Day of protest
President Rodrigo Duterte declared September 21 as a Day of Protest. In one of his speeches, he even encouraged the people to protest about various excesses and injustices. And yes we have so many experiences that we feel being disadvantaged. We want to declare our dissent.
But in retrospect, let us not forget that this day is so significant as this was when the entire country was placed under Martial Law by then president Ferdinand Marcos. And in commemoration of this day, which also coincides with the celebration of the Cebu Press Freedom Week, the University of the Philippines Cebu held an equally compelling activity that relived the memories of the horrible past, dubbed as 1081: Interactive. Retrospective.” last September 19, 2018 at the Multimedia Newsroom of the College of Communication, Art and Design (CCAD).
Activities include: 1081: The Martial Law Experience, a travel back in the time of Martial Law years featuring interviews with survivors. Now in their 50s, 60s or 70s, they have direct experiences of Martial Law. Their memories of their ghastly stories reverberate in the minds and hearts of their children and grandchildren as if such impact would be revived once a semblance of the past is in their midst.
Striking to me was the interview of my colleague Professor Phoebe Zoe Sanchez who describes the Martial Law in one word, as “killing”. At an early age, she experienced military brutality, being kidnapped, and tortured. It was truly traumatic on her part.
It is my fervent hope that this can be viewed in the future by other young individuals who have not experienced nor have profound knowledge and understanding of that part of our history as a people and as a nation.
I am so proud of the performance of the UP Students’ Theater Arts Guild for Education (UPSTAGE) which touched and brought tears to the participants because they felt how the victims during the Marcos regime were tortured, brutalized and killed. The victims have been stripped off with their dignity as human beings.
There was also the screening of the movie Dekada ’70, based on the novel of Lualhati Bautista and directed by Chito Roño. Top billed by Vilma Santos and Christopher de Leon, the film is an intimate look at the middle-class family’s struggle to survive the era of dictatorship.
In the late afternoon, there was a forum by retired judge Meinrado Paredes and Fred Naga where they shared their experiences during the dark era.
In the evening, there was poetry reading with Tinta and Andres Performance Art of Prof. Raymund Fernandez and XO.
Kudos to the communication program of CCAD headed by Dr. Rose Arong, Prof. Jiji Borlasa and Prof. Januar Yap for the meaningful and interactive event.
We protest over many injustices and excesses. We protest for those in authority who use their power not to serve but to abuse. We protest for the agencies and institutions whose unique thrusts and mandates have not been fulfilled. And personally, I protest for the blatant historical revisionism orchestrated by those who want to influence and create distorted psyche of our present generation.
And so for Prof. Sanchez and the rest of the victims of Proclamation 1081, the mantra is: “Never Forget, Never Again!”
- Latest
