Precious Partosa, News, Communication Management Office
Women’s prowess stood out as the art exhibit “Alas ng Bayan: Women, Heroism, and Memory” featured five Filipina changemakers in history who fought against national oppression, various forms of social injustice, and gender discrimination.
Located at the lobby of Bulwagang Bonifacio in NALLRC, the following women were portrayed in the paintings: Gregorio “Oriang” De Jesus, Apolonio Catra, Remedios “Kumander Liwayway” Gomez-Paraiso, Ma. Lorena Barros, and Gloria Capitan. Each artwork was titled respectively as ‘Bayang Magiliw’, ‘Hiwaga at Ginhawa’, ‘Dapithapon ng Hapon’, ‘Diliman, Diligan’, and ‘Ngayon at Cailanman’.
Likened by artist John Erhard P. Guarin to an ace card that signifies “a winning card or a secret advantage,” the Filipinas were described as Alas ng Bayan as his paintings were depicted in the style of Tarot cards which, according to him, reflected their sacrifices and victories in resisting oppression and injustices.
With its approaches to history and feminism, the exhibit also aspired to offer “new notions of citizenship and nationalism that are responsive to multiple emergencies” faced in the present such as issues on violence against women, LGBTQ+ rights, extrajudicial killings, global warming, and national sovereignty.
“Nawa’y magsilbing inspirasyon ang aking exhibit na ito upang gamitin natin ang ating kakayahan—maging pagpipinta man ‘yan, pagsusulat, o pag-arte, at iba pa upang ipaglaban hindi lang ang ating bayan, kundi ang buong mundo sa mga isyu ng climate change, discrimination at iba pa,” Guarin said in his speech.
Joining Guarin in sharing the message and advocacy of Alas ng Bayan were Renato Redentor Constantino, head of ICSC and Constantino Foundation, and Chuck Baclagon, Associate Director for Asia Digital Campaigns at 350.org Pilipinas. Each discussed “The Grammar of Forgetting: Notes on Women, History, Climate Change and Heroism” and “Alas ng Bayan: Women, Memory, and History,” correspondingly.
“Malaking papel ang ginagampanan ng pag-aaral ng kasaysayan ng kilusang kababaihan at ng sining para matubok ang tinatawag nating mga climate actor na siyang mga may malaking papel at responsibilidad sa paghubog ng kasaysayan sa ngayon,” Baclagon said.
Alas ng Bayan is an art exhibit aimed to raise awareness on the intersections between women, history, memory, climate change, and citizenship. It runs from February 24 to March 6. The project is supported by the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC), the Constantino Foundation, and 350.org Pilipinas. ###
Please click/tap the appropriate link to help you in your navigation of our services
Applicant Student Faculty Member or Employee Researcher or Extensionist Alumni Campus Life Institutional Accreditation Back to Homepage