To celebrate the 2017 World Wood Day and the University of the Philippines’ 109th Founding Anniversary, the 4th Wood Carving Competition and Exhibit was held at the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU), Los Baños, Laguna from June 20 to July 20, 2017. The celebration was organized by the UPOU Faculty of Management and Development Studies and UPOU Cultural Committee, in cooperation with the International Wood Culture Society (IWCS) and World Wood Day Foundation (WWDF).
Following the World Wood Day 2017’s theme, “Roots (Ugat),” the celebration was held in three parts - a tree-planting activity; the wood carving competition (divided into groups of “Bas Relief” and “In the Round”) ; and a Wood Forum on “Tree Nurturing”. All these events were opened to the public to achieve the event’s aim of fostering regional participation in culture and arts and expanding awareness and appreciation for the wood art in the host community.
Prof. Jose Alberto Tañedo, a faculty at the College of Fine Arts, UP Diliman; Mr. Tito Sanchez, well-known Filipino sculptor; and Mr. Leo Gerardo Leonardo, a CCP 13 Artists Awardee (sculptor) and Visual Arts teacher at the Philippine High School for the Arts took the responsibility as Judges of the competition.
World Wood Day is a cultural event celebrated annually during the week of March 21st to highlight wood as an eco-friendly and renewable biomaterial and to raise awareness on the key role wood plays in a sustainable world. Starting from 2013, WWD celebrations were held in Tanzania, China, Turkey, Nepal, and United States respectively, involving participants from over 100 countries and regions.