The depiction of exactly “what needs to be done” is expressed in the mural they produced. Aptly titled, “Adios!” (Farewell), the mural depicts the broad masses of the Filipino people’s basic sectors marching forward in unison and in kapit-bisig (arm-to-arm), under the slogan, “Isulong ang demokratikong karapatan ng mamamayan!” (Onward with the people’s democratic rights!).
Meanwhile, fine arts students from the University of the Philippines, the University of Santo Tomas, and other schools are working overtime, not only on their school plates, but also on forms that will rouse their fellow students into being involved in the growing movement calling for GMA’s removal.
For instance, members of Alay Sining, a UP-based cultural organization, are working on a portable mural for the SONA rally. The image appropriates the painting entitled “The Scream,” by Norwegian expressionist painter Edvard Munch, a familiar image to most students in their college. Unlike Munch’s 1893 painting, which depicts the individual in the throes of existential anguish, this mural shows the masses chasing GMA away, with Gloria clutching her face in horror.
Nawruz Paguidopon, a senior Visual Communication student at the UP CFA and the chair of Alay Sining’s college chapter, says that the mural aims to bring across the group’s call for social change and GMA’s removal from office.
Other groups use technology to come up with similar forms. For instance, a giant tarpaulin poster sponsored by Youth-DARE (Youth Demanding Arroyo’s Resignation and Removal) with the words “Ipaglaban ang kinabukasan ng kabataan at bayan” (Fight for the youth’s and nation’s future!) printed on it, shows the youth literally kicking Gloria (who clutches a cellular phone) out of the scene. The tarpaulin can be rolled up and displayed as a backdrop in various venues such as forums.
Simpler and cheaper than murals and tarpaulins – but just as effective – are the various creative placards produced by organizations out of cardboard, paper, or styropor. The potentials of humor,
improvisation, and creativity are clear in the various ways these forms and “gimmicks” are maximized in the protests leading to the Oust-GMA campaign.
Immediately after news of the “Hello, Garci” CD broke out, militants instantly staged an indignation picket at Morato in Quezon City on July 7. Adjusting to the quick turn of events, various organizations appropriated the image of the mobile phone (popularly used to mobilize support for the massive EDSA 2 mobilization against Estrada in 2001) and the CD to serve as symbols for the massive electoral fraud. For instance, a huge yellow cardboard CD labeled “Hello, Garci” became a major image during the launching of the Gloria Step-Down Movement (GSM) last June 20.
Some placards poke fun at the President and remind the public of GMA’s other failures apart from the jueteng and CD scandals. Migrante’s members, for instance, depict GMA as Sponge-Glo (a reference to the popular cartoon character Sponge Bob), a figure described as “super sumipsip ng pera ng Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs)” (extremely greedy in extracting the money of OFWs). The workers of Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU or May 1st Movement), meanwhile, came up with a set of “tools to oust Gloria with” during their protest rally at the Liwasang Bonifacio.
Other placards even took on the form of comics, with dialogue and thought balloons beside images of GMA talking on her cellular phone. “Hello, Gary? Narinig mo na ba ang latest? Buking na tayo!” (Hello, Gary? Have you heard the latest news? We’ve been exposed!), one placard depicts the President as saying, to the amusement of onlookers.
Even smaller than placards are the silk-screen images and slogans on T-shirts and the cardboard or foam pins popular among students. But perhaps the smallest ones come in the form of miniature flags. To catch the attention of UP students in their early morning classes, Alay Sining alumni and other members pitched in to offer pandesal (a Filipino bread) with miniature flags (printed with the calls “Oust GMA!” and “Sumama sa SONA!” or Join the SONA!) held in toothpicks to their fellow students and dorm mates.
Tarik Garcia, a member of Alay Sining, says that they have to conceptualize different and innovative forms of popularizing the issue. “Natutuwa (ang mga estudyante),” Garcia says, “Kukuha sila tapos kapag nag-share na ng pagkain, nakikilala namin sila. Napapaliwanag yung (panawagan para sa removal ni GMA) at naiimbitahan na rin sila na sumama sa SONA” (The students are excited. They share the food and we get to know them. We explain the call for GMA’s ouster and they get invited to join the SONA), she says.
Portable concerts
After reproducing copies of the “Hello, Garci” CD conversations for mass distribution last month, militant organizations have turned to producing a slew of songs, skits, and performances all aiming to amuse, rouse, and educate the public about the various issues under the GMA administration.
Artist groups such as ARREST Gloria (Artists for the Removal of Gloria) were formed and have quickly produced their own songs and websites (www.arrestgloria.tk). Jingles composed by Gabriela, KARATULA (a youth theater group), KMU, Anakpawis, Migrante, and the like are being played over loudspeakers at rallies. Street plays and skits, such as “Maki Baka” of the UP Repertory Company also provide comic relief and points to ponder in between fiery speeches by mass leaders and chants.
Other organizations have been producing jingles based on popular songs. These include “The Wiretapped Album” by Migrants’ Production of Migrante International, “Glorious Exit!” by Tunog Anakpawis of Anakpawis Party List, and the “Black album” by Kodao Productions.
The jingles prove to be informative, catchy as well as amusing. Some, such as “Hindi Ako Payag” (I Refuse) were composed during the height of the campaign against the Value Added Tax (VAT) and also remind the public of other problems apart from the Gloriagate CDs. Tunes such as KARATULA’s rendition of “Trapo” by Yano mock GMA’s claim to legitimacy in the face of massive electoral fraud charges (“Di na nga binoto…pero ba’t nanalo?!” She wasn’t voted…Why did she win?!), and Migrants Production’s rendition of Simon and Garfunkel’s Sound of Silence (“Hello Garci my old friend, it’s time to talk to you again…they want me to break my silence…”).
The jingles are also another way of consolidating the crowd. During the July 13 rally at Ayala Avenue, Makati, tens of thousands of rallyists and hundreds of flags rocked to the tune of “Gloria Step Down”, sung to the tune of the Beatles’ “Don’t Let Me Down.” The same goes for jingles that assert “Sigaw ng Bayan ay: OUST GMA” (sung to the tune of ‘”YMCA” by the Village People, complete with choreographed movements) and “Gloria…I’ts Time to Go” (sung to the tune of “Karma Chameleon”).
The “inspiration” for the jingles, of course, is no other than President Arroyo. Migrants’ Production mentions “special thanks to Commissioner Garcillano and PGMA for making this album possible.” And unlike most mainstream albums, these groups encourage others to spread the word (or music, as the case may be). “Pwedeng piratahin” (Piracy, allowed) as another declares.
Taken as a whole, the effigies, placards, streamers, shirts, songs, skits and speeches comprise and entire spectacle of protest that shows no sign of abating for now. As the rallies for GMA’s removal grow exponentially, so does the resolve to find more creative forms of articulation and expression grow. The longer Macapagal-Arroyo stays as “kapit-tuko” illegitimate president, the movement and its creative minds won’t run out of visuals, songs, and skits aiming to force her to go.
Bulatlat
