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ELITES IN THE ARTS

The elite class has taken over most aspects on human life in the country. These people have exploited every possible resource there probably is. Once a person has completely divulged himself in the field of arts for monetary validation, he probably knows what the target market is – being a core art dealer to the people sitting on top of their ivory towers, the elite class. Nevertheless, not only do these people diminish the essence of art, but also prioritize the lavish lifestyle in exchange for literally anything, no matter what cost.

The Marcoses, but more specifically, Imelda Marcos, approved the plan to build the infamous Manila Film Center. This goes to show how much the Marcos family exhibits their power during the Ferdinand Marcos era just to satisfy the edifice complex of Imelda. Having the desire to remain on top, the former first lady had no doubts about speed-running the construction of the Manila Film Center which she had envisioned as an equal rival of Cannes, which is known for its film festival until now. The construction of this building has become too costly and risky especially for the workers involved. This meant more workers, more shifts, and longer hours. It was not until a major accident happened that the difficulty of this project was seen. The accident included the collapse of a scaffold and less than 200 construction workers fallen into the wet cement. Imelda ordered the construction team to continue the operation and just cover the fallen bodies with cement for the construction to still push through and meet the deadline, regardless of what happened. Art was not only Imelda’s forte, but the former dictator himself too, used this as propaganda. His goal was to represent and showcase their love for the arts and culture which led to him building the Cultural Center of the Philippines, National Museum, and Philippine High School for the Arts. A certain piece of art circulated during his term which involved Ferdinand Marcos and his wife representing Malakas at Maganda, which is known to be a Philippine legend and the origin of mankind. They both looked at themselves as the sort of authority that withholds their power for the country to see them as legendary Filipinos. This artwork was immensely seen as a deceitful propaganda that can eradicate the unlawful and inhumane Marcos regime truth and replace it as its exact opposite – the Marcos regime as a heavenly and peaceful point in the Philippines. Art has meant everything for FEM and his family, and this reflects on the country’s present perspective on them which is still running on a positive note. What they have done for the Philippines’ love of art has been nothing but destruction, contrary to their “purpose”, because nothing came up from it aside from their own personal satisfaction.

Rogers, L. W. (2010, March 31). Manila Film Center tragedy. Lisa's History Room. Retrieved May 2022, from https://lisawallerrogers.com/tag/manila-film-center-tragedy/

De Guzman, N. (1970, January 1). The mysterious curse of the manila film center. Esquiremag.ph. Retrieved May 2022, from https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/features/manila-film-center-haunted-a1729-20191107-lfrm2

Bulan, A. A. (2021, September 21). 'malakas at maganda' as propaganda: Deceitful Art during martial law. NOLISOLI. Retrieved May 2022, from https://nolisoli.ph/49524/malakas-at-maganda-as-a-propaganda-deceitful-art-during-martial-law-abulan-20180921/

For the Ayalas, art is a commitment especially to the Filipino community. The Ayala Foundation has been one of the key foundations that promotes the awareness of Philippine history through preservation of art and culture such as through the Ayala Museum and the Art Fair Philippines. However grand their promotion of art is, certain issues arise when it comes to the Ayala Land sector of their conglomerate. An example of this Ayala Land issue is the land-grabbing that were often protested against the Ayalas last 2014. The development involved in the land-grabbing incident conversion of the Hacienda Dolores property into their so-called “Alvierra: The Next Nuvali” in collaboration with the LLL Holdings Inc. (Leonio Land) whereas farmer-leaders were the victims of extra-judicial killings and the violation on their farmer rights. Yulo and Ayala landowners are being pointed out to be the minds behind the attacks on the farmers located in Hacienda Yulo, Calamba, Laguna. This simply shows that there is a lack of land reform and farmer protection programs in the country which benefits the landowners as land disputes are most likely to be on the side of the elite since they hold all the power and money to resolve all the cases at hand. This conflict might also be related to the injuries of 4 farmers from the same area where threats of demolition are always the latest news. These people have no power whatsoever to try and fight against these real estate giants as their power of voice do not affect the decisions of the elite. However, this issue does not only revolve around the Ayala and Yulo families as it involves the lack of a better justice system for the poorer side of the country and the absence of a genuine land reform. Power and justice are proven to be biased which also proves that the country is not for the masses and for the general good even in the slightest bit especially when it comes to territorial issues and even in art.

