreciated let alone in one of the major cities in the Philippines. There’s a story somewhere to share and in one of those tales is one particular scene in 2013 when six of the well-known visual artists were tapped to paint the Legazpi Underpass, it is one of the oldest passage ways in Makati City built in the mid-1990s.
During its time media did coverage of the almost finished murals under it and had interviewed random people passing through this subterranean walkway and one of them was this elder lady saying that she appreciates the art, but would it be best it would be easily seen visibly like her. Understanding that she’s one of the local folks who just take the common route which is a bit shame not really getting the concept. |
You see this type of public installation was not designed for the usual folks to see in their regular route as they see fit. Like anyone who is not from the city of Makati or even from another country doesn’t demand that art should be seen in public, where there are a lot of people that pass through. The idea is you explore and find it for those who even resides this city they rarely go out becomes the tourist of their own residential space. This is where the interest starts with exploring the nooks and crannies of this urban place.
For those limited with their very broad perspective street art or mural installation supported by the city government now become part of this place’s culture. Uncovering these colorful and expressive creations is like searching for hidden treasures they’re created for you to demand that you see in on your regular route to home or going to work it is there to fill the blank space that’s in need of life.
The ones painted in Makati City are very few now some that were painted are now replaced by other installations. But if you’re keen for an adventure to find most of them you take a different pathway than the usual street. It is very different from other countries like Australia. The melting pot of the urban art scene can be found in downtown Melbourne, but there are growing places that are challenging that popularity when it comes to urban installation like Adelaide in South Australia. But that’s a different overall story to share next time.
This one that surely needs appreciation is the latest installation in Makati City. It was probably the longest and tallest mural creation in this town and certainly somewhere within this country would challenge its concept. For now, it holds as one of the best installations that people should give a second look.
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“Gabay Kalikasan” (Guide to Nature) is an environmental campaign that PLDT commissioned to promote climate change awareness presenting it featuring animals from the Philippines, which was painted in last year with the finishing touches done just in time for the World Wildlife Day that was celebrated last 3 March 2020. The mural is not just about the plants and animals that covered most part of the PLDT Makati General Office, but also accompanied by a 120-foot painting of two birds.
The vertical mural is a continuation of the more than 3,000-square-foot plant and animal life painting throughout the PLDT headquarters’ Legazpi frontage, Dela Rosa walkway, and Gallardo back entrance. The horizontal artwork was first unveiled during the National Climate Change Awareness Month and the 91st anniversary of PLDT, both held before the end of 2019. This certainly a masterpiece that often not noticed by passers-by of this city due to its remote location the general folk that only knows their route to and from the commercial district to the nearest bus or jeepney stop would even know this existed. It is something to appreciate its use of colors and texture that Filipino environmental muralist AG Saño and his team have worked on this impressive when they began work before the turn of a New Year.
In case you haven’t been to this part of Makati in case you’re nearby the PLDT office you’ll definitely not going to miss this as mentioned it is worth appreciating its urban installation probably tops some of the mural work done in Southeast Asia that can certainly rival those you have probably seen in your travels in other countries. This is surely something also to take pride to be reminded of the climate changes and supporting awareness like this through art.
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