“The Operation Pinta and Operation Dikit are unique because the message it carries is serious; issues and appeals that reflect the real situation of the masses such as ‘Land for the peasantry’; ‘Fair employment for the workers’. For most Filipinos, this is not difficult to understand.”
Artists have up their collaboration to turn out music videos that have become a powerful tool for awakening and raising the people’s consciousness. The visuals sure do aid the music and the lyrics come for easy retention. The internet affords the listeners to revisit the videos anytime and share it to others, much more so in this pandemic where online connectivity has become the norm.
The artworks remind us that the poor of San Roque are human beings deserving of dignity.
Highlighted among visual protest arts is the steampunk-inspired effigy “DuterTRAIN: Pagsagasa sa Mamamaya” made by artist collective UGATLahi. It was referenced from the socio-economic crisis that followed the passage of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law.
“Art should have relevance. In this time of pop culture, art should arouse the people in asserting their rights and fighting for their welfare.”
Iggy Rodriguez, whose body of work reflects the social realities he wants to change as an activist, considers the award an opportunity to introduce people to the mass movement. Artists, he said, should “create for the people” and they should remain conscious that their “real arena is not the closed galleries but the streets, among…
Artists of various disciplines congregated to make the ‘People’s SONA’ a cultural affair as well. Theatrics, musical numbers and poetry-reading were performed. Enormous, hideous effigies stood side-by-side, creative banners and streamers were hung everywhere and the backdrop bore the color and image of people’s dissent. The cultural concept of the event intended to educate the…