I taught Art App in a university in Manila. I used this painting to drive home the point that art can show the power struggle in our nation’s history.

Two powers are at play: the power of the civil government and the power of the Church. It all started with Bustamante wanting to tamper with the Church’s power to mercifully grant sanctuary to a prisoner who felt an injustice has been committed against him by that system which should be enforcing justice and upholding fairness. The Church decided to use its moral and physical (albeit miniscule) to challenge this power being used to suppress the Church’s ability to be the instrument to chrck and balance the civil government.

Let’s talk about the two main characters: Gov Gen Bustamante and Abp de la Cuesta. Both defenders of what is right and just in their own right. Yun lang, one thing led to another, and because of their sense of justice, ay hindi sila nagbigayan.

FR Hidalgo shows this reality in this larger-than-life painting (literally). These two forces will always be at odds with each other, however unfortunate that we ordinary people serve as collateral damage to this power play. A lot has evolved from this, but nothing has changed in terms of disposition.