MANILA, Philippines -- The importance of water and the need to conserve and protect it will be the focus of the Earth Day celebration on April 22 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

?Agos (Flow): Earth Day 2008? will have for its theme ?Tubig: Buhay Natin, Ating Pagyamanin" (Water: Our Life, Let?s Nurture It).

The highlight of the annual event is the launch of the CCP?s waste water management program.

A forum on the success of Singapore?s water management will also be presented during the event.

?This will help us promote our advocacy for water conservation and prevention of water pollution,? said CCP president Nestor Jardin during a press briefing on Tuesday afternoon on the MV Spirit of Manila as it cruised Manila Bay.

Jardin said the CCP, which started its environmental advocacy using arts and culture three years ago, already had a solid waste management program, involving segregation, disposal and composting.

?We will showcase Singapore?s best practices in water management through a video screening and Powerpoint presentation,? Jardin said.

?We hope to learn from them particularly in addressing the need of urbanized cities for sustainable water solutions, such as through desalination and water reuse,? he added.

Jardin said there would be other colorful and symbolic environment-inspired activities to mark Earth Day.

The day-long celebration will begin at 7 a.m. with a cleanup by employees of the CCP and neighboring establishments and environment advocates.

This will be followed by a presentation, ?Laot (Deep Sea): Dragon Boat Regatta,? by the CCP and the Philippine Dragon Boat Federation.

?The Philippine rowing team will join the celebration. It symbolizes our race to save the environment,? according to CCP?s Chris Millado.

Other activities include a one-man show of paintings with environmental themes on hand-woven mats by Jomile Tejido, a photo exhibit entitled ?Aninaw (Model): Water for Life," and screenings of films on the environment from the Moonrise Festival organizers.

A special showcase of contemporary and traditional arts focusing on water rituals of the Filipinos? ancestors entitled ?Buhos? (Pour) will be staged at the CCP fountain lagoon area at 6 p.m.

The Earth Day celebration will be capped with a light and sound spectacle at the CCP grounds along Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City.