Visual artists to auction paintings, urge Duterte to run

MANILA, Philippines – To help bankroll the presidential campaign of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, more than 70 visual artists from different parts of the country are auctioning their art works between July and August.

Gathering at the Club Filipino in Cebu City last week, the artists echoed calls for Duterte to run for president in May 2016, saying he is the best man for the post.

In a press statement from the Duterte camp, the founder of the Portrait Artists Society of the Philippines, Romulo Galicano, said, “I hope he (Duterte) will be convinced to run for the presidency. He is the only hope for a better society.” Galicano was behind the fund-raising initiative by artists.

At the “Do Art DU30” Club Filipino press conference, Cebu artist Palmy Pe Tudtud said, “We want him to run for President and we want him to win.” 

“As of now, we have no idea as to how much amount that we will raise. What is important is that artists are gathered for one cause. We have the heart to support him,” Tudtud said in the press statement.

Adeste Deguilmo, an artist from Basilan in Mindanao, said the peace and order in Davao is an indication of how Duterte will instill discipline in the country.

At present, Duterte ranks third in presidential preferences surveys. Only last June, however, he said he should be considered as a last choice.

Safest place

He pointed out that Davao is “the safest place in the Philippines, second in Asia (next to Singapore), and ninth in the whole world.”

Fidel Sarmiento, president of the Art Association of the Philippines, was also present in the Cebu gathering of artists.

“Lahat na yata ng mga negatibong ‘pinaka,’ nandito na sa ating bansa. Bilang Pilipino gusto ko ng pagbabago,” Sarmiento said. (I think all the negative superlatives can be used to describe our country. As a Filipino, I want change.)

Nunelucio Alvarado of the Art Asssociation of Bacolod said the country needs someone like Duterte who has political will and a heart for the arts.

“Art is the life of the world, yet it has received least support from the government,” deplored Alvarado.

Alvarado’s 6-year-old granddaughter Pablita Guanzon contributed a painting that will be included in the auction.

Whether or not Duterte will seek the presidency remains a guessing game at this point. – Rappler.com