Umil, A. M. (2021, January 19). 6 farmers arrested for harvesting own crops, hundreds others evicted due to land grabbing. Bulatlat. Retrieved May 2022, from https://www.bulatlat.com/2021/01/19/6-farmers-arrested-for-harvesting-own-crops-hundreds-others-evicted-due-to-land-grabbing/

Yulo-Ayala landlordism terrorizes Laguna Farmers. Kilusan ng Magbubukid ng Pilipinas. (2021, January 29). Retrieved May 2022, from https://peasantmovementph.com/2021/01/25/yulo-ayala-landlordism-terrorizes-laguna-farmers/

The Lorenzos are famous for their businesses which are more focused on the food and restaurant industry, like Del Monte Philippines and the infamous Lapanday Foods Corporation. Farmers and banana workers from the Hijo plantation area in Madaum, Tagum City are in consistent struggle with the corporation for two years before they have reclaimed the areas that are rightfully theirs to begin with. Not only did the problem affect the land possession, but also, lives were taken from the banana workers which then includes the sugar workers from Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac. Another issue regarding the Lorenzos is the burning of the Lapanday Food Corporation manufacturing plants located in Davao City last 2017 that resulted in the dispossession and unemployment of hundreds of employees. That same year, a protest in the office of Lapanday Foods Corporation was done due to the numerous land grabbing cases connected to the corporation. Included in this protest, is the formation of a union that calls for the better treatment of the employees and the securing of a better work environment and compensation. Even when there was an agreement, the workers’ demands were not entirely met. According to the National Network of Agrarian Reform Advocates, the Lorenzos have had a wide array of landholdings and accumulated wealth by land grabbing in peasant and Indigenous areas and exploiting the agricultural workers. The oligarchs, however, brainwashed these farmers and farmworkers that they are the current stockholders of the company they work for, when in fact the lands are still on the hands of the Lorenzos while the workers are still endlessly exploited. Their passion for art is a way to drift off the existence of the issues with regards to the workers and their way to invalidate their effect on the minority leaders. It is a hypocritical move for the Lorenzos to use art as their personal propaganda and benefit for them to be seen as a pro-labor and pro-poor corporation and clan.

Martin Lorenzo. UMA Pilipinas. (2015, November 1). Retrieved May 2022, from https://umapilipinas.wordpress.com/tag/martin-lorenzo/

Lorenzo family strongly condemns attack vs LAPANDAY facilities, says workers now Jobless: Bilyonaryo Business News. Bilyonaryo Business News | Latest news on the richest Filipinos and Family Business. (2017, April 30). Retrieved May 2022, from https://bilyonaryo.com/2017/04/30/lorenzo-family-strongly-condemns-attack-vs-lapanday-facilities-says-workers-now-jobless/

teleSUR. (2017, May 4). #occupylapanday: Peasants slam 'heartless' Philippine bosses, vow to reclaim stolen land. News | teleSUR English. Retrieved May 2022, from https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/Peasants-Challenge-Heartless-Philippine-Banana-Oligarchs-Swear-to-Reclaim-Stolen-Land-20170504-0030.html

