The Truth Behind the Signs of the Times

See the picture above? It says "Safety ends here." What exactly does it mean? What kind of danger awaits us? Are we supposed to do immediate actions or just wait for someone or something to happen?

Last Thursday, July 07, we (Wilbert and Ace) and our blockmates went to Vargas Museum in UP Diliman to view an exhibit entitled Placard: Signs of the Times. At first, we were amazed with those artistic and wonderful placards but as we go on, we realized that they convey striking messages. It's like they are speaking to us and telling us what we have to do. They are basically an eye-opener that inform us of what kind of system we have in our country.

Here are some of the placards we've seen:

Placards taken at Vargas Museum grounds

So, in the first picture, it says "This rug is absorbing all your blood," which is written behind the American flag. In the second, it says "They can't fool us all the time..." Clearly, it tells us that the Americans are just deceiving us and benefiting from different kinds of our resources. On the lower left, it says "End impunity now!" It really describes what kind of system of government we have now. A lot of people are having exemptions from punishments which shows the injustice we had since then. And, on the lower right, it awakens us from the recent killings in the media and other fields.

These placards depict the signs of the times we have been experiencing the wrongdoings of those in control. When do you think these will end? Or will these really end? As the upper right picture says, "Peace my ass," we think these actions are intolerable. It's like we are used to it. But when should we act; when we are most affected? Of course not. We should also voice out our opinions and rights.

The people are not blind for they see the truth. The deaf could also hear the cries of their fellowmen, and the paralyzed or disabled will surely be moved by the pains the country is experiencing. This placard exhibit is an instrument for the dissemination of information. By the way, these are the works of the young, UP students showing the Filipinos' condition. Each placard shows different stories and representations. Some are those that will tell you about the flaws in the government, the domination of the America over the Philippines, and the problems and issues brought by the previous administration. There are many people out there that it is not that they don't care, it is just that they don't know. It's a good thing there are those people who use their skills and talents in art not only for promoting our own culture but for making the Filipinos realize and see the truth. That is one of the best kind of art we can be proud of.