Local Artists Stage Age-Old Ritual in Protest; Hit Caparas

NAGA CITY-Artists in this city on Friday staged Haliya, a Bikol ritual dating back to pre-Hispanic times, to protest against alleged irregularities in the selection of this year's National Artists.

The chant-and-dance ritual was done in Plaza Quince Martires, which was built in memory of the Fifteen Martyrs of Bikol. About 200 persons participated including three city councilors and members of Developmental Institute for Bicolano Artists, a group of local art enthusiasts.

Victor Dennis Nierva, poet, writer and opinion columnist of local weekly Vox Bikol, led the ritual, which he said was a metaphor of the way the National Artist Award was tainted by unjust selection process.

Haliya was practiced by female priestesses called as balyanas in pre-Hispanic Bikol to summon Bakunawa, a mythical creature, which according to folklore would swallow the moon during a lunar eclipse. Thus, the ritual was a way to appeal to Bakunawa to let out the moon.

Nierva said they were comparing those who participated in the supposed irregular selection of this year's National Artists to personifications of Bakunawa, who swallowed "the dignity" of the National Artist Award.

He said they staged the ritual to appeal to those who "tainted" the Award to retract its move to declare some "unqualified" persons as National Artists.

"Just as what Bakunawa should do to the moon after swallowing it during lunar eclipses, those who participated in the selection of this year's National Artists especially the President Gloria Macapagal-Arryo should let go of their earlier declaration."

He especially contested the selection of movie director Carlo J. Caparas as National Artist.

"Why? The work of Caparas is not even comparable to the works of acclaimed directors Lino Brocka and Ishmael Bernal. Even some of his contemporary filmmakers are not endorsing his works, which lack thematic or technical refinement. His works does not raise awareness of Filipino culture."

He said they also conducted the protest action to disprove the statement of Caparas that there was no regional voice against his selection as National Artist. "We want to disprove Caparas' claim that oppositions to his selection only come from elite circles."

He said saying that selection of National Artists is a prerogative of the President was a lame excuse. "Procedures should be followed. Sensibility, wisdom, and sound judgment must be exercised."

He said the President should take back its decision to declare Caparas and National Commission for Culture and the Arts Executive Director Cecile Guidote-Alvarez, adding that their (Caparas and Guidote) selection has tainted the National Artist Award.

"Alvarez said that those protesting the selection process of this year's National Artist Award was uncivilized. I would like to ask her if what we are doing (Haliya) is those of the uncivilized."

City Councilor Bernadette Roco, chair of the city committee on culture and the arts, said that the artists were not singling out Caparas and Guidote-Alvarez in their protests. "What they wanted was strict adherence to the selection process."