There are many ways to stand up for what you believe in. One of them is exercising your right to vote.
Following the wave of “tumindig” artwork which flooded social media, artist collective Dakila compiled in a website Filipinos’ different iterations of “fist people” to show how the online trend that started among artists inspired the public to also stand up for their rights.
The challenge, however, does not stop there. Dakila is also calling on the public to follow through on the “tumindig” movement by registering for the 2022 polls.
“Ang nakataas na kamao ay siya ring mga kamay na boboto ng tamang pinuno (The raised fists are the same hands that will vote for the right leaders),” Dakila said in the website.
Launched on Wednesday, July 28, the website features “Tumindig” entries from groups and personalities across the country. It also lists resources on how to register to vote, including a link to the Commission on Election’s website for online accomplishment of forms for voter registration. Individuals may register to vote at their local Comelec offices until September 30.
“Libo-libong Pilipino na ang #Tumindig para sa kapakanan ng ating mga sarili, komunidad, at bayan. Pero hindi dito natatapos ang laban. Mula sa araw-araw na pagpuna sa mali hanggang sa pagboto ng mga kakampi ng karapatang pantao, tuloy-tuloy lang ang ating pakikibaka at pagtindig,” it added.
(Thousands of Filipinos have stood up for our welfare, the welfare of our communities and of our nation. But the fight doesn’t end here. From being vigilant against wrongs to voting leaders who advocate for human rights, we will continue to stand up and dissent.)
The #Tumindig movement started when satirical cartoonist Tarantadong Kalbo posted an artwork on Saturday, July 17, featuring a raised fist standing in the middle of several bowing figures that resemble the iconic Duterte fist bump. Since then, artists have been making their own iterations of Taratandong Kalbo’s “Tumindig” art and including themselves in the original graphic.
The cartoonist then released a blank template of the fist artwork, giving opportunity to people outside the artist community to join in on the movement. So far, over a thousand have symbolically raised their fists through the artwork, as consolidated by Taratadong Kalbo and Dakila.
People may download Dakila’s consolidated mural of “Tumindig” art or send an entry for inclusion via the Tumindig.ph website. – Patricia Kahanap/Rappler.com
Patricia Kahanap is a Rappler intern and a fourth-year journalism student from the University of Santo Tomas. She is also the executive editor of TomasinoWeb.org, their university’s premier digital media organization.