Well, the Concerned Artists of the Philippines (CAP) took the unusual route and, rather be all grim and determined, rejoiced with fans of Pinoy Pop and brought to the dance floor eight eager-beaver BINI fans called Blooms, all typically made up, to sway to the catchy tunes of BINI’s “Pantropiko” and “Salamin, Salamin.”
“Oh Shux Despotiko: Gabi ng Banda, Blooms, at Bb. Bagong Pilipinas”, a concert organized by the Concerned Artists of the Philippines (CAP), was held to reflect the state of the nation through arts and cultural performances.
“Our gravest concern now is the new policies which attack freedom of expression: specifically the Anti-Terror Law and Executive Order 70 which created the NTF-ELCAC. This emboldened state actors, such as the police and military to commit abuses on a scale last seen during the first Marcos administration.”
We must therefore never forget that contradiction in fighting back for freedom of expression today. Freedom of expression is not a privilege of those in power, but a weapon of the oppressed to safeguard against the abuse of power—whether economic, political, and social.
‘Kamao ang Hugis ng Puso’ alludes to the essence of Doloricon’s life and work, his passion (puso) being always entangled with a cause and struggle (kamao).
Poet, social commentator and literary scholar Bienvenido Lumbera only had two words when asked what birthday present he would like to receive from the president, “Go away!”
“Artists know that their freedom to create the art that they wish to is premised on the freedom of expression. When this freedom is taken away, so is their freedom to create art. And they create art to serve the basic sectors, because we basically owe everything to farmers and workers—what we eat, the things that we use everyday. When they are suppressed, then everything else is rendered meaningless.”
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.
We articulate not only what concerns us but more essentially what concerns those whose rights are trampled upon. In so doing, we empower them to likewise articulate their sentiments and aspirations.
Most of us may be afraid and cautious of this invisible virus possibly lurking in our vicinity. But for the economically vulnerable, it is the untrustworthy authorities that they are most afraid of during this quarantine. With Duterte’s order to shoot anyone who does not obey, the police were given even more power to assert their authority over the vendors and homeless.
An original composition of the Concerned Artists of the Philippines released in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic