The Faura Project

UNESCO launches a major campaign to respond to the threat of El Niño UNESCO is assisting countries to prepare for and respond to the expected and already emerging impacts of the 2026–2027 El Niño event on culture. Drawing on the strength of its global networks, the

Last weekend….

Calle Faura and its environs.!

Day 1 (late post)

Day 3

See you tomorrow at Booth #23 at My Manila Tourism Expo 2026 in Intramuros for the last leg of The Faura Project’s Los Niños Ermitenses workshop series!

Manila’s chaos, color, and everyday hustle had always fueled Vicente Manansala’s masterpiece vision of the capital.

Manila’s chaos, color, and everyday hustle had always fueled Vicente Manansala’s masterpiece vision of the capital.

Honoring that iconic legacy, Art Forward Manila partnered with the University of the Philippines Manila – Museum of a History of Ideas ( - ) to host “Homage to Manansala’s Manila.” | Stephanie Mayo

Mangroves used to line coastal Manila.

MEET THE YOLANDA SURVIVOR WHO PLANTED A MANGROVE FOREST TO PROTECT HIS VILLAGE

For 65-year-old Gary Dabansol, the memory of Yolanda became more than something to remember—it became a lesson in preparation.

In his village in Matalom, Leyte, that lesson took root in the form of a remarkable mangrove forest.

Dabansol, known affectionately as Tatay Gary by his neighbors, planted 10,000 mangrove trees all by himself, hoping to give his community added protection against storm surges.

A frequent visitor to Matalom beach, Dan Niez from neighboring Hilongos was stunned when he came across the expansive patch of greenery. He shared photos of it on Facebook, where the sight quickly gained attention, receiving around 3,000 shares and nearly 4,000 likes.

Behind the striking landscape was a personal mission shaped by survival.

For Dabansol, Yolanda served as a powerful reminder that communities need to be prepared for natural disasters. Rather than simply holding on to that lesson, he transformed it into something tangible—trees growing along the coast, standing as a natural line of defense for the village he calls home.

But the mangroves were planted for more than protection.

Dabansol also envisioned the area as a breeding ground for fish, creating a potential source of food and livelihood for the community.

What began with one survivor planting trees has grown into a remarkable green patch along Matalom's coast—a testament to how one person's experience can inspire an effort rooted in both protection and hope.

For Tatay Gary, the trees are more than a forest. They are a way of preparing for what may come while nurturing something that can give back to his community.



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