Press Release
Canberra, 11 September 2009

Special Forum by Prominent Filipino Artist Mr. Emmanuel R. Garibay

The Philippine Embassy, in cooperation with the Australian National University (ANU), organized a special forum/lecture by prominent Filipino artist Mr. Emmanel R. Garibay which was held today, 11 September 2009, at the ANU School of Art.

Ambassador Ernesto H. De Leon headed the audience of twenty-five (25) people, mostly Australian academicians and students from the School of Art, as well as officials from the Philippine Embassy.

The forum was organized also to be in line with the celebration of the International Day of Democracy on 15 September 2009.

"Art and democracy compliment and sustain each other," was Mr. Garibay's opening statement. "Artists can better express themselves, if their hands and ideas are not tethered. In like manner, democracy is strengthened by freedom of expression", he continued.

As a testament to the strength of democracy in the Philippines, the works of Mr. Garibay openly depict his ideas on government, religion, society and the everyday lives of Filipinos.

Ambassador De Leon supports the idea that criticism of the Philippine Government, portrayed in any form, keeps officials on their toes and inevitably guide them to do what is proper.

The Forum started at 1:00 pm and concluded at 2:30 pm.

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