National Artist for visual arts Benedicto 'BenCab' Cabrera and over 100 other artists launched a virtual exhibit on Sunday, Feb. 20, to express their support for Vice President Leni Robredo’s presidential bid.
The show, entitled “Mas Radikal ang Magmahal” on www.radikal.ph, is a presentation of works of more than 100 artists who believe that Robredo is the only candidate who deserves to be elected to Malacañang.
“Hers is a brand of leadership that stands in stark contrast to what we have now. It is one defined by example, competence and incorruptibility,” organizer Gigo Alampay said.
“It is the only one today that is genuinely worthy of our children, our country, and our future,” Alampay, who already expressed his support to Robredo months before she decided to run for president, added.
He promised the Vice President that he would make sure “the artists were standing beside her.”
The show is a “strong collective statement of support from the creative community,” Alampay stressed.
The artists “come from all backgrounds, various provinces, and are at different stages in their careers—from beginning and amateur artists to mid career professionals to established ones to National Artist BenCab,” the radikal.ph said.
READ: PH national artists endorse Robredo for president
BenCab’s depiction of the Philippine flag, titled “Fragile and Strong,” made in 2014, was featured on radikal.ph.
The website also featured writer Butch Dalisay’s brief essay on what it means to be “radical.”
Dalisay himself was a former supporter of the Marcoses, whose scion, former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., has become Robredo’s toughest rival in the politics.
The group will add more selected artworks as they are submitted, with Alampay sharing that many artists want to participate in the project.
“Together, they offer a sincere and committed statement of support for Leni's vision of a more just and humane society, and affirm a collective belief in her capacity to deliver on that promise,” he said.
This is not the first time that artists expressed their support to Robredo.
Earlier, she was already officially endorsed by National Artists poet Virgilio “Rio Alma” Almario (literature), master of contemporary art Ben Cab (visual arts), musician and conductor Ryan Cayabyab (music), Dr. Ramon Santos (music), and Ballet Philippines founder Alice Reyes (dance).