“Politikal ang Komiks – PakDem!” (Comics are political) is a project to raise awareness of freedom of expression and human rights through press cartoons, as part of the 2024 edition of the Active Vista Human Rights Festival. The project takes place in two Philippine cities, Manila and Cebu, from 28 September to 5 October 2024.
The Active Vista Human Rights Festival is an annual event that takes place during the week of the commemoration of the Martial Law Anniversary in the Philippines, and serves as a platform for Human Rights education and advocacy through cinema, the arts, and media. The festival is dedicated to empowering audiences, particularly the youth, to engage in meaningful dialogues and actions towards social justice and Human Rights. This 12th edition of the festival takes place from 19 September to 6 October 2024, mainly in Manila and simultaneously in seven other regional areas of the Philippines where satellite festivals are being held.
More precisely, the aim of the “Politikal ang Komiks” (Comics are political) project is to raise awareness of freedom of expression, freedom of the press and human rights through press cartoons, and to provide a space for comic artists, illustrators, comics enthusiasts, journalists, and simply individuals to gather, share their works, and talk about cartooning as a platform for human rights advocacies. The project includes a range of activities, including an exhibition of press cartoons, live cartooning, two round table discussions and a workshop with cartoonists from around the world.
The exhibition is presented in Manila from 28 September to 5 October at the Comuna community centre, and in Cebu from 1 October to 30 October at the University of the Philippines-Cebu. Comprising press cartoons selected by Cartooning for Peace and Filipino cartoonist Zach, it gathers 31 cartoons from around the world dealing with press freedom, freedom of expression and disinformation.
Ms Mélanie Mars, Political and Media Counsellor at the French Embassy, attended the opening of the exhibition in Manila and the opening of the exhibition in Cebu.
Ms Princess Erl Pacaldo, Communication & events coordinator of the Alliance française de Cebu, attended the opening of the exhibition in Cebu.
The round table, organised in partnership with Rappler, is held in Manila on 29 September at the headquarters of this independent media outlet co-founded by journalist Maria Ressa, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021:
Access to information and press freedom are fundamental human rights inextricably linked to human development. Unfortunately, in the Philippines, press freedom is often undervalued, eclipsed by the immediate demands of basic needs like food and shelter. This prevailing perspective underscores a critical gap in understanding the indispensable role of a free press in addressing these very same challenges.
To foster a society grounded in truth and accountability, we must revitalize trust in the media and cultivate critical thinking. As short-form content dominates the digital landscape, cartoons emerge as a powerful tool to inform, raise awareness, and challenge inequalities and corruption.
With the participation of:
Moderation: Pia Ranada, journalist at Rappler
Ms Marie Fontanel, French Ambassador, attended the round-table discussion and gave opening remarks.
The round table is held in Cebu on 30 September at the Southwestern University PHINMA.
Access to information and press freedom are fundamental human rights inextricably linked to human development. In the context of Cebu’s socio-political scene, access to information and press freedom have signifi cant implications, especially given the region’s unique socio-political landscape. Cebu, as one of the economic and political hubs in the Philippines. This prevailing perspective underscores a critical gap in understanding the indispensable role of a free press in addressing these very same challenges. To foster a society grounded in truth and accountability, we must revitalize trust in the media and cultivate critical thinking. As short-form content dominates the digital landscape, cartoons emerge as a powerful tool to inform, raise awareness, and challenge inequalities and corruption.
With the participation of:
Moderation: John Sitchon, journalist at Rappler
The workshop takes place at the University of the Philippines in Cebu on 1 October, with international and Filipino cartoonists. It will be an opportunity for participants to learn about cartooning and the form as a political expression.
In today’s fast-paced world, visual communication has become increasingly important. Editorial cartoons, with their ability to convey complex ideas through simple images, offer a unique and powerful way to engage audiences. However, compared to other forms of journalism, editorial cartooning is often undervalued and has received less scholarly attention. This program recognizes the significance of editorial cartooning as a tool for social commentary, advocacy, and journalism. It also brings a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness the editorial cartoon workshops from renowned cartoonists from other parts of the world.
