Abrera to Senate: CCP will continue to uphold free expression
16-Aug-11, 11:01 AM | Karl John C. Reyes, InterAksyon.com
MANILA, Philippines -- (UPDATED, 5:15 p.m.) The Cultural Center of the Philippines will continue to uphold freedom of expression, and its board of trustees will not resign due to the furor created by a controversial artwork in an exhibit it sponsored, CCP chairman Emily Abrera told the Senate hearing on Tuesday.
At the same time, Artist Mideo Cruz, whose “Poleteismo” installation stirred a religious hornet’s nest, will also not be subpoenaed to another hearing, as Tuesday’s hearing will be the first and last on the issue, said Senator Edgardo Angara, who heads the Senate committee on education and culture that called for the hearing.
Censorship of the controversial “Kulo” exhibit, particularly Cruz’s installation, violated the freedom of expression enshrined in the Constitution, CCP officials and various artists who attended the hearing said.
To Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada’s “I stand by my call (for CCP officials to resign, Abrera said: “No. And I mean that with all humility.”
And Angara agreed that CCP officials and members of the board of trustees need not resign.
Abrera told the hearing held jointly with the committee on mass media and information that the CCP board makes decisions in a democratic manner, where all concerned parties are consulted.
“We put forth the responsibility to artists (for their artwork) but the CCP should uphold the artistic freedom,” she said, even as she admitted that Cruz’s installation shocked her too.
To the suggestion that CCP engage in self-censorship, Carolyn E. Espiritu, the newest member of the CCP board, said self-censorship runs counter to the value of freedom of expression.
“We should value freedom of expression in all forms of arts. If we only exhibit beautiful art as some suggest, that would be propaganda,” she said.
