MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Pushing for consumer rights through art, the multi-sectoral group Rights Action Philippines (RAP) mounts an art exhibit titled “Protecting Our Consumer Rights in the State of Pandemic” ongoing until March 12, at the Gallery M, Taft Ave., Pasay City.
The exhibit, featuring more than 80 paintings and sculptures from 49 contemporary artists, depicts the realities that artists and consumers alike are going through in these pandemic times.
“Art has now become an even greater platform to uplift the awareness of our audiences on their rights as consumers. We all desire to have the freedom to choose and live our lives the way want to. But to do so, we all have the duty and responsibility to safeguard these rights and ensure that these are not trampled on. That is at the very heart of our advocacy,” says Rey Dulay, chairman of RAP.
RAP has mobilized artists all of whom have been affected adversely by the Covid-19 pandemic. Some of the artworks include Romualdo Calingo’s “Munting Nakayanan,” Lauren Jascha Tolentino’s “Pang ilang tao kaya?” series which conveys rights to affordable food, a topic relative; Geronimo Sicat-Santos’ “Artificial Flavor” which highlights rights to safer ingredients amid substandard food quality produced by big companies; Marcelo Quezon’s “King of the Road” series and Jojo Garcia’s “Balik Pasada, No to Phaseout” depicts commuters, drivers and transportation rights. It also talks about the series of fuel price hikes.
Also included are Rey Dulay’s “Free Our Mind, It’s Our Choice, We are not Criminals” and Matthius Garcia’s “Usok sa Dilim” portrays smokers and taxpayers’ rights.
Meanwhile mixed media entries such as Eghai Roxas’ “Konsumidor” and Bryan John Gonzales’ “Dues Ko Po” renders the agony of consumers over rising prices of commodities and basic household dues. The unforeseen rise of plantitos and plantitas during the pandemic is depicted by Darrel Nonatos’ “Plantism Bloom”.
Juno Galang’s and Jun Vicaido’s whose works bear the same title “Magsasaka” represents the controversial rights of the Philippine rice sector, which disproportionately affects farmers and poor communities.
“Many artists joined this exhibit because they believe in the advocacy of RAP in promoting consumer issues through their artworks,” project manager Pol Mesina said. Mesina is also the founder of ARTIpolo, which advocates for the development of young artists and the advancement of health and education among children, women, and people with special needs.
Art lovers may also access the artworks online through RAP’s website, https://rightsactionph.org/ and FB page https://www.facebook.com/groups/rightsactionphilippines and https://assets.artplacer.com/virtual-exhibitions/?i=2039.
Formed in 2019, Dulay added that RAP will prioritize “gut issues that directly affect people’s rights. The advocacy group targets causes such as better education, improved transportation, affordable housing, fuel, and cheaper basic goods and services, efficient and corruption-free bureaucracy and clean environment.
Among advocacies RAP is targeting are consumer rights, commuter rights, smokes and vapers’ rights, artists’ rights, and taxpayers’ rights.
RAP recently launched “Kapihan saRAP” a voters education series featuring officials running for public office in May 2022.
