Art has a powerful capacity to illustrate narratives, perspectives, and causes. It brings people together in a heartbeat — just look at how a recent illustration by Tarantadong Kalbo sparked a fire within our local artist— bringing a heartfelt crossover from artists around the country.
Cartoonist Tarantadong Kalbo originally posted the digital illustration on Saturday, July 17. It features rows and rows of anthropomorphic "fist people" bowing down to resemble the gesture President Rodrigo Duterte and his allies are known for — but except for one, who is standing its ground.
T u m i n d i g ✊🏼 pic.twitter.com/ODYkPqRn0T
— Tarantadong Kalbo (@KevinKalbo) July 17, 2021
In the last few days, local artists, groups, and even ordinary people have since joined in and added their fist-shaped avatar to the drawing to speak out and get their message across.
Isa ako sa maraming PWD (speech defect) #Tumindig para sa kapwa at bayan, hindi para sa pansaring interes lamang. https://t.co/IHHHcaBgVG pic.twitter.com/hlCkbzk6cu
— Jeremiah (@Jeremiaheb_) July 21, 2021
Kami sa #SaveSanRoque Alliance ay #tumitindig para sa inklusibong kaunlaran. Kasama ang mga maralitang lungsod, ating ipanawagan ang pantay na karapatan, kabuhayan, at kalusugan para sa lahat.#StandWithThePoor#DevelopmentForAll#DuterteWakasan https://t.co/53KPYZUKxV pic.twitter.com/psy89SI606
— Save San Roque (@SaveSanRoque) July 20, 2021
As a medical frontliner. I can safely speak for my fellow colleagues and patients that we had already enough of how poor the pandemic response is. Enough is enough. In solidarity with sir @KevinKalbo #Tumindig ✊🏽 https://t.co/KGul7YOPRm pic.twitter.com/qBhonH0adV
— Elli (@sir_pathogenic) July 20, 2021
"' Yung sa artwork na ginawa ko, hindi ko siya na-envision as a campaign or a challenge. I was simply expressing my thoughts as an artist," Raymundo said in a message to Rappler.
Artista ng Bayan, Ngayon ay Lumalaban! ✊🏼✊🏽✊🏻✊✊🏾#Tumindig https://t.co/Vc5Pq8gVv9 pic.twitter.com/5NlOSMpMyI
— Tarantadong Kalbo (@KevinKalbo) July 21, 2021
"Nakakaiyak. E kasi diba ang bigat ng mga nangyayari recently, ang bleak ng outlook ng mga tao. It's like everyone is holding their breath sa kung ano 'yong susunod na 'bad news' or headline. Nakaka-suffocate na. Kumbaga' yong artwork is like a shout sa void. Kahit ako lang mag-isa, basta lalaban ako. So nung madaming sumali, ayun na. It's overwhelming. Literal na tumindig balahibo ko," Raymundo said in his interview with Spot.ph.
The campaign is so powerful and genuinely gives us goosebumps. OFC! We have our first icon too!
Na traffic lang pero nandito na kami para #Tumindig! pic.twitter.com/MOZ94PapU9
— metroscene mag (@MetrosceneMag) July 21, 2021
Under the Duterte administration, voicing out one's political opinion has become a gray area for Filipinos. With the recent implementation of Anti-Terror Law, fear and frustration have restricted them from practicing their basic human rights. But art is a weapon they can't take. Let art continue to comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable!
