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National Artists Almario, Lumbera Lead Good
Friday Rally for Arts and Culture
by Pillip Kimpo Jr.:
MANILA, Philippines—Writers and artists led by the Linangan sa Imahen,
Retorika, at Anyo (LIRA) and the Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas (UMPIL)
gathered at the Plaza Francisco Balagtas in the Pandacan district of
Manila on Good Friday, mounting a symbolic “clean-up” for Philippine arts
and culture exactly on the 222nd birth anniversary of the country’s
premier poet.
Dubbed “Mag-alis ng Dungis ng Bayan: Penitensiya para sa Dangal ng Bayan”
(Clean the Dirt of the Nation: Penitence for National Dignity), the
program included some poetry performances not only remembering the King of
Tagalog Poets and author of the canonical work “Florante at Laura,” but
also calling for renewed state support for the arts.
Armed with brooms, dust pans, and rags, the group convened by National
Artist for Literature and former University of the Philippines Diliman
College of Arts and Letters Dean Virgilio S. Almario, also known as the
poet Rio Alma, also bared a cultural agenda which includes, among others,
measures to improve the state of cultural industries and the creation of a
separate Department of Culture.
“It is necessary to formulate a national policy that fully recognizes and
gives due importance to culture as the core and foundation of government
political and economic policy, said Almario, in a statement he read on
stage with Manila Historical and Heritage Committee Vice Chair Gemma Cruz
Araneta.
The seven-point agenda prepared for people running for office in the
coming May 10 polls proposes, among others: (1) “The formation of a
separate and full-fledged Department of Culture to oversee and manage the
present cultural agencies of the government”; (2) “The establishment of a
National Institute for the Creative Industries at the University of the
Philippines to undertake cultural research, train cultural workers, and
design a national plan for genuine cultural education”;
(3) “Support for the potential of culture and creative work in economic
production”; (4) “Promotion and empowerment of Filipino as the National
Language”; (5) “Financing undertakings for the protection and upkeep of
the nation’s natural and cultural heritage”; (6) “Designation of an
official Cultural Coordinator in every municipality, city, and province”;
and (7) the training of teachers, “for them to become active
representatives of effective cultural education.”
“Everything must emanate from culture,” Almario explained in an earlier
interview. “It must be the center of all things. This is not only my
belief, but this idea is being implemented in Japan, Korea and China. That
is why these countries never go wrong in their policies all because
culture is where their policies are anchored. Why? Because culture means
country.”
Joining Almario and Araneta as lead signatories of the cultural agenda
were Bienvenido Lumbera and Benedicto Cabrera, National Artists for
Literature and Visual Arts, respectively; critic Isagani R. Cruz,
representing Wika ng Kultura at Agham (WIKA), University of the
Philippines Diliman Deans Zosimo Lee (Social Science and Philosophy),
Danilo Silvestre (Architecture), and Rolando Tolentino (Mass
Communication); poet Romulo Baquiran Jr., chair of the Filipinas Institute
of Translation; poet Victor Emmanuel Carmelo Nadera Jr., UMPIL chair; poet
Phillip Kimpo Jr., LIRA president; and singer and songwriter Gary Granada.
After the clean-up, Lumbera and Liberal Party Senatorial Candidate Sonia
Roco led the offering of flowers at the Balagtas monument, while the
participants sang the nationalistic classic “Bayan Ko.” The attendees
carried placards and streamers that echoed the cultural agenda, as well as
commentary on the recent Presidential “midnight appointments” at the
Cultural Center of the Philippines and last year’s National Artist Awards
controversy.
The event organizer, LIRA is the premier organization of poets in Filipino
celebrating its 25th anniversary this 2010, while UMPIL is the largest
organization of writers in the country.
Photos by Phillip Kimpo Jr. (click for larger versions):
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PRESS STATEMENT
April 3, 2010
Resist the `Arroyo-fication’ of media, arts and culture:
UP CMC calls on candidates to present Media Agenda
The undersigned faculty members of the University of the Philippines
College of Mass Communication (UP CMC) views with grave concern what they
describe to be the “Arroyo-fication” of media, arts and culture.
Despite government claims that there is nothing irregular with the spate
of political appointments which include key positions in the Cultural
Center of the Philippines (CCP), National Historical Institute (NHI) and
the National Museum (NM), it cannot be denied that most of them are
closely identified with the Macapagal-Arroyo administration.
