8 murals for frontline heroes in Covid fight unveiled

September 5, 2020 Metro BLISTT

Eight local artists turned eight kalasag (shield) shaped posts of the Sunshine Park stage into murals honoring Baguio’s frontliners against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) during the National Heroes Day celebration here last Monday.
Young artists Venazir Martinez, Silvino Dulnuan, Angelo Aurelio and Pasakalye artists Joyce Mallare, Jherwin Libatique, Sonia Oyam and Angelica Rosalin and Tara Natividad converted the kalasags into their own murals honoring health care workers, police officers and volunteers, who have been in the forefront of battling the virus that has infected some 364 Baguio residents since March 23.
“They were our shields (kalasag) and unsung heroes in our fight against the virus,” said Baguio Rep. Marquis Go in his speech referring to the frontline workers in the six months that Baguio has been placed in community quarantine to stop the spread of the deadly virus that has killed eight locals.
Aurelio, who last year painted a mural of Filipino national heroes that now grace the wall of the Department of Education main office in Pasay City, said that “the traditional kalasag is a war artifact by ancient warriors as a shield.”
Street mural artists like Dulnuan and Martinez joined Pasakalye artists in the kalasag project which Aurelio describe as “painting portraits of our gallant frontliners to symbolize the collective strength of our pandemic warriors as we pay tribute to their selfless struggles and heroic courage to fight one of our greatest battles humanity has ever engaged.”
Mayor Benjamin Magalong, meanwhile thanked all frontliners and “acknowledge this gift of a continued life that you are giving to us at the risk of yours being lost. Your passion and dedication to your work are to be exemplified. You are always in our hearts and prayers.”
Magalong then thanked the artists, who rushed the works the last three days and nights, calling them “vital part of the City as well.” He added: “You are our storytellers. Kitang kita sa inyong mga gawa and istorya natin kung paano tayo patuloy na lumalaban (We can see in your work and story how we continue to fight).”
The eight artists practically burned the midnight oil to finish the work in time for today’s celebration that they even asked help for putting lighting during nights. Aurelio last month launched his Writing 30, a metanarrative film documentary on the July 16, 1990 earthquake which was premiered at the Baguio City Hall on said date.
Pigeon Lobien/ABN