Mag-Ama
signed and dated 2013 (lower left)
oil on wood
28" x 8" (71 cm x 20 cm)




An offshoot of Emmanuel Garibay's well-known work, Manangmana ng Tagapagmana, which is also included in this auction, is this smaller but equally powerful piece aptly titled Mag-Ama. Here, Garibay presents the same social commentary regarding the Philippines’ cacique democracy, in which political dynasties dominate our country’s system of governance. Garibay depicts two barong-clad men, with their faces also uncannily similar. Together with their similar hand gestures and the dog being held by the son, Garibay alludes to the political grooming prevalent in our country’s political dynasties. Their seemingly “well-groomed” appearance in juxtaposition with their empty facial expressions represent how a culture of lies, fabrication, and historical distortion has become a “natural” occurrence in our political system, especially within the context of our current times. (A.M.)