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Sepe’s prints of life among local fishermen, a mobile telling
Zambales’ folktales, a photo and video compilation featuring
the anthropological works of William Reed and, the runaway
piece de resistance, a 600-gallon coral reef tank showcasing
the vulnerable ecosystem of the West Philippine Sea.
The museum is part of the foundation’s revitalized program
that’s been given the tagline of “Learn, Discover, and
Celebrate”, and is one of CASA’s potential revenue sources.
The first were the five detached deluxe rooms, opened three
years ago, that guests may rent for short or long-term stays.
There is also Backstage Café, where they started serving a
house special paella,
tuyo
(
dried and salted sardines) pasta
and delicious brick-oven-cooked pizzas early this year.
“
Unlike most business organizations, CASA San Miguel’s
corporate social responsibility program came first, and
now it’s time for us to become self-sufficient,” Coke says,
admitting to several near-closures due to finance trouble.
While he and the rest of the Bolipata family will always
be thankful to Starbucks, one of its longest and staunchest
corporate sponsors, Coke sees the need to enrich the defining
CASA experience beyond the 15-hectare artists’ enclave
—
from the Anita Gallery, Leeroy New’s perplexing plastic
sculptures, to its 700-seater amphitheater — all the way to
its neighboring communities.
“
There’s so much to explore around here, so we started
offering
banca
tours to outlying islands with good beaches,
places like Camara, Capones, Anawangin.” Coke says most
Other art forms,
such as photography
and installations,
are also encouraged
at CASA and given
their own space.
Bottom: the newly
opened Backstage
Café
S O U N D O F M U S I C
