Oppression of Expression

A month after the Baguio Tourism Office released the new guidelines for Session Road Sunday Pedestrianization, including the prohibition of chalk artists to express or convey any political or social concerns they claim as “subversive”, the condemnation of artists, journalists, and activists continues to rattle noise in the streets, or even on social media.

Along the street of Session Road this cloudy Sunday afternoon, I met Eduardo Malang Santiago, 55 years old, a handicapped traditional artist, and a former chalk artist in Session Road. Tatay Eduardo started doing chalk art when he was in high school. “Yung chalk art ang first medium na pinapagamit sa amin before, we have a blackboard and a chalk, kaya doon kami nakakapag-drawing, later on, sa mga concrete walls,” he said.

To aspire

Every Sunday, Tatay Eduardo usually sets up their booth around 9 in the morning. In his booth, there are plenty of oil-canvas paintings he sells for a range of 1,000-1,500 pesos. Additionally, he also let tourists and locals paint inside his booth for 15 minutes without any charge. He said he's doing it so other people would experience what it is like to express themselves as artists, “nakakatuwa makita mga bata na nagpipinta, tinuturuan ko din sila, doon pa lang makikita mo na sa art na-e-express nila sarili nila, kaya sobrang halaga ng pag-express sa art.”

As far as art is concerned, the freedom to express always follows. Tatay Eduardo said that expression is innate in art. “Bawat artist may kanya-kanyang opinyon yan e, may kanya-kanyang originality to express their artwork,” Tatay Eduardo said.

A barrier to expression

The new guidelines state that expression of political views and portrayals that negatively question or express opinions about social and political issues are prohibited.

However, the right to express an opinion is a basic human right that everyone deserves. To draw back to basic rights, Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) Article 19 highlights that everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression. This right includes the freedom that encompasses the ability to express ideas freely, gather information without hindrance, and communicate across boundaries in any medium.

Beyond just art

It is not just about the art, but also the freedom to express one's opinion, Tatay Eduardo signifies the right to freedom of expression not just as an artist but also as an individual. “For me ‘yung bagong guidelines ay hindi tama, as individual yung expression ng tao, hindi dapat nililimitihan,” Tatay Eduardo stated.

Being handicapped, it was never a hindrance for Tatay Eduardo to respond in his calling. According to him, despite being disabled he knows he still has a purpose. “At the end of the day, nagpapasalamat pa rin ako sa Panginoon eh, kahit na inallow niya yung ganito, atleast, nandito pa rin ako, nagagawa ko pa rin yung calling ko.”

More than the fear of God, Tatay Eduardo has also feared the possible risk once he doesn't abide by the new guidelines,“nakakatakot na e, nakakatakot na ‘di sumunod sa mga protocols ng gobyerno, kaya ako, ano ba magagawa ko, siyempre kailangan natin laging tingnan ang two sides. Oo importante ang self expression as artist, pero dapat alam din natin ang consequence once na hindi tayo sumunod sa law, lalo sa panahon ngayon, nakakatakot na.”

While the oppression in freedom of expression exists, the fear that Tatay Eduardo felt will continue to persist and grow if guidelines like these are continuously implemented. This fear does not only refrain him from fully expressing his art, it also stops him from doing his purpose—to inspire other people to do the same thing—express themselves through art.