In January, Honorary Georgian Consul Thelmo Cunanan displayed a painting of the plight of Georgian refugees at a special exhibition at the Philippine Senate. The painting entitled “Georgia’s Refugees from Abkhazia” was created by noted Georgian painter Irine Chutkerashvili, whose family comes from Abkhazia.

The Philippine Senate exhibition was a special project of Senator Loren Legarda, Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Environment and Natural Resources. The objective of the exhibition was to highlight climate change and environment protection in relation to sustainable development and conflict. The theme of Ms Chutkerashvili’s painting is about conflict, suffering, and the environment.

In November 2016, Consul Cunanan presented Ms Chutkerashvili’s painting at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Morocco, as he raised awareness of Georgian refugees. Consul Cunanan also formally presented the painting to UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova.