‘Mud men,’ artists commemorate ‘Yolanda’

MANILA, Philippines – The government’s support for victims of super typhoon “Yolanda” is as clear as mud, at least that’s what protesters and artists believe – a year after the tragedy.

A dozen artists, mostly students, soaked in mud, walked the streets of the University of the Philippines in Quezon City on Thursday as a sign of solidarity for the typhoon survivors.

The group called for the accountability of President Benigno Aquino III, whom they called a “disaster president.”

Photo by Kristine Angeli Sabillo

“We drenched ourselves in mud as a symbol of the situation of the Filipino people, especially those in Tacloban,” Ugatlahi chairperson Cris De Leon told INQUIRER.net.

Ugatlahi was one of the artists’ groups, along with AlaySining and Anakbayan, that participated in the so-called “mud walk.”

He said it has been a year since Yolanda struck the Philippines but justice has yet to be received by the victims.

“The government continues to neglect the people,” De Leon said in Filipino.

Earlier that day, environmental advocates held cultural performances at the Quezon City Memorial Circle to raise awareness for the needs of the survivors.

Clemente Bautista, national coordinator Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (Kalikasan PNE), pointed out that many of the survivors still neeed support because of unemployment in areas badly affected by the typhoon.

“This is also to show our fellow Filipinos that there are different ways of expressing solidarity,” he said in Filipino.

Contributed photo by Kalikasan PNE

Jonas Aclado, who lost his mother during the tragedy, said such events help raise their spirits.

“We realize that we are not alone in this fight. We become more confident to continue the struggle,” he said.

Aclado, who is among those calling for government accountability and better treatment of typhoon survivors, was in Manila when Yolanda hit Basey town in Samar, where his mother lived.

He later joined Tulong Kabataan, a relief campaign for the youth, hoping that he would be sent to Eastern Visayas and be able to look for his mother. However, he was later informed by an uncle that his mother was one of the 6,000 or so people who perished during the onslaught of the typhoon.

In addition to the cultural performances, the event dubbed “Manila Surge” also featured a bike run, a storytelling activity for children and face-painting.

Karl Ramirez, who was among the indie musicians who helped raise funds for “Yolanda” victims last year, said they joined Manila Surge to show the public that a lot still needed to be done in Tacloban and other typhoon-hit areas.

He sang his composition “Bangon Pilipino,” which is dedicated to the typhoon survivors, during the event.

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