26/05/2026
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ค๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฉ
The Bangsamoro Commission for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage (BCPCH), through its Cultural Affairs Section, conducted a Sea Glass Art Workshop on May 25 in Cotabato City as part of the celebration of National Heritage Month 2026. The activity aimed to promote art appreciation while exploring sustainable materials as a source of livelihood.
Facilitated by sea glass artist Pip Sarballon, the workshop brought together art enthusiasts, students, and individuals from Cotabato City and nearby areas. Participants were introduced to sea glass art as a medium that reflects both environmental awareness and creative expression.
Inspired by the coastal heritage of the Bangsamoro, the initiative sought to familiarize participants with art-making using sea glass while highlighting the economic potential of artisan products crafted from locally sourced and repurposed materials.
Aaron-Jeff D. Usman, Community Affairs Officer V and chief of the Operations Division, emphasized the importance of strengthening support systems for local artists and artisans.
โI know that this one day is not enough. But we are hoping that the commission is actually able to entice your interest, specifically in this new kind, because this is contemporary,โ Usman said.
Meanwhile, Sheryan Guialel, Community Affairs Officer III, shared that the concept of introducing sea glass art in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) was inspired after attending a workshop during the Budayaw Festival in Puerto Princesa.
Guialel noted that the experience encouraged the adaptation of the art form in BARMM, given its diverse cultural communities, including the Yakan, Teduray, Dulangan Manobo, and the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.
The workshop followed a structured process, beginning with a heritage-based design session where participants sketched motifs inspired by traditional regional patterns. Sea glass pieces were then sorted and arranged according to color and texture before being affixed to prepared substrates using industrial-grade adhesives to form mosaic artworks.
The activity concluded with sealing, followed by a critique and storytelling session where participants presented and explained their finished works.
After completion, outputs were evaluated by the resource person based on set criteria. The top 10 artworks were recognized, while other participants received consolation prizes in acknowledgment of their efforts.
Akmad Mama, Executive Director of BCPCH, said the workshop went beyond artistic expression, underscoring its environmental value and livelihood potential.
โThis sea glass art workshop is more than just art. It is about how we can take care of our environment,โ Mama said, adding that the activity also highlights opportunities for sustainable income generation through crafts.
