Dr. Consuelo dL. Habito, faculty member of the Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS), UP Open University (UPOU) and Program Chair of the Master of Environment and Natural Resources Management (MENRM) program of FMDS, UPOU represented the Philippines to the celebration of the 2017 World Wood Day (WWD) on 21-26 March 2017 at the Long Beach Convention Center in California, United States of America. Dr. Habito presented a paper on the “Wood Carving Tradition of the Indigenous Peoples of Palawan, Philippines” during the Wood Symposium.
This year’s celebration, with the theme “Roots,” aimed to reflect on the identity and appreciation of culture as well as respect for diversity through the medium of wood.
With participants from over 100 countries and regions, this grand celebration became a feast of cultures featuring woodcraft activities, wood design and temple bus programs, folk art workshops, children’s events, musical festival, wood symposium, dancing and chants by the Native Americans, and tree planting. All of these were simultaneously launched from 21-26 March 2017. Collaborative wood carving installation art and projects featuring woodcarving artists from various parts of the world were also featured. Mr. Ricardo Bagabaldo of Paete, Laguna was the lone Filipino woodcarver representing the Philippines.
