Carlos Celdran facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Carlos Celdran
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Carlos Celdran in 2010
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| Born |
John Charles Edward Pamintuan Celdran
November 10, 1972 Manila, Philippines
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| Died | October 8, 2019 (aged 46) Madrid, Spain
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| Nationality | Filipino |
| Education | Bachelor of Arts |
| Alma mater | University of the Philippines Diliman Rhode Island School of Design |
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| Spouse(s) | Tesa Celdran |
John Charles Edward "Carlos" Pamintuan Celdran (born November 10, 1972 – died October 8, 2019) was a Filipino artist, tour guide, and cultural activist. He was well-known for his unique tours, especially "Walk This Way". This tour explored historic places in Manila like Intramuros, Binondo, and Quiapo. During his tours, Carlos would use music, visuals, and history lessons to show people what life was like during the times when the Philippines was ruled by Spain and America.
He also became famous for a protest he made inside the Manila Cathedral in September 2010. This protest, often called his "Damaso stunt", led to his arrest because it was seen as "offending religious feelings". In 2019, because of this, Carlos Celdran chose to live in Madrid, Spain. He passed away there on October 8, 2019, from a heart attack.
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Who Was Carlos Celdran?
Carlos Celdran was born John Charles Edward Pamintuan Celdran. He grew up in Makati, a city in the Philippines. He was raised as a Roman Catholic and was taught by priests when he was a boy.
Early Life and Education
Carlos finished high school at Colegio San Agustin – Makati. He then studied at the University of the Philippines Diliman, where he earned a degree in fine arts. Later, he went to the Rhode Island School of Design in the United States. There, he studied performance art, which is a type of art where the artist uses their own body and actions as the artwork. He graduated with honors in the 1990s. While studying, he worked many different jobs, from selling cheese to helping with dance performances.
His Creative Career
Carlos Celdran started his career as a cartoonist when he was just 14 years old. He worked for a famous cartoonist named Nonoy Marcelo. Carlos would hand-deliver Marcelo's drawings to newspapers like Business Day and Manila Chronicle. He joined the Samahang Kartunista ng Pilipinas, which is a group for Filipino cartoonists, and was their youngest member. He stopped being a cartoonist when he moved to the United States for college.
From Cartoonist to Tour Guide
When Carlos returned to the Philippines, he became a tour guide. His most famous tour, called If These Walls Could Talk, ran for 17 years. During this tour, which explored the old walled city of Intramuros in Manila, Carlos would sing, dance, and tell stories about the history of the place. He often wore costumes to make the experience more lively and fun.
Famous Tours and Shows
Carlos Celdran also created a one-man show called Livin' La Vida Imelda. This show was all about the fancy life of Imelda Marcos. She was the wife of former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, who was a dictator. The show was performed in New York City and other places around the world, like Toronto, Canada; Copenhagen, Denmark; and Penang, Malaysia. After moving to Madrid, Spain, Carlos started another tour called the Jose Rizal Walking Tour of Madrid. This tour took people to places where the Filipino hero José Rizal visited when he studied in Spain. Carlos would explain how Rizal's experiences there were connected to the Philippine Revolution.
Standing Up for What He Believed In
Carlos Celdran was also known for being an activist. This means he actively worked to bring about social or political change.
The "Damaso" Protest
Carlos Celdran made national news when he interrupted a meeting at the Manila Cathedral in September 2010. He did this to protest against the Philippine Catholic Church's strong opinions on a law called the Reproductive Health Bill. This bill was about health and family planning. Carlos wore a costume like José Rizal and held up a sign that said "Damaso" near the altar. He also said, "Stop getting involved in politics!" This protest, known as his "Damaso stunt", led to his arrest. He was arrested for "offending religious feelings", which is a law in the Philippines. In January 2019, because of this, Carlos Celdran decided to live outside the Philippines in Madrid, Spain, where he stayed until he passed away.
A Bill for Freedom of Speech
In October 2019, a lawmaker named Edcel Lagman suggested a new law called House Bill No. 5170, also known as the "Carlos Celdran Bill". This bill aims to remove the old law about "offending religious feelings". According to Lagman, this new bill would help protect the right to freedom of speech and expression in the Philippines. These rights are guaranteed in the Philippine Constitution. It would also support the idea of separation of church and state, meaning the government and religious groups should be separate. People also started an online petition to support this new bill.
Protecting Historical Views
Carlos Celdran also spoke out against building the Torre de Manila. He believed this tall building blocked the view behind the Rizal Monument, which is a very important historical landmark.
His Passing
Carlos Celdran passed away from a cardiac arrest (a heart attack) on October 8, 2019, in Madrid, Spain. His wife, Tesa Celdran, confirmed his death.
