MANILA (UPDATED) — Five national artists on Monday expressed their support for the presidential candidacy of Vice President Leni Robredo, who vowed to support the arts, culture, and history, which she said have an impact on the daily lives of Filipinos.

The national artists who backed Robredo's bid for the presidency included painter Benedicto Cabrera better known as "BenCab", Ballet Philippines founder Alice Reyes, composer and conductor Ryan Cayabyab, musicologist Ramon Santos, and poet and literary critic Virgilio Almario.

Almario said out of leading presidential contenders, Robredo was the only one so far who responded to the Katipunan-inspired "kartilya" or guiding principles that a group of cultural workers, historians, artists, and writers drafted.

This kartilya called for research support to correct perceptions on history, championing the national language for government and educational use, protecting free expression and the right to dissent, and developing the creative industry and Filipino products, among others, Almario said.

He said no leader or political party since 1946 had presented any cultural platform, even though, "Kapag isiping mabuti ang talamak na korapsyon at ibang malalaking problema, lahat ng mga problema sa ating paligid ay kultural."

"Kulang tayo sa pag-ibig sa bayan, bulok ang ating social values, hindi natin alam ang ating kasaysayan, at kaya kulang na kulang tayo sa dangal ng isang mamamayang Pilipino," he continued.

(If you think about it, widespread corruption and all other problems are cultural. We lack in love for country, our social values are rotten, we do not know our history, and this is why we fall short on honor as a Filipino nation.)

Robredo committed to start dialogues on how her administration could incorporate the "kartilya" in its programs.

"Napakabigat nung kartilya na binasa kanina kasi doon natin mari-realize na iyong kultura, iyong sining, iyong kasaysayan, malaking-malaking bahagi ng pang-araw-araw na buhay ng bawat Pilipino na kinalimutan na natin," she said.

"At eto, ‘yong 2022 elections, binibigyan tayo ng pagkakataon na balikan kung sino tayo bilang Pilipino, na balikan kung ano ‘yong mga pinapaniwalaan natin bilang Pilipino.

(The kartilya read a while ago is heavy because it makes us realize that culture, the arts, and history play a huge part in the daily lives of every Filipino, which we have forgotten. And these 2022 elections, we are being given a chance to revisit who we are as Filipinos, to revisit what we believe in as Filipinos.)

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She thanked the 5 national artists "for going out of your comfort zones para ipahayag ‘yong suporta, hindi lang sa kandidato, pero ipahayag iyong kahandaan na lumaban para sa bayan (not just to express support for a candidate, but to express your readiness to fight for the country."

“’Yong mga taong kasama natin ngayong hapon, ito ‘yong mga taong makakatulong para ipaalala sa atin, ipaalala sa atin ‘yong lahat na values na malapit sa ating puso," she said.

(The people with us this afternoon can help remind us the values close to our hearts.)

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WHAT THE ARTISTS SAID

BenCab endorsed Robredo as honest, incorruptible, dignified, hardworking, and someone who "knows what she’s doing."

“She’s everything the current president is not. She’s the only hope of our country,” he said.

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Santos meanwhile shared how an international rondalla festival started in Naga City with the support of Robredo’s late husband, who was its longtime mayor. The national artist for music said it was “an honor” to back the Vice President.

“Talagang kailangan nating mapapanalunin ang ating Vice President sapagkat hindi ko malaman tayo kung papaano tayo, nako talaga, hindi ko malaman kung ‘yong isa ang lumabas, ewan ko,” he said, without naming any of Robredo's rivals.

(We need to help our Vice President win because I do not know what will happen to us if the other one does.)

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Reyes said the Philippines has had "enough of politicians who only think of themselves, who only want to stay in power."

"Let us keep our focus on what happened 6 years ago, when Leni Robredo became Vice President against all odds. And she served quietly, brilliantly, without any fanfare against all odds," she said.

Cayabyab added, "Si Leni ang presidente ko kasi siya lang ang nakikita kong makakakumpas sa direksyon na makakaangat sa ating mga Pilipino."

(Leni is my president because she is the only I see who could lead the way that could uplift us.)

He said she served without artifice and was brave, without being a "bully."

"If I could see a Leni as president, what a joy. Then finally, our tired and hungry land could expect some truth, and some hope, and some respect from the rest of the world—and most of all, mga kaibigan (friends), from each other, as Filipinos," he said.

The artists also gave Robredo a book containing "100 Pink Poems Para Kay Leni" (100 Pink Poems for Leni).

The event coincided with the celebration of National Arts Month.

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— With a report from Robert Mano, ABS-CBN News

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