Philippines’ first permanent installation art honors advocates of poverty eradication

The contributions of people who are passionate about poverty eradication were immortalized in an installation art created by Luis E. Yee, Jr., popularly known as Junyee. The installation art, the first in the Philippines that is mounted permanently in a garden, is located at CARD-MRI Development Institute (CMDI), Inc. in Bay, Laguna.

Also placed in the nook is a marker devoted to President Corazon Cojuangco-Aquino, a supporter of social development institutions including CARD MRI. “President Cory Aquino is one of our inspiration in continuing to empower poor people. Because of the legacy she left us, we will continue to provide the socioeconomically challenged families with better opportunities,” says Dr. Jaime Aristotle B. Alip, Founder and Managing Director of CARD Mutually Reinforcing Institutions (CARD MRI). In 2005, President Cory Aquino awarded CARD MRI with the People Power Award.Only filled with bushes of flowering plants, sculptures made from Yakal wood were used in the installation to approximate the absence of living trees. These sculptures hold the cables from where bells hang, gently making a sound when the wind blows. “The bells are representation of every individual who made significant contributions to poverty eradication in the Philippines,” Junyee states.

The artist also encourages CARD MRI staff and management to donate potted flowering plants to the garden as a symbol of their own contribution to the success of CARD MRI.

CMDI is a member institution of CARD MRI that serves as a training and learning institute for individuals interested in social development. “Now, CMDI is not only a place for individuals to learn about CARD MRI, but it is also a sanctuary for us to remember the pioneers who started our fight in poverty eradication,” Edzel Ramos, Institute Director of CMDI states.