Joselito Campos Jr. is the current chairman and CEO of the NutriAsia Group of Companies which a major food conglomerate in the country and is one of the richest Filipinos. He is also the current chairman of the Metropolitan Museum of Manila (MET) and the Bonifacio Arts Foundation Inc. (BAFI). The MET is originally built to be a venue of international art exhibitions but is then revised to be a contemporary and modern art collection along with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. On the other hand, the NutriAsia Group of Companies has been involved in many controversies which includes contractualization, insufficient salaries, and forced underpaid overtime that therefore led to many strikes and protests by the union members. Their demands for better employee treatment were somehow viewed as violent which made this group of companies resort to attack the strikers with the help of the Philippine National Police and security guards from the company by using a bulldozer and physical violence last 2019. Cases were filed against these strikers but there were reports of sexual harassment that was done by the police officers in charge of the arrests. However, NutriAsia’s intense labor violation and human rights violation are still overlooked as it still has the upper hand in managing the issues thrown against it. The arrests made to these workers were not terminated even when no court order was presented but the government did not take any action with regards to the case of the arrested strikers. All these information about the 2019 strike conflict was highly similar to the 2018 strike in Bulacan whereas people were harmed and were treated like animals just to avoid being hurt by the police and security guards. NutriAsia does not have any reason to be called a safe working environment with all these proven allegations against them and all these people continuously being violated within and outside the workplace. Recalling these enumerated incidents, there were wide calls for boycotting the company’s products even the essentials by introducing alternative resources and personally, I also participated in this boycott movement which until now, my family does.

Løken, E. (2019, August 27). Nutriasia workers illegally arrested, falsely charged and jailed for exercising right to strike. Svensson. Retrieved May 2022, from https://www.svenssonstiftelsen.com/post/nutriasia-workers-illegally-arrested-falsely-charged-and-jailed-for-exercising-right-to-strike

Metropolitan Museum of Manila Manila. Ocula the best in contemporary art icon. (n.d.). Retrieved May 2022, from https://ocula.com/institutions/metropolitan-museum-of-manila/

Bautista, J. (2018, June 17). Look: Why nutriasia workers are on strike. RAPPLER. Retrieved May 2022, from https://www.rappler.com/nation/205166-reason-nutriasia-workers-on-strike/

Dr. Joven Cuanang is a known neurologist, and an art patron and collector. He is also known to be the physician who ordered the ailments and illnesses that prevented the rightful arrest of Imelda Marcos. This is possibly a result of personal conflict of interest (art patronage) just for the former first lady to be saved from jail time. Cuanang is also know as the owner of the Pinto Art Museum located in Antipolo City which is home to Filipino art galleries and lush gardens. A former art curator, Riel Jaramillo Hilario, for the Pinto Art Museum had written about the exhibition space and the artists treatment along with their works. He received complaints from the artists where they felt undervalued by the management. Hilario stated in his written post that some of the museum’s vision was misaligned and was not on the side of the artists. Also, according to him, plenty of the artworks are being mistreated and left alone to be infested by insects, dust, and unwanted elements. The management seems to have defended themselves by putting the blame on natural causes like cats causing a fiberglass sculpture to fall then break. Pinto Art Museum management avoids holding themselves accountable for damages done on the artworks just to also avoid spending money on the needed reparation fees. He has also stated that the museum was quite unfair when it comes to artists’ compensation for the sake of their profitability. On the other hand, for the conflict of interest between Cuanang and Marcos, it is possible that their shared love of art and love of profit have made the physician biased in releasing public statements which is truly unfair to begin with. If there is an appropriate doctor that is also of fair judgment, it must have been someone without prior connections to the patient. The reports of Imelda being ill enough to avoid prison has definitely paved the way of what the masses’ current perspective on the Marcoses is.

