Newest mural in Iloilo City pays tribute to COVID frontliners The latest addition to the thriving public art scene in Iloilo City is a mural dedicated to Ilonggo frontliners in the battle against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
The new mural at the corner of Ledesma and Jalandoni Streets in City Proper district pays tribute to modern-day heroes of the city.
According to Rock Drilon, an Ilonggo artist and advocate of public art in the metro, the new mural will feature 14 faces of frontliners from various fields.
“They will be painting for 14 frontliners from nurses, doctors, army, and we also included Mayor Jerry Treñas who is our number one frontliner in the city. This is our tribute to the frontliners,” Drilon said in a phone interview on Wednesday.
Drilon said he facilitated the help of art group ABAY composed of Ronnyl Bulahan, Riche Apruebo, Carren Evangelista, Kinno Florentino, Andreil Gequillo, and Mating Namo.
The group is eyeing to finish the mural by late September. Once finished, the mural will be the 29th of its kind in the city. Ilonggo artists have also been actively involved in the fight of the city against COVID-19. Recently, Ilonggo artists raised more than P1.7 million to help fund the production of 200,000 cloth face masks for city residents. Even before the pandemic, Iloilo City government has partnered with local artists in promoting public art through a number of murals painted along the city. The murals which ranged in sizes, depicted history, culture, and the lifestyle of Ilonggos.
