Boboy | Hugo D. Yonzon III, CRNI Representative for East Asia, writes:
On February 25, the Philippines marks the 30th anniversary of what we call the EDSA Revolution which, through passive resistance and the gathering of millions of people on the streets in 1983, led to the expulsion of our then-President/Dictator Ferdinand Marcos. His term as democratically elected president was supposed to run out in 1972, but he instead imposed martial law and commenced a regime of human rights violation, the disappearance of opposition, imprisonment of journalists and politicians, and many more actions.
As part of the celebration of winning back our freedom in 1983, the Samahang Kartunista ng Pilipinas or SKP was requested by the EDSA (name of a historic avenue) People Power Commission, to depict on two mural-sized panels two themes: The Horrors of Martial Law and the Triumph of People Power.
Members of the SKP cartoonists group produce a mural
There are fears that Marcos’ rule will return with his son running in the coming presidential elections and with military putchists running for higher offices, too.
On Sunday, February 21, as a sidelight to the launching of an anti-martial-law comics, several members of the SKP interpreted with felt pens the two themes in less than two hours, while the activity was going on. The occasion was attended by the secretary of government communication, top government officials, members of the media and the art community. The President was represented by his eldest sister.
Samahang Kartunista ng Pilipinas is an organization of editorial cartoonists, comics strip and comic book illustrators that has been around since 1978. From time to time we do non-revenue works like this. We dig deep into our own pockets and resources to make statements on today’s issues.
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