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Thursday, December 22, 2005
Ledesma: Much ado about David's kwan
By Jun Ledesma
Sunbursts
I HAVEN’T seen the much ballyhooed statue of David, which some of our prudish legislators find offensive, nevertheless I think we are wasting a lot of time wrangling about what to do with that statue in front of a motel which parades as a bayside resort hotel.
I think that we are so focused on the undersized genitalia of David's statue forgetting that there are more steaming concerns that's taking place inside Queens Land Motel. I don't know whether this inanimate object of awe and hate that stands erect near the murky bay deserves that unrelenting scorn for our puritan lawmakers. It must really be lifelike because months after it materialized in the polluted Times Beach and the peso which had breached P56 to the dollar and now almost P53, we are still talking about it.
In Florence, Italy the great masterpiece of Michelangelo was placed in the main square of the town. If Florence were Davao City, the statue would find itself in front of City Hall. The Italians value and appreciate David's marble statue as a symbol of strength and wrath like they do with Hercules. In Davao we consider it immoral.
Tourists from all over the world, Pinoys and Davaonons included, marvel and are spellbound by this superb work of art. For us hoi polloi who cannot afford to travel to Florence even when the peso has appreciated, that David's statue by the motel might suffice. Problem is, Queensland is off the jeepney route and you stand the risk of earning the ire of your wife...or your husband...if you are seen or reported within the motel's vicinity.
It used to be that mini skirts, which even graduated to micro minis were abhorred and detested by the prude. After awhile, nobody bothered to look at the scantily veiled mystery. What I am saying is, if David's statue in Queens Land is transferred to Rizal Park for everyone to see, I am certain that it can evoke a kind of wonderment. If prigs amongst us still find it vulgar we can ask the sculptor who did Davao's David to add the head of Goliath, which he can hang in front of his groin, enough to cover that which some motel goers finds offensive.
In Florence, this year, the museum curator told the authorities of the town that the statue needs cleaning, a process that is quite delicate and expensive. Once the word was out, art loverd from all over the world sent their donations. In less than 24 hours, 200,000 euro-dollars poured in to help preserve the masterpiece.
Of course, our David is not much of a work of art as it is a suggestive prelude to having a tryst in Queens L but at the rate we are putting so much importance to it, we might be able to raise funds for the street children if we transfer that controversial statue at Rizal Park, have it enclosed and charge the public P5 for the change to have a peek at David's asset.
If the Sanggunian will sponsor the fund raising activity, I'm certain it will make money. Some newspaper publications will give free space for an ad and DXAB's top-rated rib-tickler Estong Caballes, I am certain, will make the public more "curious and curious" each day.
The only perceived problem is the possible opposition from the church, most specially San Pedro Cathedral. But if on the base of the statue is etched upon a bronze plate some phrase that would symbolize the triumph of strength, faith and conquest of good versus evil, I think that would appease the religious.
But then we should add the severed head of Goliath not only to cover the groin of David but also to make the biblical message clear that no temptation is strong enough for faith that is built on trust...or...am I muddling the issue?
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (December 22, 2005 issue)
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