Alamares, K. (2021, April 18). La exclusive: Behind the viral social media post about pinto art museum. Lifestyle Asia. Retrieved May 2022, from https://lifestyleasia.onemega.com/social-media-post-pinto-art-museum/

photo from: https://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/210947-juan-luna-boceto-spoliarium/

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CULTURAL CAPITAL

Cultural capital, as introduced by Bourdieu, has collectively elaborated the sociological and economical aspect of arts. As stated in the diagram, the given factors under cultural capital are the controlled and uncontrolled elements that influence a person's cultural artifact appreciation. In reference to the Then & Now video, the depth of interpretation and length of admiration to a Picasso painting, or cultural artifact in general rely on how well-informed the individual is, about the said artwork. The different forms of cultural capital -- embodied capital, or habitus, reflects on our intellectual understanding and knowledge in various aspects of life, while the institutionalized capital is mostly affected on the background of the main subject, and the objectified capital is the tangible knowledge such as books and preserved records -- signify the importance of influence on an individual's judgment and appreciation. Lastly, the distinguishing factors between the underprivileged and privileged people are the difference in the resulting economic and social capital which will then lead them to opposing paths before coming up with the full cultural artifact appreciation. For a mutual take on this matter, the "common ground" among the different aspects of cultural capital is still lying on different levels since the main factors of cultural capital differs on each individual.

Walter, L. (2019). Bourdieu: Cultural Capital, the Love of Art & Hip Hop. Then & Now. YouTube. Retrieved May 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=th0eYWnGZ_4.

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INDIO to KRITIKO

The history of literary arts in the local context began around the pre-colonial era of the Philippines. By literary arts, tradition and culture around the country was born. These pre-colonial forms of literature cover folk speeches, folk narratives, folk songs, rituals, and dances. It can easily be inferred from our practices that literature and practices that the Philippines have produced are highly influenced by neighboring Southeast Asian countries. Pre-colonial literature has been passed on through oral tradition whereas short stories, epics, and other forms were highlighted. Spanish colonization also portrayed a significant role in the development of the art – regardless of the development being a negative connotation towards the colonizers. However, during this colonial period, the then-orally passed stories were published which introduced tangible literature to the country. Filipinos took their anger and grief and converted them into patriotic pieces that propagate the freedom of the nation from colonizers. “Awit” and “corridos” are some of the literary works produced by the Filipinos during the Spanish colonization, which are heroic and religious poems, respectively. Dr. Jose Rizal was one of the most well-known writers during the Spanish colonization as his novels deeply affected the Filipino people and instigated a movement for freedom and independence – these novels, “El Filibusterismo” and “Noli Me Tangere”, highlighted the domination and corruption caused by the friars that are the standing leaders at the time. During the American colonization, language is the deepest form of literature that was handed over to the nation as it became the main medium of teaching and publications like newspapers and magazines. The local and Spanish-centric literature turned to English literature that also paved the way for authors as Loreto Paras and Jose Garcia Villa be introduced to the public. Nevertheless, due to hatred for the Americans, the Japanese colonizers put an end to the American literature and English as the primary language for literature was changed to Filipino. This leaves the room for the Filipinos to tackle their wanted topics which brought realism into literature such as covering racism, LGBT community, and activism.

Written literature and print media have been around for ages now, but e-books have surfaced, and digital publication of literature became popular especially for low-budget and anxious writers. E-book platforms, however practical, increased the risk of toxicity and being problematic since the process of publication has become too light and unfiltered. Proliferation was promoted in most malicious content of these digital/e-book writers and have somehow become insensitive in terms of critical issues, and the platforms have not yet anything to do with the problem.

In all simplicity, current Philippine literature does not have anything to do with the materialistic means of production aside from gaining access to libraries, pens, paper, and/or the internet. However, for the previous periods of national literature, it was entirely a different point in time. Sources were highly limited to a point where simple accessibility for education and the right to knowledge were often far-fetched. Nevertheless, during the pre-colonial period of the Philippines, literature was passed on through oral tradition and it was not until 1593 that the first printed book, Doctrina Christiana, was published. During the colonial period, Filipinos were regarded to as someone below the colonizer’s captives which limits their freedom to produce such types of literature. One necessity for Philippine literature is the individual’s perspective and their personal take on a topic. These topics during the Spanish period is mainly focused on secular and religion; and are transferred through oral and written tradition – and literature have been kept this way for a long time. Post-colonial literature has slightly become different from the accustomed themes and genres for writing.

