Our esteemed President and Chief Scientist, Dr. Neil Aldrin Mallari, recently embarked on a groundbreaking journey to Africa as part of the Africa to Archipelago (A2A) project. This collaborative initiative, backed by the National Geographic Society, Bonifacio Art Foundation, Inc., The Mind Museum, BGC Arts Center, and Bonifacio Global City, sought to bridge the gap between Africa and the Philippines through art, science, and culture.
Doc A was part of the Filipino contingent, which includes luminaries like OPM icon, Ryan Cayabyab, film producer, Noel Ferrer, Director of the Mind Museum, Maribel Garcia, multi-awarded composer, arranger, and singer, Moy Ortiz, and Rjho Dee and Darwin Cayetano from the Bonifacio Art Foundation, Inc., who delved into the rich mosaic of South African culture, exploring storytelling, science, art, and music. This immersive experience showcased how water and the universal language of music connect oral storytelling from Africa to the archipelago.
With a focus on innovation, collaboration, and storytelling, the A2A project aimed to redefine narratives about living and envision diverse futures for Filipinos, drawing inspiration from the voices of fisherfolk and the concept of an International Oceans Station.
Doc A, in summarizing his learnings, concludes that “In the midst of the vast landscape, nature’s tapestry, and biophony, one needs to focus, conserve one’s energies, resources, and life force to achieve greater impact, to create that safe operating space for nature and people. Together we continue changing the story, changing the narrative, and changing the storyteller—all for the common good!”
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Africa to Archipelago project (A2A) is a special collaborative project of the National Geographic Society and the Bonifacio Art Foundation, Inc. (BAFI) through The Mind Museum and the BGC Arts Center, with Bonifacio Global City (BGC).
