Social Artistry of Social Networking

Social Artistry is the art of enhancing human capacities in the light of social complexity. It seeks to bring new ways of thinking, being and doing to social challenges in the world – Jean Houston

“A social artist connects people and encourages participation, which in turn leads to reciprocity, reification of ideas and developing a shared history.” (Mary Ann Fernandez-Mendoza)

Etienne Wenger defines social artist as a person “enabling social learning spaces”. But, can we as a group can become social artist?

I believe yes.

Social artistry can be a communal participation, it can be an art of creating space for learning through collaboration - the use of modern technology like social networking site to create virtual space for shared knowledge and learning.

If Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio were alive today, they will use social networking site like Facebook to show the truth and suffering of the Filipinos from the Spanish. Or maybe Rizal can publish his Novels, in parts, in Facebook, or Bonifacio can use FB to recruit Katipunan members.

Social artistry is all about creating learning space and today’s technology is a good place or space to work and unite people and create organizations with common values to affect change.

I can site an example of virtual space, a social networking site that unites and bring people for collaboration to contribute personal knowledge and experience, data and information to solve problems and find solutions.

In protecting our environment, social artistry through the use of virtual space or social networking site can be considered as today’s norms.

Mt. Banahaw as protected area can be properly protected if it can be properly manage. It can be properly manage by means of a good and sustainable management plan.

So how can we gather all the information needed? By creating an FB site where all stakeholders and any individual can participate and contribute.

(here’s the link:

Banahaw Plan Revision - https://www.facebook.com/groups/390300514356666/

Mt Banahaw San Cristobal Mgt Plan Crowdsourcing - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mt-Banahaw-San-Cristobal-Mgt-Plan-Crowdsourcing/373071212774900 )

Mt. Banahaw Plan Revision and Mt. Banahaw San Cristobal Management Plan Crowdsourcing sites formulate new solutions on how Mt. Banahaw should be manage more properly and effectively. Year 2015 will be the end of PAMB (Protected Area Management Board) order of closure. A new management plan should be formed through proper consultation with different stakeholders. And everybody has the chance to make that change to protect and manage their environment.

Everybody has the chance to be a contributor and to participate and express his/her ideas and concerns on how Mt. Banahaw should be properly manage.

“Social artists are people who use creative skills to work with people or organizations in their community to affect change.” (Mary Ann Fernandez-Mendoza)

Yes, we can all be social artist.

(Here are some of the pictures that I contributed to the site:)

Here are the links to the video that I contributed:

Tubig ng Banahaw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czT3yXxUR6Q

Trail Management 101

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUwhjGhv2Nk

Tayabas Banahaw Halamang Ilang

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hb_BxPfcEyE

References:

BEING AND BECOMING GOOD CITIZENS THROUGH SOCIAL ARTISTRY, Mary Ann Fernandez-Mendoza

Are we social artists? Link: http://zmldidaktik.wordpress.com/2011/11/11/are-we-social-artists/

What is Social Artistry, Jean Houston, link: http://www.jeanhouston.org/Social-Artistry/social-artistry.html

Appreciate Life

I had been an active volunteer photographer/emergency responder from 2003 – 2008 in Lucena and Quezon Province. I had volunteered to take pictures for Bantay Banahaw, DENR Quezon, Quezon Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (Quezon Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Coordinating Council now), and LIFE emergency Response. I volunteered not only as a photographer but also as an emergency responder.

As an emergency responder, we save, care and protect lives. As a photographer, I tried to give respect to our environment and try to communicate and build environmental relationship through my pictures.

When not busy with my work as a community organizer, I still volunteer to take pictures for Mt. Banahaw during my free time.

I remember when Ondoy tragedy hits Metro Manila, I was in Marikina during that time. As a volunteer responder, I am useless, because I was trapped by flood but useful enough to accompany and somehow protect the family and properties of my aunt. The organization or the team which I volunteered was based in Quezon province. Saving lives or property is a team effort. I can say that I am useless as an emergency responder without a team. 

During  Habagat 2012, I was again in Metro Manila, in Muntinlupa City to be precise, and also being trapped by finishing lots of school assignments. But I helped in my own little way with the help of the internet and used the social networking site to post important information and emergency tips.Then I created a "quick" emergency website that may be useful.

(here’s the link:  https://sites.google.com/site/operationhabagatinfocenter )

I always wanted to share what I know, volunteer and apply for good use where I am good at. In that way I can value life, give respect and thanks to our people and the environment where we live in.

But I will not end this blog without the pictures of “Mga Kabute ng Mt. Banahaw”. Giving importance to small detail or living things teach you to appreciate and give importance to the all things around you. 

Citizen Litratista: Or How To be a Responsible Photographer

The Communitarian Perspective states that:

“Citizens are active participants in the community as well as in the polity, contributing to the common welfare, to the economy’s wealth production and, most significantly, sharing in the rights and responsibilities.” (CWTS-1 “More on the Communitarian Perspective of CITIZENSHIP” by Prof Vilanueva, Matsuda 2009)

In a communitarian perspective, every citizen has the responsibility toward each other, supporting ang helping not only one another but the whole community as well. Every individual has its own needs, has its own part and duty in providing each other’s needs. Teachers are there to educate. Farmers are for our food. Doctors are for our health and to cure sickness. Leaders are there to unite, guide and to serve the community. 

I am a volunteer photographer (social and environmental awareness) and works as a community organizer. My responsibility is to capture images, our natural resources, and let others appreciate what I have seen. My other responsibility is to empower farming community, to act as a bridge or maybe an agent of change – to connect and bring them closer to the government’s basic public services.

I am more of a photographer, I hope that my pictures can influence, build and strengthen communities shared values. I hope that, through my photographs, I can build good relationship between individual and the community towards their environment.

Let me show some of the images:

(And here's the links to more of my photos: http://jeboyjmus1.wix.com/larawan-jebel-musa

http://jeboyjmusa.wix.com/larawan?ref=nf)