CDC chief Agnes VST Devanadera pushes for wider access to Freeport exhibits, saying Clark’s growth must also speak “the language of art.”
CLARK FREEPORT — Clark has long been known as a hub for investment. But for Clark Development Corporation (CDC) President and CEO Atty. Agnes VST Devanadera, its future must also be measured in culture.
She shared this vision at the launch of “Secrets of the Sea,” a photo exhibit at Hilton Clark Sun Valley Resort featuring the underwater photography of Executive Chef Nicholas “Nick” Van Riemsdijk.
Van Riemsdijk’s journey is itself a story of artistry crossing disciplines. A chef by profession, he has spent 36 years diving and six years capturing marine life through his lens. His debut showcase features 19 photographs taken in Cebu, Batangas, and Raja Ampat, Indonesia — rare encounters with pygmy seahorses, wobbegong sharks, and schools of bigeye trevally.
Atty. Devanadera paused before one of the photographs, reflecting on the chef’s diverse talents.
“He’s not just a chef. Now we are seeing that he is not just a culinary artist, but also a photographer and a diver. When you see someone who is that talented and that diverse, it’s only right that we support them,”she said.
She added that CDC’s museum will soon open its doors to a wider audience.
“We always have opportunities for our CDC employees. And this time, we will be opening our doors, our [Clark] museum, not just for CDC employees, but also the employees or the workers in the zone,” she noted.
For Atty. Devanadera, Clark’s development story must go beyond numbers.
“You will see that you just don’t talk of investments. You don’t just talk of revenue, but you will be talking of the language of art,” she said.
“Secrets of the Sea” runs at Hilton Clark Sun Valley Resort from March 25 to May 31, 2026.
For Atty. Devanadera, Clark’s development lies not only in its investments but in the stories it tells. And with art now part of its language, Clark is speaking to the world in richer tones.
(CDC Photos)
