CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — A visual artist known for depicting his perceptions of major national events through performance art took to the streets of Cagayan de Oro on Sunday with a mud-covered portrayal of the political climate leading up to the 2025 midterm elections.

Nicholas ‘Nick’ Aca began his performance at Gaston Park, near San Nicholas Church, where Catholic churchgoers were attending Sunday Mass. He covered himself in mud and walked the streets carrying a ballot box on his shoulders and a large cooking pot with a chain wrapped around his upper body.

In an interview with DAILY TRIBUNE, Aca described his performance as incorporating space, body and time to represent the political situation in the week before Filipinos vote.

Aca said his muddy appearance symbolized the “ulan-ulan” or distribution of money to households for votes, a practice he considers a dirty aspect of politics. He aimed to awaken public perception about what he views as “dirty elections” this 12 May 2025.

He likened dirty politics to a tolerated cancer in society and expressed his need to continue his artistic expressions to heighten Filipinos’ sensitivity to the issue.

“It hurts, as the practice is tolerated. If there is a buyer, there is a seller, and if there is a seller, there is a buyer,” he said in Visayan, referring to vote buying.

Aca titled his performance “Boto Goto,” suggesting that a bought vote is as cheap as “goto” or “lugaw,” a simple rice porridge.

He acknowledged that his performance art is not always understood but emphasized that it is his form of advocacy. He lamented accusations of being paid for his street portrayals, asserting his honesty, particularly on the issue of vote buying.