E-book has become highly popular and used in the Philippines during the 21st century, more specifically, in the early 2000s; namely, Wattpad, Bato Balani Online, among others. Cost of production have been lower due to this digitization of literature and publication for this platform.

Speaking of the 21st century, the country has become slightly comfortable in revolving literature around love, family, religion, identity, and women’s rights therefore proving that writers have been more vocal about these issues. Flash fiction has also popped in this generation whereas stories are told in a super brief way but has already involved their entirety and clarity, which I believe is done to let the readers absorb the sense of the stories and to catch the full attention of the readers in a shorter span of time. Spoken word poetry was a very distinguished form especially for generation Z as the emotions. Some notable spoken word poets are Alfonso Manalastas and Serge Gabriel, where the latter shares light personal experiences and interests, while the former write more on socio-political issues and concerns.

photo from: https://csphilippineliterature.wordpress.com/

Cruz, K. M. (2018, May 25). Introduction to Philippine literature. 21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World. Retrieved April 2022, from https://21stcenturylitph.wordpress.com/introduction-to-philippine-literature/

Jose, F. S. (2020, November 30). The state of Philippine literature in the time of pandemic. Philippines Graphic. Retrieved April 2022, from https://philippinesgraphic.com.ph/2020/11/30/the-state-of-philippine-literature-in-the-time-of-pandemic/

Quiros, M.N. (2019). Traditions in Philippine Literature and History: Synthesis and Analysis.

Salonoy, M. C. (2021, February 6). Faith to the fate: The rise and fall of 21st century Philippine literature. Medium. Retrieved April 2022, from https://medium.com/vox-populi-ph/faith-to-the-fate-the-rise-and-fall-of-21st-century-philippine-literature-7cbf8c1013d9

Zulueta, M. (2019, October 24). 22 of our favorite Pinoy spoken word artists on writing and performing - page 5 of 5. When In Manila. Retrieved April 2022, from https://www.wheninmanila.com/filipino-spoken-word-artists/5/

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TUMINDIG ba talaga?

Tumindig was a mass movement started by the artist Kevin Raymundo, also known as Tarantadong Kalbo, last July 2021 without any underlying motives but then inspired and encouraged the masses to take a stand and fight for human rights while still demanding the basic necessities that should be, and should have been given by the national or local government. The lack of resources led the Filipinos to resort to certain programs such as the community pantry whereas the members of the community take the initiative to either donate excess goods and take what they need. However, some local government units began to take this program on another level but this time, with their names embedded on the program's name.

Individuals, organizations, small and big businesses took the initiative to participate in the #Tumindig movement in order for them to publicize their opinions which caused and sparked the movement on all media platforms. The photo was first posted days before the State of the Nation Address 2021 of President Rodrigo Duterte, which may have caused the insightful remarks of Filipinos that took part in this movement.

On a personal perspective, this movement is what made the Filipinos unite and understand their rights in the middle of the pandemic. Most Filipinos became entirely dependent on the ayuda and groceries provided by their local government units. Without most of us knowing, this dependence on LGUs was caused by the continuous economic crisis that began along with the pandemic therefore resulting to companies limiting the amount of workers and decreasing the salaries, providing the essential workers with insufficient hazard pay, and more. Also, from my point of view, this movement should have been a major strike to the government for being incompetent in combatting the situation against COVID-19 since prevention is always better than cure, and that's where the they failed. Finally, this initiated the masses to be the people who take a stand rather than being the people who remained shut and silent even when it was only on social media, the movement has just begun.

photo from: @KevinKalbo https://twitter.com/KevinKalbo/status/1416553692925358080?s=20&t=m2U3H1iTLh1u_18DSKN4Bw