Republic of the Philistines

This article was written prior to the forum held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) regarding the controversy over Mideo Cruz’s artwork, which was conducted last August 5, 2011. 

For a reaction to the forum by CCP’s Visual Arts Officer-in-Charge Karen Ocampo Flores, click here.

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I must admit to writing this out of anger and out of fear. Just this morning, two individuals walked into the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ gallery housing the exhibit Kulo and proceeded to do the following:

The culprit/s wrote in BALLPEN on portions of the artworks, a pedestal, and walls, “EMEDEO [sic] SUMPAIN KA! BAKLA!” And then on another (unfortunate) artist’s work that had the word “MOVE,” he or she wrote, “TO HELL.” The culprit/s also hacked off the wooden penises from the cross installation.

– Tony Perez, via Facebook

This is the very same exhibit which the CBCP and its ally Pro-life Philippines’ President Eric Manalang demanded the closure of. When the CCP organized an open forum to discuss the matter with him and the museum going public, he proceeded to threaten to file a lawsuit against them the day before the forum.

I am deeply angry at the barbarians who perpetrated this shameless act of vandalism against public artworks, and I am afraid at the lengths to which people like them are willing to go for their so-called loving faith. If the CBCP or its allies fail to do anything less than totally condemn this barbaric action, then it will confirm my worst fears about how little value they put not only on freedom of expression, but on basic respect for other people’s lives, livelihood and property.

UPDATE: Ah. Color my fears confirmed, then:

Atty. Jo Imbong on CCP vandalism: “Now we see how a disordered act like an exhibit like that can fuel other disorders. Evil leads to more evils in its wake.” Imbong is from a Catholic lay group filing charges against the CCP and the artist. – Jeff Canoy over twitter (continuation)

Despite every effort made at civil accomodation, the CBCP and Pro-life Philippines have shown through their actions that they do not want discourse or discussion; they only want their demands met and their dictates obeyed.

The CCP has made a call for ‘respect and sobriety’, the full text of which can be found here (Facebook link). For this I am thankful, as it reminds me that there are still even-tempered, well-intentioned individuals who are willing to take a step back and consider the consequences of their actions and who those actions might hurt. I am thankful that through all this, there are those that still understand the value and meaning of respect.

It’s because of people like these that I can believe we do not quite yet live in an actual Philistine Republic, though it seems increasingly apparent that that is exactly the sort of country that the CBCP and its allies wish us to become. For what else would their current strategy of promoting anti-intellectualism through throttling free expression be good for, if not to bring about a society where no one may think or dare to oppose them?

(Image taken from here)

7 comments

  1. Watched this: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/228585/nation/forum-o

    The detractors really came prepared.

    1:45 : I really think the kid was told to act that way once he was interviewed. If the kid was scared, he would have probably cried already.

    I really find it annoying that they use these strategies, appealing to emotion among other things.

    If you think that seeing the exhibit was detrimental to the kid's faith, you shouldn't have brought him there!

    • Why was that kid even there? The parent was braying about how kids shouldn't see the piece. Here's a tip: DON'T BRING YOUR KID TO SEE IT. Why should the State have to play wet nurse to the neuroses of these puritans?

      • Garrick, these are the same sort of parents that wouldn't mind letting their kids read the bible. Y'know, the book where the hero's whipped raw, tortured, then nailed to a cross and left to die from exposure? Wholesome fun right there 🙂

        • You mean like Bible advised handling of naughty children ??

          Exodus 21:15 “Anyone who attacks their father or mother is to be put to death.

          Leviticus 20:9 “Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death. Because they have cursed their father or mother, their blood will be on their own head.”

          Deuteronomy 21:18-21 “If someone has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father and mother and will not listen to them when they discipline him, 19 his father and mother shall take hold of him and bring him to the elders at the gate of his town. 20 They shall say to the elders, “This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious. He will not obey us. He is a glutton and a drunkard.” 21 Then all the men of his town are to stone him to death.”

          Matthew 15:3-4 “For God said, ‘Honour your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.”

          Mark 7:10 “For Moses said, ‘Honour your father and mother,’ and, ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.

  2. Well the Catholic Republic of the Philippines might be a Philistine Republic.

    But be happy that the power of the Catholic clergy is (even in the Catholic R of P) is not like it was some centuries ago, otherwise the “blasphemous” artists would be burned at the stake, or ala Islamic fatwa the CBCP would demand it the duty of every Faithful Catholic to kill the blasphemous artists as soon one of their flock sees him.

  3. The CBCP is condemning the exhibit but have they already released a statement condemning the act of vandalism done to the art works?

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