DAVAO CITY – The Actors Guild of the Philippines and the Film Artists Group opened a benefit exhibit for the campaign and welfare fund of political prisoners in the Philippines on Sunday.
The exhibit dubbed “PortrAYAL (LAYA): Portraits for Freedom” opened on July 5 at the ART Center in Megamall Building A, Mandaluyong City. Human rights group Karapatan and relatives of political prisoners, as beneficiaries of the said project, attended the opening.
Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay, in the opening program, thanked the artists for their support to the political prisoners and human rights causes in the country.
“Political prisoners defend and uphold the people’s democratic rights, including the freedom of expression and the right to uphold and fight for their political beliefs. Peace consultants Alan Jazmines, Eduardo Sarmiento, Renante Gamara and Adelberto Silva are artists at the forefront of the people’s movement for the defense of these rights and for genuine change,” she said.
The artists were led by human rights advocate and artist Maria Isabel Lopez and beauty queen Evangeline Pascual.
Former political prisoner Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares, Senator Francis Escudero, former Rep. Liza Maza, Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, actor Pen Medina, and scriptwriter Ricky Lee also attended the exhibit opening to lend their support for the project.
Nikki Gamara, daughter of political prisoner Renante Gamara, said “it is a comfort to us relatives that the support for the release of my father and all political prisoners is gaining ground. We highly appreciate their solidarity through their artworks and encouraging words.”
The exhibit runs until July 7. (davaotoday.com)
