Aside from street rallies, social media posts and formal debates and over drinks with friends, the disagreement over Marcos’ burial issue also took in the form of an ‘art war’.

While the rest of the country were paying attention to the crowds growing at Luneta Park to protest against the ‘sneaky’ burial of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos on Friday night, Cebuano artists took the streets and graffitied a #MarcosNotAHero mural on a wall along Escario Street.

However, a few hours later, their street art was marred by pro-Marcos vandals.

Numerous photos of the street art war circulated online early Saturdy morning, and gained wide attention and reaction especially from militant groups.

Fifteen artists gathered on Friday night around a wall right behind a bakeshop situated on the corner of Gorordo Avenue and Escario Street, and painted a close-up face of Marcos with the word DIKTADOR written, in all caps and in red, beside it.

The initiative was spearheaded by ANDRES-Sugbu, a group of artists in Cebu who use all artistic forms of expression to advocate their causes and socio-political beliefs.

Niño Olayvar, chairperson of Anakbayan Cebu and one of the 15 painters who participated, told Cebu Daily News in a text message that they were disappointed to see pro-Marcos statements scrawled over their mural.

“We are disappointed for people who did those did not even care to engage us in a discussion. We were there until 8 p.m. It only shows the quality of Marcos supporters. They cannot do anything, just desperate to destroy the mural,” said Olayvar.

As of the moment, ANDRES-Sugbu has not provided any concrete plans to counter the vandals but said they will continue their street art advocacies in other parts and graffiti walls in Cebu City.

“We will also be circulating more posters (on #MarcosNotAHero) around the the city as soon as possible,” said Olayvar.