Don’t Be Afraid: Artist Behind ‘Tarantadong Kalbo’ Believes People Should Be Free To Express Themselves

If you’ve been on social media these days, you might have scrolled through your feed a digital drawing of a single “human fist” standing up ­– as a way of showing dissent –  in a crowd of other fists bowing down.

The “fist bump” is, of course, a trademark of President Duterte and his supporters.

“Tumindig (Stand up)” was the caption of the drawing released by satirical page “Tarantadong Kalbo” on July 17. The post soon raked in reactions and shares on Facebook and Twitter. It later became a form of a  movement as other artists, organizations, individuals and many others started to join by putting their own caricatures in Tarantadong Kalbo’s drawing as part of solidarity.

On July 23, the cartoonist behind Tarantadong Kalbo – Kevin Eric Raymundo – shared in an interview with “Wag Po!” on One PH that originally, one of his fellow artists, who also manages his own page called “Kapitan Tambya,” released his own caricature to join the fist that was standing up in Raymundo’s original drawing.

“Nung p-in-ost niya ‘yun sa Twitter, ni-retweet ko lang ‘yun pero wala lang. Sabi ko, ‘Ang ganda nito o, sumali sa akin.’ Tapos ayun na, sunod-sunod na silang mga artists na naglabas ng kanilang mga [drawing] (When he posted that on Twitter, I just retweeted it but it was no big deal. I said, ‘That’s nice, he joined me.’ Then from there, other artists coming out with their drawings),” Raymundo said.

Asked what inspired his drawing, Raymundo admitted it was the country’s current political climate.  He said seeing people even on Twitter seemingly running away from what’s happening was depressing.

“Medyo nakakawalang-gana lang din kasi parang pakiramdam ko mag-isa lang akong lumalaban (It’s a bit disheartening because I feel like I’m the only one fighting),” Raymundo noted.

“Kaya ko ginawa yung artwork na ‘yun [kasi] ine-express ko lang ‘yung sarili ko (I did that artwork because that was my way of expressing myself),” he said, adding he was frustrated with the country’s situation.

Simple style

Now 35, Raymundo’s love for animation goes back to his college days though he said in previous interviews that he started drawing as early as five years old.

An undergraduate of the Asian College of Science and Technology in Quezon City, the artist said that he was not able to finish his studies due to financial constraints.

“After nu’n, may opening na training for animation, tapos after that tuloy-tuloy na trabaho ko (After that, I saw there was an opening for animation then it all continued from there),” Raymundo said.

Aside from handling the “Tarantadong Kalbo” page, Raymundo is also a freelance animator. He said he looks up to his fellow cartoonists such as Manix Abrera of “Kiko Machine” fame, Toto Madayag, Mervin Malonzo and Pol Medina.

Raymundo disclosed that his main inspiration for his Tarantadong Kalbo drawings is illustrations of the band Gorillaz, as well as drawings of classic Filipino comics. “Kaya ‘yung drawings ko sobrang simple lang. Gusto ko dun i-evoke dun sa comics ko na [Pinoy style] (That’s why my drawings are so simple. I want to evoke in my drawings that these are Pinoy-style,)” he said.

Tarantadong Kalbo represents himself and his drawings, based on his earlier interviews. Tarantado is Filipino for jerk, which is how his friends describe his drawing, while kalbo is Filipino for bald, which is himself. His Facebook page was created in 2019.

Before setting up his page, Raymundo first had to decide on the style he would use for his artworks.

“Pinag-aralan ko kung ano ‘yung style na gusto kong gawin. That way, may recall talaga sa mga tao, ‘Ah, kay [Tarantadong Kalbo] ito. Kumbaga hindi nagbabago ‘yung style. Kahit minsan kating-kati na ako na baguhin kasi ‘di ba sobrang simple lang ng drawing ko (I studied the style I wanted to go with. That way, people would recall and say, ‘Ah, this is really by [Tarantadong Kalbo]. The style is consistent so to speak. Although sometimes I’m itching to change it because the drawings are so simple),” he said.

“Mahirap ‘pag sobrang simple, lalo na ‘pag caricature na kailangan makuha mo ‘yung itsura nung tao (But drawing a simple artwork is hard, especially when it comes to caricature because you need to get the features of the person),” he added.

Raymundo’s “Tumindig” drawing is one of the many politically inspired artworks he had done. Some of his works in the Tarantadong Kalbo page mirror issues in Philippine politics and would even feature some familiar faces such as Duterte, presidential spokesman Harry Roque and Vice President Leni Robredo, among others.

How long does it take for him to work on a political drawing? It depends, according to Raymundo.

“Depende kung gaano ka-strong ‘yung topic. Minsan, mabilis lang parang isang oras lang tapos post na agad. Minsan mahirap siyang hanapan ng punchline (It depends on how strong the topic is. Sometimes I can do it in one hour then I post it right away. There are other times where I would have a hard time to find a good punchline),” he explained.

