Ang Babala

William Gaudinez

“Ang Babala”

Acrylic and Paint Sticks on Canvas

36" x 48"

2021

“My work is rooted in the biblical story of the Prophet Daniel where upon the request of the King he is asked about how to interpret the writing on the wall which has mysteriously written by hand. The writing reads Mene Mene, Tekel and Pharsin, which reads Mene: God has measured your sovereignty and put an end to it; Tekel you have been weighed in the balance and found wanting; Parsin: your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and the Persians. I thought of relating this to the present administration who has turned aside God and instead glorified the idols of money, power and death to govern the country, The five people waving their sticks are to me the manunungkit or people [gobernadorcillos and mayors and military generals] who are obsessed with power and wealth [seen here floating in the star constellation] that they can get from engaging in rotten corrupt deals in the government. They forget that pretty soon because of their wickedness, their corrupt rule would soon come to a bitter end."