BUREAU OF QUARANTINE - 123 years

 

BUREAU OF QUARANTINE
1902 – 2025

Established in 1902 during the early years of American colonial rule, the Bureau of Quarantine has stood as a guardian of public health and national resilience. For more than a century, this institution has safeguarded the ports, seas, and borders of the Philippines, ensuring that the country was shielded from epidemics, pandemics, and the spread of infectious diseases.

For 123 years, the Bureau has been the nation’s first line of defense against health threats — from the battles against cholera and plague in the early 20th century, to the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19 in the 21st century. It has continuously adapted to the demands of the times, balancing science, vigilance, and service to protect the Filipino people.

"Anchored Echoes" promises to be a unique and meaningful celebration, weaving together artistic creativity with the profound historical and cultural narratives that emanate from the very heart of Manila Port. It will be a testament to the journey of Art Camp Philippines and its commitment to fostering artistic growth within the rich context of our shared heritage.

Participating Artists:

1. Jesus Genotiva

2. Dr. Cesar Anastacio Jr.

3. Adan Pesito

4. Louis Fernando

5. Eduardo DC Busmente

6. Emmanuel Robles

7. Alfonso Vargas

8. Jorge M. Milante

9. Reuel “Lolo” Garzon

10. Jeyus Genotiva

11. Jun Tuplano

12. Meljan Albert Cabagay

13. Hiyasmin Genotiva 

14. Alvin Dennis F. Cristobal - it's start Virtual on August 23, 2025, at the Manila Port.

"The Ghost Canvas Project"

[Ang Virtual Art Camp Program]

Educational at inclusive program para sa Art Camp PH!

   Ang tinutukoy ko ay isang parallel program—isang paraan para ang mga hindi makadalo sa mga event physically ay makasama pa rin in spirit at in practice sa pamamagitan ng online/virtual participation. Ang konsepto mo ay parang “Holy Spirit Program” (inspired sa kwento ni alvin ) — kahit hindi nakikita, nandyan, naggagabay, at nakikibahagi.

   Para sa mga ghost members (yung hindi makasama physically dahil sa responsibility, pera, o personal na dahilan), maipaparamdam mo pa rin na sila ay bahagi ng community.

 

   "Virtual Sketch: Art Beyond Walls" Focus sa idea na kahit nasa bahay, kaya mong makasabay.

 

By the way sa nakaraang event ng art camp ph may mga gustong sumamang miyembro sa event. due to limited slots only at restriction ng pantalan na rin ay hindi lahat ay makakasama. meron tayong isang miyembro na si kasining alvin, due to his personal being na hndi makadalo ay maaari ring makaapekto sa kanyang mental health at napag-usapan namin na bigyan siya ng considerasyon na makasama sa ganitong klaseng pagtitipon at sa pamamagitan ng art new program nai-suggest niya na magkaroon ng "huli spirit" o sa mga nahuhuli sa mga kaganapan na ang iba ay hindi nakakasabay. 

Nais kong imapahagi ang impormasyon tungkol dito at sumasangayon ako pra sa pag-unlad ng sining sa 'pinas. isa sa mga kataga na "SO NEAR YET SO FAR"

Alvin Dennis F. Cristobal - Watercolor Artwork

"Malayo man ay malapit din." Ito ang diwa ng bagong yugto ng Art Camp Philippines — ang Virtual Art Camp Program, isang inisyatiba na naglalapit ng sining sa bawat miyembro, saan man sila naroroon. bukas ang pinto para sa mga taong gusto pang lumawak ang kakayahan at karanasan at makapgbigay ng inisyatiba sa paglikha.

Sa kabila ng mga personal na obligasyon, financial challenges, at iba pang hadlang, naniniwala ako na ang sining ay dapat na bukas at abot-kamay para sa lahat. Sa pamamagitan ng online platforms at virtual sketching sessions, ang mga miyembro ay magkakaroon ng pagkakataong makasabay sa mga makasaysayang kaganapan ng Art Camp — kahit nasa loob lamang ng kanilang tahanan. Hindi lamang ito para sa pagpapatuloy ng pag-aaral at paglinang ng talento sa sining, kundi bilang isang suporta sa mental health at sense of belonging ng bawat miyembro. Sa bawat guhit at kulay, naroon ang pagkakaisa: isang komunidad, isang espiritu, iisang sining.

 

LIVE ON-THE-SPOT SKETCHING @ THE BUREAU OF QUARANTINE

 ARTIST @ WORK - ARTIST AL VARGAS

                                              WATERCOLOR AL's ARTWORK

ARTIST @ WORK (L-R) ARTIST JUN TUPLANO & ADAN PESITO

ARTIST @ WORK - ARTIST JORGE MILANTE

ARTIST @ WORK ARTIST EMMANUEL ROBLES

WATERCOLOR EMMAN'S ARTWORK

ARTIST @ WORK - ARTIST REUEL "LOLO" GARZON

(L-R) Kuya Jess, Reuel "LOLO," Doc Cesar,  & Sir "DOODS"

— with art serving as a bridge between maritime frontliners and the vibrant art community.

Dr. Anastacio's initiative brought color to an unexpected place — proving that even in the busiest corners of the city, art finds a way to thrive.

🎨 A heartfelt thank you to the Bureau of Quarantine, participating artists, and all who made this special day possible. This is just the beginning of bringing creative energy into public spaces — one canvas at a time.

                                           WATERCOLOR REUEL'S ARTWORK

Medium: Pen & Ink

ARTIST @ WORK - ARTIST JEYUS GENOTIVA

Jeyus, my son, is the youngest artist to be part of this historic moment in maritime history. As a student, I am already training him to be close to our cultural roots by bringing him to historic places and encouraging him to sketch what he sees. 

At his young age, I want him to understand the value of heritage and the treasures of history that surround us. Inside the Manila Port, where stories of our nation flow like the tides, he learns that every stroke of his pencil connects him to the legacy of our ancestors. 

This is not just art—it is an early lesson in love for culture and the responsibility of carrying history forward.

Program Highlights:

• Historical Walking Tour & Sketching Sessions – Artists will explore accessible areas in and around Manila Port, capturing landmarks, architectural features, and symbolic vantage points through on-the-spot sketches.

• Cultural Conversations – Reflective sharing on the role of ports in Filipino history, from colonial trade routes to contemporary migration and globalization.

• Art as Testimony – Each sketch and painting created during the event will become a visual record, preserving both memory and meaning for future generations.

Anchored Echoes serves as both a celebration of one year of Art Camp Philippines and a tribute to the timeless stories embedded in Manila Port. It reaffirms the group’s mission: to foster artistic growth while grounding creativity in history, culture, and community.

As the port stands as a symbol of entry and departure, so too does this event signify both a reflection on the past and a creative launch toward the future.

The Bureau of Quarantine remains not only a government agency, but also a symbol of sacrifice, discipline, and duty. Its legacy lives on in the doctors, nurses, and frontliners who serve with dedication, and in the countless lives safeguarded throughout its history.

“A vessel of vigilance across time, carrying the nation’s hope and health through every storm.”

                                                                              ALRIGHT!

This moment also marks a greater milestone: Art Camp Philippines, 

through its creative spirit, becomes the first art movement to document the historic Bureau of Quarantine building—a structure that has long safeguarded the nation’s gates, now preserved in strokes of pencil 

and bursts of color.

 Here, history meets artistry, and a new generation learns to honor the value of heritage by keeping its memory alive.