By Mikee Natinga Norico
Mr. Efraim Alfaras shares his artistic journey and upcycling advocacy with CPU students, faculty and staff during the Trash2Art Lecture Forum, encouraging creativity and sustainability.
The collaboration between Central Philippine University (CPU) and Ef Alfaras, better known as Siref Artfinder, has been thriving for over a decade, driven by a shared commitment to art, sustainability, and community. This partnership, which began in 2014, continues to grow, blending artistic creativity with environmental responsibility.
Ef Alfaras, an alumnus of CPU and Co-Founder of the Centralian Visual Artists Society (CenVAS), initially worked with the CPU Alumni Association Inc. (CPUAAI) for the university’s annual Festival of Lights. “It started way back in 2014 through the CPUAAI Festival of Lights, where I served as Concept and Design Chair with my former Packaging Students. We used empty plastic bottles for Christmas decorations,” Alfaras shared in a recent interview. This early project laid the groundwork for what would become an enduring relationship focused on art, sustainability, and education.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the partnership reached a new milestone with the launch of the first out-of-campus Liquefiber Art exhibit, “KUTITAP,” held at Robinsons Pavia. The exhibit, spearheaded by CPU’s Cultural Affairs Office (CAO), was attended by CPU administrators, board members, and various guests. This event, which emphasized sustainability through the use of recycled materials, marked a significant step in their ongoing collaboration.
Alfaras’ Trash2Art Movement, a key component of his artistic advocacy, is a cornerstone of his work with CPU. As an adviser to CenVAS and a former full-time graphic artist for CPU Press, Alfaras continues to influence the university’s creative initiatives. “I pitched the idea of the Trash2Art Movement as part of CPU Cultural Affairs activities, which was approved by Ma’am Crista S. Huyong,” he said, underscoring the impact of CPU’s leadership in fostering art and sustainability.
CPU students are actively involved in the collaboration, participating in art workshops where they serve as guides and explore the creative possibilities of sustainable art. “It raises awareness of how students can tap into their creativity through the Trash2Art Movement while contributing to artistic solutions for United Nations Sustainable Development Goals,” Alfaras noted. These workshops provide students with invaluable experience in merging art with environmental advocacy.
The partnership has also led to numerous community engagements, from collaborations with the Japan LOOB Foundation and local sewing groups to art workshops and exhibitions at prestigious venues like SM City Iloilo and Park Inn by Radisson. This growing outreach is gradually making waves both locally and nationally, positioning CPU as a leader in sustainable artistic practices.
Looking ahead, Siref Artfinder envisions expanding the partnership further. “One is to serve the CPU Global Community through Art, via Art Apparels with the CPU Brand. Also, to make CPU known as the Home of Liquefiber Arts,” Alfaras shared, revealing his long-term goal to amplify the university’s global presence in the art world.
While the collaboration is deeply rooted in a shared sense of Centralian spirit, Alfaras emphasized the personal nature of his artistic journey. “Siref Artfinder is a personal art journey for life. The resources used for my Liquefiber Arts are personally funded, and it so happened that I am a true-blooded Centralian,” he concluded.
The CPU-Siref Artfinder collaboration is more than a partnership; it is a movement that continues to inspire and engage the community, fostering creativity, sustainability, and a sense of shared purpose for both students and artists alike.