CULTURE
What They Say of Papo de Asis
Papo was ever eager
to know better the workers and peasants that he depicted in his works. He
either lived with them or he renewed his links with them through visits
and serious social investigation... He made manifest his position on
social reality not only in the relatively cozy art galleries with framed
paintings but also in street mass actions with huge murals and gigantic
figures.
We are happy to know
that wherever Papo was, in the Philippines, in the United States or
elsewhere, he was always a revolutionary dedicated to the struggle of the
Filipino people for national liberation and democracy as well as to that
of the people of the world against imperialism and reaction. He looked
forward to the eventual victory of the proletariat and people in the
struggle for socialism.
Papo de Asis will
always live in our hearts and minds and in the struggle of the Filipino
people for national and social liberation against US imperialism and the
local exploiting classes of big compradors and landlords. (Tribute to
Papo de Asis, Jan. 12, 2005, Jose Maria Sison, Chairperson, International
League of Peoples' Struggle; Julieta de Lima, Executive
Director,International Network of Philippine Studies)
BAYAN USA pays
tribute to Danilo Hubbero "Papo" de Asis--people's artist, revolutionary,
and kasama in the struggle for national democracy in the Philippines...May
Papo live on in our collective memory as one of those artists who remained
true and faithful to the cause of the Filipino people, and may his
dedication to the struggle inspire artists and organizers to continue
fighting for the liberation of all people from the grips of imperialism. (BAYAN
USA)
WHAT MAKES A HERO
It’s not the manner of death
That makes someone a hero.
It is the meaning drawn
From the struggles against the foe.
There is the hero who dies in the
battlefield,
There is the hero who dies of hunger and
disease,
There is the hero who dies of some
accident,
There is the hero who dies of old age.
Whatever is the manner of death,
There is a common denominator
A hero serves the people
To his very last breath.
(MIGRANTE Europe
Statement, citing a poem from Prison and Beyond by Jose Maria Sison)
Mulat si Papo sa
katotohanan ng tiranya sa lipunan. Siya ay biktima bilang isang artista ng
sining biswal, nais makahulagpos sa kalakaran na idinidikta ng kinang ng
salapi at hindi ng pagkakaunawa at pagpapahalaga sa katotohanan at ng
buhay...
Dama ng mga pintor
ang pangangailangan magpinta para mabuhay; ganun din upang itaas ang
kanilang sining bilang isang paraan ng pamamahayag ng katotohanan at
pag-asa. (Concerned Artists of the
Philippines, 2005)
The passing of Papo
due to a stroke on January 8, 2005 marks a great loss of a man who meant
so much to his family as well as to the artist and activist communities.
As a fiancé, father, brother, friend, artist, social justice activist and
community organizer, Papo was an inspiration to all who met him...
He used his brush and
canvas to express what we could not always do with words. He has dedicated
his life to the cause of social justice and for that the people will
always be grateful. It is indeed a difficult farewell to a man that has
given so much of himself to the world but also for those in the world that
have become his family, his legacy will continue to inspire and guide us.
(Habi Arts)
Papo’s contributions
to the arts is revolutionary both in its content and form. Papo is known
as the people’s artist. His art was largely dedicated to social realism.
He challenged the point of view of the dominant colonial, semi-feudal, and
imperialist class culture. He faithfully depicted the conditions of the
Filipino people and was dedicated to the struggle of the Filipino people
for national freedom and democracy and of people around the world against
imperialism. With the stroke of his brush, he captured the history of the
people’s struggle for justice and freedom. He was able to penetrate that
deep place in the mind and heart where the aspirations of the people live.
(Melissa Roxas, Chairperson, Habi Arts)
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