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MULAT: A MESSage FOR THE PHILIPPINES
APRIL 30, 2021 BY STEPHANIE ANGELA S. TAN APRIL 30, 2021 BY STEPHANIE ANGELA S. TAN
as the social commentary have been used back ever since 1821 when an image of the bloody Ilokano uprising against the Spanish government was portrayed by a painting made by Esteban Villanueva during the Base Revolt of 1807; intended to suppress further rebellion, this art gave hope for victory.
ART
emergence of the Art Nationalism and Social Realist Movements was brought forward once more during Marcos’ dictatorship from 1972 to 1981; protest arts were popularized by Kaisahan, a group of young artists who found the need to voice out struggles of life from the Martial Law era with the power of art.
THE
after the fall of the Marcos regime which eased the pressure of social unrest and proliferation of protest art, it all came back in the course of the Duterte Administration’s year. Countless controversies have brought...
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EVEN
... turmoil, fear, and worry to the citizens of the country and it’s up to the courageous artists to convey all the unheard sentiments of the nation.
The purchase of communications surveillance equipment from the UK in 2016 is prone to abuse and is a violation of a citizen's right to privacy. It also plays a role in silencing dissent and valid criticism, according to human rights activists. Worries spread amongst Filipinos with arrest, torture, and death events happen to terrorist culprits and suspects.
Insufficient Philippine government response to the COVID-19 from the delayed travel ban, lack of free mass testing, back-and-forth lockdowns, to the impaired contact tracing protocols, testing, and treating which caused the cases to increase and the economic standing to decrease with approximately 4.2 million Filipinos who were unemployed by February 2021, reported by the Philippine Statistics Authority.
EJK by SHCKPNTPRDCTNS
Chaos by Shibiki
Series of red tagging and death threats/orders from the administration in light of the pandemic have increased when citizens disagree, critique, and cause ‘commotions’ towards the government’s decision; Duterte ordered the police and military to "shoot" residents causing “trouble” during lockdown -- encouragement in resorting to violence might be the reason for the police brutality cases where one is not punished fairly due to the military protection and fondness of Duterte.
ABS-CBN's shutdown, Anti-Terror Law, Extrajudicial Killings, and similar issues led to rage and concern of the citizens prompting questions as to whether they are safe with the leadership of the government; fearing their right to speech, safety, and access to information have been taken away with these decisions made.
Social unrest began to spread in many parts of the country as did protest arts. The need to become the voice of the voiceless led artists to create art for the masses that propels building change for a humane and just society for all. Artists use art, with their ability to reach the masses, as a medium for social protests which are also to convey messages on nationalism. Art, in general, reflects and contributes to the history and society’s conditions and changes throughout generations.
Artists hope that their protest arts are able to move the Filipinos, make their own protests, and stand for their rights; to be urged in being socially conscious and making changes on the pressing concerns of the country. With these pressing concerns, the Filipino nation is relying on art to be the conduit of truth.
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Tuesday by Tintin Pantoja
THE ART OF PROTEST AHEAD OF SONA 2020
