The Center for Art, New Ventures & Sustainable Development (CANVAS) has teamed up with the website www.lookingforjuan.com to offer premium and meaningful gifts this Christmas, infused with art images of some of the best Filipino artists.
“When companies buy from us, they are also helping us with our advocacy,” revealed Gigo Alampay, CANVAS Founder and Executive Director. To date, they have given away more than 250,000 books to communities from Ifugao to Basilan.
“We partner with individuals and organizations who work directly in the field and with communities all over the country. They make it possible to get our books to children in all corners of the Philippines. Communities visited by horrific calamities, both natural (such as Typhoon Yolanda) and caused by man (like the armed conflict in Zamboanga) are some of the beneficiaries of this initiative,” he shared.
On the website, buyers can find art cards, journals, fans, notepads, art magnets, limited edition art prints, and stickers. Eco-friendly upcycled tote bags are also available. Requests for customized items for corporate gifts are accommodated too.
Because it’s Christmas, the website is running a seasonal promo of buy-one-get-one on books if you use the discount code L4JPASKO2019 before you check out. The more you buy, the bigger your contribution to the “One Million Books for One Million Filipino Children” campaign which aims to inspire in children a love for reading.
Most of the offerings are books for children. “BenCab’s Activity Book for Children” is an early introduction to the works of National Artist for Painting, Benedicto Cabrera through coloring, writing, and spot-the-difference activities, finger puppet and paper doll dress up.
“Sino si Juan” takes the child on a discovery of what it means to be a Filipino through coloring pages, word games, puzzles, and more.
These are just two of a handful of titles that can be enjoyed by those four years old and up. For every purchase of an activity book, two copies will be donated to underprivileged children.
Story books geared towards those 9 to 12 years of age can be also found on the website. Their lineup is like no other, even adults – particularly art enthusiasts – would love to have these titles in their personal collection.
Multi-awarded writer Butch Dalisay’s “Why Words Matter” is the latest addition to the roster. His reflection is complemented by the uniquely lyrical art of Marcel Antonio.
“Nadia and the Blue Stars” is a tale of hope and has been used for psychosocial therapy to help children who were forced to flee their homes, either by man-made conflict or by natural calamities, to deal with the trauma of their displacements.
“Ang Aklatang Pusa” was written by Palanca Hall of Famer Eugene Evasco with artworks by award-winning painter and sculptor, Jared Yokte.
“RizalPabeto” was published in celebration of Rizal’s 150th birth anniversary. It is a collection of award-winning poet, fictionist, playwright, and essayist Vim Nadera’s poems about Rizal. He wrote one for every letter in the alphabet, which are interpreted by prominent contemporary painter, Elmer Borlongan in the tradition of letras y figuras.
