Aquino urges CCP to be 'more careful' in future exhibits

Amid the heated discussions on the controversial ‘Kulo’ exhibit, President Benigno Simeon Aquino III asked the board of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) to be careful in their future exhibits. Aquino made the statement after the CCP closed down the main gallery where one of the artworks displayed was artist Mideo Cruz's piece, a mixed-media collage called "Poleteismo" that has triggered a heated debate between freedom of expression and respecting religious sensibilities. “I made my position very clear to them, and I did stress the idea kung may karapatan ka, pero pag naapakan yung karapatan ng iba naman may mali na dun," Aquino said in an interview with reporters in Batangas City on Tuesday morning. No absolute freedom The President said he talked with the several members of the CCP board on Monday and reminded them that freedom of expression is not absolute. “Nagremind tayo dyan there is no freedom that's absolute, there are limits set as to what you're allowed to do," he said. He told the CCP board to consider the belief of the people because the CCP is funded by the people’s money. “Yung CCP is funded by public money, it should be in service of the people, when you insult the beliefs of most of the people, I don't see where is service there," he said. “Sinabi ko ako ay Kristyano, ang bansa natin ay at least 85 percent Kristyano tapos merong depiction ni Kristo na hindi kaaya-aya kaninuman," he said. “I'm not after censorship. Art is supposed to be enobling and when you stroke conflict that is not an enobling activity," Aquino explained. "Kulo" exhibit "Kulo," a compilation of work by 32 artists, opened on June 17 at the CCP Main Gallery. The exhibit was supposed to run until August 21. All 32 artists are former students at the University of Santo Tomas, hitherto known as a bastion of conservative Catholic teaching. The exhibit was meant to be part of the Center's celebration of the 150th birth anniversary of Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal. - VVP, GMA News