Antipas Delotavo

BTS with social realist painter Antipas Delotavo. With over 50 years of painting, Delotavo has become a leading figure in social realist art. We explored the stories behind his powerful works, including his famous "Itak sa Puso ni Mang Juan" (1978), known for its critique of corporate exploitation — featuring a Filipino man with the Coca-Cola logo in the background, where the "C" is shaped like a dagger. His art captures the struggles of laborers and the urban poor, with a special focus on Marcos-era construction workers. Before his rise in the art world, Delotavo had a deep interest in film, working with directors like Mike de Leon and designing the iconic poster for Sister Stella L, which he shared with us. This is part of our ongoing work for As We May See—an upcoming documentary by Paul Alexander Morales, co-produced with Digibox Audio Visual Productions.

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Postscript
I'm saddened to share that Antipas Delotavo passed away last December 2. It was an honor to meet him last October—our conversation before the interview, while setting up the cameras and lights in his studio, was truly inspiring. His legacy as one of our most important social realist painters will live on. Grateful to have crossed paths with him.