And before publishing it, he would first check with his wife if there are any issues with his work. “Pinapa-double check ko sa kanya kung masyado bang... am I crossing the line? (I would check with her to see if I’m already crossing the line),” he said.

Raymundo conceded that he also restrains himself when it comes to his drawings and avoids sexist jokes and making fun of someone’s physical appearance.

Dealing with trolls

As some of Raymundo’s drawings touch politics, he became a target of online trolls.

How does he deal with it? “Nu’ng una, medyo nakaka-bother ‘yung sinasabi nila pero pinaghandaan ko rin... [sinasabi ko] na, ‘Hindi, bayad naman itong mga ‘to (At first, I was bothered by it but I also prepared myself for it. I would tell myself, “These trolls are paid.”)

At times, Raymundo said he would also receive death threats. “Halos araw-araw ‘yon. Hindi ko na tinitignan ‘yung messages ko eh, fini-filter ko na lang kasi ano ‘yun eh, kapag malaki ka ng page, ganon talaga eh (I receive those almost every day. I don’t read my messages, I would just filter them. When your page gets huge, that’s what comes with it),” he added.

“Tinanggap ko na na ganito ‘yung pinasok ko so hindi ako nagpapaapekto sa mga ganon. Bahala kayo diyan (I already accepted that this is what I’ve gotten myself into. They should deal with it),” he added.

But the artist admitted that at one point, he considered giving up the Tarantadong Kalbo page because of the hate he had received.

“Na-caught off guard lang ako dun sa mga trolls na umaatake kasi minsan umaatake sila sa post na wala namang pinapatamaan. Minsan hindi ako handa. Natuto na rin ako na kahit anong i-post ko, ready ka to handle kung ano ‘yung sabihin ng mga trolls (I was caught off guard as the trolls attacked a post that wasn’t alluding to something. Sometimes I’m not prepared. But I learned that whenever I post something, I need to be ready on how to handle what the trolls would say),” Raymundo said.

Despite the trolling, Raymundo seemed unfazed with the bashing. He also advised other artists not to be afraid about what they create.

“Huwag kayo matakot. Kung pakiramdam niyo na kailangan niyong magsalita, huwag niyo nang intindihin ‘yung mga trolls, hanggang dun lang sila,” he advised. “Sabihin niyo lang kung ano yung nararamdaman niyo (Don’t be afraid. If you feel like you need to speak up, don’t mind the trolls, they can only do that online. Just say what you want to say),” he stressed.

Overwhelmed

On Sunday, July 25, Raymundo said he was overwhelmed with the many versions of his artwork that surfaced online.

But as the post “exploded” as people put elements of their identity to the art piece to make it more personal, Raymundo bared that he also feels a bit nervous.

“Overwhelming eh, actually medyo nakakakaba kasi ito iyong pinaka-sumabog na post ko eh. Ang daming sumali talaga, halos lahat. Saka iba’t ibang personalities ang sumali kaya nakakagulat,” Raymundo said in an interview with BISEbisyong LENI over dzXL.

He said his Tarantadong Kalbo page was his journal and that the “Tumindig” artwork was also borne out of lack of unified action from various organizations to resist the bad things that are going on in the country.

Raymundo disclosed that he already asked the help of Dakila, a group of artists and individuals advocating social consciousness formation and involvement among the public, to collect these artworks made by the supporters of the movement and combine them in one image.

He said they are having a hard time collating these entries as they have been receiving numerous submissions from the people who want to join the #Tumindig movement.

Raymundo expressed belief that many people were able relate to his artwork as they are also tired of the way the government is handling the pandemic, among other sentiments.

“Siguro kasi…katulad ko rin sila na pagod na rin sila, eh, kasi 'di ba iyong the way the government is handling the pandemic, palpak eh,” he said.

“Iyong frustrations ng mga tao kapareho ko sila. Parang I am just an ordinary citizen na gano’n iyong nararamdaman kaya siguro ang daming naka-relate doon sa pagtindig,” he added.

Raymundo said his viral artwork is also a way for him to resist his fear of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), which was passed last year, as this might be used against those who speak up against the government.

Critics of the ATA pointed out that there are alarming provisions in the legislation that may be used to go after those who are critical to the government.

“Kasi lalo na ngayon with the Anti-Terror Law ‘di ba parang nakakatakot magsalita eh kasi may threat…baka pwede kang pumunta na lang iyong pulis sa bahay mo eh, dakpin ka. So in a way, iyon din iyong ano ko, to resist, iyong takot ko,” he said.

What’s next? Raymundo said he only wants to encourage the people to register and vote in the upcoming elections. “Bumoto nang tama ngayon. Kailangan na natin ibahin iyong pamamalakad ng gobyerno natin.”

Read more: Politikal Ang Komiks! Artists Behind Entertaining Cartoons Want To Engage People On Social Issues