Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Roman posters vs. tubero signages

Last July, I had to go to Madrid to do an event for Filipino immigrants in Spain. Since the date was near my birthday, and upon the urging of my bosses, I collected all my savings and took the opportunity to visit Rome, the eternal city, one of the ancient cities I read about and marveled at when I was still a kid. And while in Rome, I took the time to walk around my inn's neighborhood to observe the locals. As in Madrid, it was frightening for me to roam around since I felt foreign (compared to when I was in Vietnam, Singapore and Hong Kong where everywhere I went, I felt safe in looking like a local). But still, I went through the side streets and back alleys of Rome and saw the vibrant young economy under the marbles of the centuries old city. These newsprint posters for example. They were just pasted on apartment walls near community convenience stores. Wish we could do this in Manila too but the hypocritical society of the Philippines would not allow it.

We allow "Tubero for hire" signages practically anywhere from lamp posts to street signs but other commercial and legitimate posters wouldn't be allowed. A permit will have to be secured. I wonder if those tuberos pay for permits. And I wouldn't be surprised to find out that your tubero is actually the Barangay Tanod's brother. Oh well oh well. :)

And oh, graffiti. I think some communities in Europe actually welcome graffitis as they brighten up otherwise bland sheets of metal or dirty cement walls. Some graffiti add character and texture to the community. And those who did graffiti were still KINDA respectful for the need of other signages to exist like "no entry" and "no parking" signs. Here in Manila, people deface civic-oriented signages. Graffiti, as it was before, is still a tool for civil disobedience and not a form of self-expression as how it is becoming to be in other parts of the world, except for some bright spots in Visayas in Mindanao. I'll post next time cool graffiti in the streets of Bacolod and in some back alleys of Manila where graffiti becomes a welcome art more than a visual nuisance.