If the latter is sincere in promoting media, culture and the arts, the new
political appointments, if indeed necessary, should be based on merit, not
political patronage or affiliation.
In the case of the CCP, the five board members who were replaced – Jaime
Laya, Nes Jardin, Behn Cervantes, Tessie Luz and Lorna Kapunan – opposed
last year the inclusion in the Order of National Artist of Cecile Guidote-Alvarez
and Carlo J. Caparas, both of whom are close to the government. That the
new CCP board appointees recently tried but failed to oust CCP Chair Emily
Abrera shows the intention of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration to use
influential positions in culture and the arts to get even with its
critics.
Television and film’s vulnerability to the dictates of the powers-that-be
becomes more apparent with the recent decision of the Movie and Television
Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) to give an “X (Not for Public
Viewing)” rating to two films by award-winning directors scheduled to be
shown in ABS-CBN News Channel’s (ANC) AmBisyon 2010.
Even if the MTRCB later changed to “R (Restricted)” its X rating of
Brillante Mendoza’s Ayos Ka, the board maintained its “X” rating of
Jeffrey Jeturian’s Ganito Tayo Ngayon, Paano na Tayo Bukas? Both films
analyze the realities of poverty in the Philippines, the manner of which
the MTRCB deems to “undermine the faith and confidence of the people in
their government” and “defamatory to the good name and reputations of any
person.” When the MTRCB reviewed Jeturian’s film the second time, it added
that his work "tends to threaten economic and political stability of the
state” and "depicts excretory functions in a patently offensive and
demeaning manner.”
The “Arroyo-fication” may be seen in the brazen attempts of MTRCB to
promote on television and film only one point of view in depicting social
realities – that of the government. Anything that toes the line, as in the
case of Mendoza and Jeturian, is simply unacceptable to the
powers-that-be.
Despite the change in the rating of Mendoza’s work, both films still
cannot be shown on television as the MTRCB requires a G (General
Patronage) or PG (Parental Guidance) rating.
Even if the word “censorship” cannot be found in Presidential Decree No.
1986 and in MTRCB’s Implementing Rules and Regulations, what the board is
doing is exactly that: Making impositions on what is acceptable to the
public, even on the discussion and analysis of social issues.
When the MTRCB was established in 1985, it was meant to be a temporary
body to help facilitate self-regulation on television and film. Now in its
25th year, its transitional nature has apparently become permanent.
The death threats via text message recently received by journalist Marites
Vitug as a result of her book about the Supreme Court (Shadow of Doubt)
show a different permutation of “Arroyo-fication,” that of the culture of
impunity that emboldens some sectors to harass, intimidate and even kill
media practitioners who dare expose the truth. Vitug made the right
decision to publicly expose the death threat she received. Just like other
media groups, the UP CMC condemns this development and calls on the
government to end the culture of impunity that gives rise to such assault
on press freedom.
On the occasion of the May 10 national and local elections, the UP CMC
calls on the candidates to present a clear Media Agenda which includes a
program for self-regulation in the media. They should clearly state where
they stand on the continued existence of the MTRCB and how it is used as
an instrument to muzzle freedom of expression on television and film. More
specifically, they should state how justice can be attained for the
victims of the November 23 Ampatuan massacre where 32 journalists were
killed, as well as how they could help end the unabated media killings.
While it is laudable for some candidates to denounce the so-called
midnight appointments in the culture and arts-related bodies, they should
present once and for all a clear Media Agenda. Voters should know who
among the current candidates are the advocates of freedom of expression
and are opposed to the “Arroyo-fication” of media, arts and culture.
Lastly, the UP CMC joins the other concerned Filipino people in
maintaining vigilance and the days, weeks and months to come as there are
signs that Macapagal-Arroyo plans to exert power and influence even beyond
the expiration of her term as President. Such moves do not just threaten
freedom of the press and of expression but also the people’s other basic
freedoms.
Signed:
Dr. Roland Tolentino, Dean
Dr. Lourdes Portus, College Secretary
Prof. Danilo Arao, Department of Journalism
(end)
Danilo A. Arao
Assistant Professor
Department of Journalism
College of Mass Communication Plaridel Hall
University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman, Q.C. 1101
Telephone: (+632) 920-6852, 981-8500 loc. 2672
Fax: (+632) 920-6852
Mobile Phone: (+63908) 866-ARAO
Email: danilo.arao@up.edu.ph
Website: http://www.dannyarao.com
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