A new exhibit on water access and inequality opened this week at the Ayala Museum in Makati, aiming to raise awareness and start conversations about one of today’s most urgent global concerns: fair and equal access to clean water.
Titled “Fair Water?”, the exhibit brings together the efforts of several major institution—the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Ayala Foundation, Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation, and the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, which originally developed the exhibit. This marks the first time “Fair Water?” is being shown in the Philippines.
The exhibit takes visitors on an educational and emotional journey, showing how access to clean water is not the same for everyone. It highlights the struggles of communities that face water shortages or poor water quality, often due to poverty, climate change, or long-standing social and economic issues.
Visitors can explore the topic through a mix of visuals, interactive displays, videos, and real-life stories. Among the featured content are water-related projects supported by ADB and homegrown solutions like the ram pump—a low-cost water technology created by AIDFI, a Ramon Magsaysay Award recipient. The exhibit also includes stories from Filipino youth, showing how young people are helping their communities address water issues.
While the subject is serious, the exhibit is designed to be engaging and easy to understand, especially for younger audiences. It mainly targets youth between the ages of 16 and 22, with a special section tailored for children aged 8 to 12. The goal is to get young people thinking about water not just as a daily need, but as a shared responsibility.
“We’re excited to open this conversation with young Filipinos and broader communities. Water security isn’t just a technical issue—it’s about fairness, sustainability, and the kind of future we want to build,” said a representative from ADB.
The exhibit is part of a bigger effort that includes a 12-week program of public activities. These include workshops, guided tours for youth, talks, cultural performances, and school partnerships—all centered on the idea that clean water is a basic right that should be available to everyone.
More than just informing visitors, “Fair Water?” encourages people to take action in their own lives and communities. The exhibit asks important questions: Who has access to clean water? Who doesn’t? And what can we do about it?
“Fair Water?” is now open to the public at the Ayala Museum. Admission details and program schedules are available through the museum and its partner organizations.
Photos by Southside Studios