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Imelda appalled by ‘blasphemous’ CCP exhibit


Former First Lady and incumbent Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos visited the controversial art exhibit at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CPP) on Monday and was appalled by what she saw. “This was not at all right. This was ugly as it was only a desecration of a sacred symbol," she said during the day’s plenary session at the House of Representatives. She said she asked CCP officials to withdraw the controversial art exhibit called “Kulo" and that the officials agreed to do so. GMA News Online, however, could not independently confirm this from CCP officials as of posting time. One work featured in the exhibit shows an image of Jesus Christ with a wooden replica of the male genital protruding toward its face. A rosary was draped on the male genital replica. Another was a crucifix and cross draped with a pink, stretched-out condom. The CCP was built during the administration of Marcos’ husband, the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, to promote and preserve Filipino arts and culture. Mrs. Marcos made these remarks after Manila Rep. Amado Bagatsing delivered a privilege speech criticizing the exhibit. “I don’t know what’s taking the CCP officials so long in keeping this horrendous, unthinkable [exhibit]," he said. “[They should] stop this." Bagatsing also demanded the resignation of the officials behind the controversial exhibit. At the Senate, Majority Floor Leader Vicente Sotto III threatened to cut the CCP’s budget should its officials fail to explain why they allowed the display of the “profane" exhibit. “Kung ganito lang rin naman (If it will be like this), as majority floor leader I will make sure that the CCP will cease to exist in the General Appropriations Act," he said during Monday's Senate plenary session. He said that he hopes to hear an explanation from the CCP when the Senate tackles its budget for 2012. "Can you do this image to Mohammad? Can this be done to the image of Buddha? Neither should it be done to the image of Jesus," he said. Last week, Roman Catholic groups threatened to file obscenity and indecency charges against the people behind the supposedly “blasphemous" exhibit. The CCP, for its part, admitted that artistic and religious freedom are in “collision" due to the exhibit, which was defaced by still unidentified vandals last Thursday. - with Kimberly Jane Tan/KBK, GMA News

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