The Philippine Online Chronicles

Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Visual Arts Director Karen Flores stepped down from her post amidst calls from lawmakers and groups for the CCP board's resignation for approving the controversial “Kulo” exhibit.

Flores reportedly gave the go-ahead for the exhibit by artists from the University of Santo Tomas which garnered the outrage of Catholic bishops, religious groups, and some politicians.

The visual arts head, the grand daughter of the late National Artist for Visual Arts Hernando “HR” Ocampo, announced her resignation in a forum at the University of the Philippines.

"It was really too much for me," Flores said at the forum, a day after the CCP decided to shut down the exhibit as a “preventive security measure.”

"Baka may magtanong, 'nagbitiw ka ba kasi magkakaroon na ng Senate inquiry?' Hindi po, puwede pa rin akong ihabla, go ahead," the department head said.

CCP president Raul Sunico confirmed to ABS-CBN that he accepted Flores' resignation, explaining that they did not ask her to resign but she decided to do it “for her own reasons.”

Sunico also insisted that, "Wala naman akong nalalaman na kasalanan ko dito, bakit ako magre-resign? Pero 'pag natanggal ako, that's another case."

However, Malacanang Palace opposed the idea of giving sanctions to artist Mideo Cruz who is behind the installation “Poleteismo” which sparked controversy for featuring religious images with pop culture and sexual symbols.

“It is his right to express himself and if we’re going to sanction him, as far as the government is concerned, it might amount to censorship. That’s something that we are not prepared to do," said Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda.

“I think what the President said is very clear. He’s not after censorship but it’s also to remind the CCP board that this is not just art for art’s sake. You have to also remember that you’re using taxpayers’ money for this exhibit,” he said.

Meanwhile, CCP board of trustees head Emily Abrera pointed out that the uproar over the exhibit only started after a story on the exhibit was aired by a major television network.

“They came and documented certain portions of the installation. It’s not even the full artwork. There seems to be no problem with it because people had been visiting the gallery even before that. After it was televised, people just went hysterical and started calling for our resignation,” she explained.