National Press Club slammed for censoring press freedom mural

John L. Silva | The National Press Club’s Clubbing of Freedom of Expression

Ellen Tordesillas | Bastardized Mural Reflects Dark Side of Philippine Journalism

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PUBLISHED ON November 2, 2007 AT 10:58 AM

Below is the statement of the The Neo-Angono Artists Collective denouncing the National Press Club’s alleged mangling of a commissioned mural.

What Press Freedom?

Around three months ago, the National Press Club commissioned us to do an 8×32 foot-mural on the history of press freedom in the Philippines. A lot of problems were encountered during the production phase mainly because of the delays in the schedule of payment on their part, as stipulated in the contract we signed. Still, through the commitment and dedication shown by the members of our group, the mural was completed in time for the unveiling scheduled on October 26. Finally, we would be able to sleep a lot more easily.
Or so we thought.

We were shocked to be informed by one of their board of directors that changes were made in the mural without our knowledge.

We, the Neo-Angono Artists Collective, would like to express our outrage, revulsion and protest against the total lack of respect of the NPC for the integrity of the commissioned artwork, as shown by the slipshod alterations they caused in several parts of the said mural, to wit:

* The erasure of a big portion of the newspaper held by the central figure, containing the statement of the International Federation of Journalists regarding the perceived effects of the anti-terror law on press freedom, and replaced by a hideous bird-monster in a cage;

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10 Responses to “National Press Club slammed for censoring press freedom mural”

The Equalizer Says:
November 4th, 2007 at 8:49 pm
ROY MABASA & company
National Press Club(?)

The Defacing of The Press Freedom Mural in NPC

“The Law Concerning Art Preservation and Artists’ Rights” in America states that no person, with the exception of the artist, has a right to deface or alter a work of fine art.

”Droit morale,” a legal concept meaning ”moral rights” is the cornerstone of the law. In this case, ‘droit morale’ is the concept that art work is more than a commercial product.

An artist’s reputation and career is dependent upon the works of art he or she creates. Each work of art has the artist’s signature on it, literally and figuratively.

The droit morale essentially says the owner of a work of art does not have the right to alter, deface or destroy the work of art.

The work of art is something that belongs to society as a whole.
Dexter R. Beniten Says:
November 4th, 2007 at 10:15 pm
Nakakatuwa naman po na. may makakita ng ditalyeng ito….in terms of art work.very good. kung sino man ang may pakana nito para baguhin. mamatay na kayo.
Dexter R. Beniten Says:
November 4th, 2007 at 10:17 pm
ano po ba ang mali dito?db totoo naman na nangyari? so what is the point para baguhin.
Dexter R. Beniten Says:
November 4th, 2007 at 10:20 pm
sino po ba si randy david? bakit ganun na lang po ang phasing ng mukha nya….

Diba part xia ng press?
Dexter R. Beniten Says:
November 4th, 2007 at 10:29 pm
kay bonifacio napakabaduy naman na lagyan ng puso na may pana…

taga bilibid ba xia?

o probinsyano lang na nagmamahal?
Dexter R. Beniten Says:
November 4th, 2007 at 10:33 pm
wala ng saysay ang press freedom. Kung puro edited ang balita,
MONSI SERRANO, CHIEF CONSULTANT, METAOPSIS CONSULTANCY Says:
November 5th, 2007 at 3:57 pm
I was so appalled by either the gross ignorance or mere ass-licking of MR. ROY DI MARUNONG MAGBASA!

Nakakasuka talaga! Nakakagigil! He just killed the freedom of expression and worst, concealing the truth of the realities in life that surrounds our beloved country.

The premise of MR. ROY DI MARUNONG MAGBASA, that National Press Club is apolitical is absolutely a BIG BULLSHIT that MR. ROY DI MARUNONG MAGBASA should eat now.

You’re such a big embarrassment to NPC. Para kang isang huwad na mamamahayag! Please give honor to NPC by resigning. It doesn’t have to be irrevocable, because with what you did, isa lang masasabi ko, MR. ROY DI MARUNONG MAGBASA — MAGRESIGN KA NA AT YAN ANG PULSO AT DAMDAMIN NG MGA KASAMA MO!

Bagamat di ako bahagi ng NPC, ako’y nagngingingit sa ginawa mong kabobohan o kasipsipan. Ang tanong —- MAGKANO BA TALAGA?

MONSI SERRANO
metaopsis@consultant.com
0919-897-8877/0910-946-5555
982-8888
DJB Rizalist Says:
November 5th, 2007 at 8:27 pm
I liked “the bird monster in a cage” a lot better than the IFJ statement, which was incoherent, droll and made it obvious whoever wrote it doesn’t even know where the Philippines is. At least the bird monster is a picture drawn by an artist, not a manifesto written by a propagandist.
The Equalizer Says:
November 5th, 2007 at 9:39 pm
In Afghanistan, the Taliban began each day with prayer and then one morning blasted ancient Buddhist statues along the silk route with artillery and painted over all the human figures in the artwork that was still in their national museum.

The Taliban destroyed giant statues of Buddha, the largest of which was 125 feet tall. Buddhists worldwide wept at and protested the destruction of the 1500-year-old Buddha statue.

But things of this nature are now happening right here!

What does it say about the Philippines?
Arthur Oliver Santisteban Says:
November 6th, 2007 at 9:34 pm
All people should have the right to express themselves in writing or in any other way of expression of personal opinion or creativity.

Everyone of us has the right to express what we feel and no one could deprive us in expressing what is reality.

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National Press Club slammed for censoring press freedom mural

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