The Political Ideologies of Tarantadong Kalbo’s Artworks on the Flood Control Issue in the Philippines: A Hermeneutical Analysis Using Slomp and Demeterio’s Modified Ideological Spectrum

Proponent/s Name/s (Last Name, First Name, Middle Initial)

• Rian M. Arilla, De La Salle University, ManilaFollow
• Eliza A. Chua, De La Salle University, ManilaFollow
• Margaret U. Wang, De La Salle University, ManilaFollow

Document Types

Paper Presentation

Research Theme (for Paper Presentation and Poster Presentation submissions only)

Media and Philippine Studies (MPS)

School Name

De La Salle University Senior High School (Manila Campus)

Track or Strand

Humanities and Social Science (HUMSS)

Research Advisor (Last Name, First Name, Middle Initial)

Gopez, Christian P.

Start Date

23-6-2026 1:30 PM

End Date

23-6-2026 3:00 PM

Zoom Link/ Room Assignment

DLSU Manila Campus (In-person) - Don Enrique T. Yuchengco Hall - Y502

Abstract/Executive Summary

As flood control management issues and ghost projects surface in the Philippines today, it is crucial to discuss the country's current political situation in a different medium, specifically, through digital art media. This study utilizes Slomp and Demeterio's Modified Ideological Spectrum (2012) as a framework to examine both the ideological orientations and tendencies manifested in Tarantadong Kalbo's artwork on the flood control issue in the Philippines. The artworks were collected from Tarantadong Kalbo's official social media accounts, mainly on Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter). Through a Hermeneutical lens, the artworks are dissected by the notable visual icons or symbols present. The text indicated in some of the artworks were also used to provide a more in-depth context of what Tarantadong Kalbo is trying to convey in the artwork. This study further contributes insights to future scholarly works through how the artists’ satirical artworks shape the public’s perception of ongoing controversies, while also using an ideological framework to identify dominant political orientations, influencing the audience interpretation within the Philippine digital media. This analysis reveals that among the twenty-two artworks posted from 22 July 2025 to 2 October 2025, the most prominent ideological orientation is Moderate, accounting to 9 Political Artworks, while its most notable ideological tendency is Liberal Libertarian, comprising 7 Political Artworks. The highlighted artworks under the Moderate ideology focuses on striking a balance between reform and maintaining the prevailing system. While under the Liberal Libertarian ideology, they focus on calculated civic movements, calling out the individuals involved in the said controversy. These findings suggest that political art serves as a platform for civic engagement, reflecting both critical discourse and measured political positioning, and contributing to a deeper understanding of how artists engage with and shape public discourses about governance and accountability.

Keywords

artwork; flood control; ideological spectrum; political cartoons; Tarantadong Kalbo

Initial Consent for Publication

no

Statement of Originality

yes