The Pope in Manila - Not Even Past
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Notes from the Field: The Pope in Manila - Not Even Past BOOKS FILMS & MEDIA THE PUBLIC HISTORIAN BLOG TEXAS OUR/STORIES STUDENTS ABOUT 15 MINUTE HISTORY "The past is never dead. It's not even past." William Faulkner NOT EVEN PAST Tweet 27 Like THE PUBLIC HISTORIAN Notes from the Field: The Pope in Manila Making History: Houston’s “Spirit of the By Kristie Flannery Confederacy” This week my attempts to carry out archival research in Manila have been interrupted by Pope Francis’ visit to the Philippines. It is not surprising that the government of the third largest Catholic country in the world would declare the days of the Pope’s visit “Special non-working days” in the national capital. All non-essential government activities (including the national archives) are closed, all school and university classes have been cancelled, and many businesses will not open their doors. The enforced holiday is supposed to clear usually congested roads of cars and jeepneys so the Pope and pilgrims move more easily from A to B. May 06, 2020 For the outsider, Pope Francis’ visit to the Philippines this week provides interesting insight into the More from The Public Historian present social, political, and cultural dynamics of this country. In addition to displaying the committed Catholicism of many Filipinos (over 5 million are expected to BOOKS attend the public papal mass on Sunday), the papal visit has shed light on some of the tensions that exist between the country’s ruling elite and everyone else. America for Americans: A History of Xenophobia in the United States by Erika Lee (2019) April 20, 2020 More Books DIGITAL HISTORY Más de 72: Digital Archive Review https://notevenpast.org/notes-from-the-field-the-pope-in-manila/[6/15/2020 12:06:43 PM] Notes from the Field: The Pope in Manila - Not Even Past Dante Hipolito’s painting of the Pope’s visit, courtesy of The Adobo Chronicles. March 16, 2020 This painting by Filipino artist Dante Hipolito went viral on facebook and twitter this week, days ahead of the Pope’s arrival in Manila. More from Digital History Pope Francis is depicted riding a Carabao-driven cart driven by Vilma Santos, a famous Filipina soapie- star and current Governor of the Batangas Province. Hipolito’s painting includes the hyper-real likenesses FILMS & MEDIA of several other famous Filipino politicians and celebrities who smile and wave at the Holy Father, including Senator Grace Poe, Marian Rivera (Film star and singer), Kris Aquino (talk-show host and sister Ayka (Dir: Sergei Dvortsevoy, 2018) of President Aquino), Coco Martin (actor), and Gary Valenciano (singer). The artwork has aroused controversy. Journalists have attacked the portrayal of all of these rich and fabulous Filipinos as farm workers, who are counted among the poorest people in the Philippines. Michael Beltran, the chair of the artists group, Karatula Kabataang Artista para sa Tunay na Kalayaan, said that “The painting… shows nothing about the submerged reality of the nation’s agricultural workers,” and it failed to reflect “the turmoil that many Filipinos experience in their social and economic lives.” Beltran also pointed to the irony of Kris Aquino dressed as a farm worker when she has interests in October 02, 2019 Hacienda Luisita, the sugar plantation where seven striking farm workers were massacred a decade ago. More from Films & Media But some cultural commentators suggest that the artwork is subversive satire: it mocks the celebrities posed with the Pope. https://notevenpast.org/notes-from-the-field-the-pope-in-manila/[6/15/2020 12:06:43 PM] Notes from the Field: The Pope in Manila - Not Even Past TEXAS Instead of uniting the country under the banner of the cross, the papal visit has exposed the divide between politicians, elites, and the Filipino people. A (Queer) Rebel Wife In Texas Posted January 16, 2015 More 2000s, Art/Architecture, Asia, Blog, Religion, Urban March 11, 2020 More from Texas NOT EVEN PAST is produced by Sign up to receive bi-weekly email updates 19th century 20th Century The Department of History African American History american history Asia THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN Asia & Middle East book review Brazil British Empire We are supported by the College of Liberal Arts China Civil War Cold War Colonialism communism And our READERS cultural history digital history Early Modern Europe Europe film gender history History of Science DONATE immigration India Islam Latin America Latin American History Mexico Not Even Past Public History race religion Russia slavery Texas CONTACT Texas History Texas History Day Transnational Twentieth Century History United States US History USSR Womens History All content © 2010-present NOT EVEN PAST and the authors, unless otherwise noted world history World War II BOOKS FILMS & MEDIA THE PUBLIC HISTORIAN BLOG TEXAS https://notevenpast.org/notes-from-the-field-the-pope-in-manila/[6/15/2020 12:06:43 PM].