September 23, 2020 – the Ateneo Publicity and Communications Organization alongside the ASHS Sanggunian prepared a special episode of Seniors on Air (SOAR) entitled “Sa mga Pulang Bakas: May paghihilom, May babala” to commemorate the 48th anniversary since Martial Law was declared in Marcos’ regime. The premiere started at 3pm and lasted for almost an hour.

Guest speakers were also invited to share their thoughts and experiences about the dictatorship during Marcos’ term. Among these speakers are Quiel Quiwa–the former Loyola Schools Sanggunian President, Atty. Chel Diokno– a human rights lawyer, Hilda Narciso– a survivor during the Martial Law and Mrs. Ma. Victoria Dimalanta– the current principal of the ASHS.

Before officially starting the special episode, a prayer and reflection was led by Fr. Bong Dahunan, SJ. After the prayer and reflection, current ASHS Sanggunian President Gabrielle Dotado started off the program by reminding the citizens of the Philippines to register for the Presidential Election 2022. 

“It is our moral obligation to ensure that the horrors of history will not repeat itself.”

Sanggunian President Gabrielle Dotado emphasized the importance of exercising our right to vote. She told the viewers to remember how the human rights of Filipinos were violated during Marcos’ term, how we should “look back at our scars and brave on.” Her speech was a reminder that we cannot go back in time but we can still prevent the same events from happening again as long as we use our voices to speak for a better future.

After Gabrielle Dotado’s short speech, Atty. Chel Diokno answered frequently asked questions about Martial Law. “What is Martial Law for you?” “What are the warning signs of the Martial Law?” are just a few of the questions asked. According to Atty. Chel Diokno, he was only 11 years old when the Martial law was declared and he experienced 14 years of no freedom at all. He told the viewers to imagine waking up tomorrow morning and not being able to use the internet, and if you had to–everything was monitored. 

The conviction of Maria Ressa, the shutdown of the ABS-CBN Franchise, the issue with Rappler, Atty. Diokno added that these were all warning signs of a Martial Law. He said that our country is currently seeing a return to that kind of authoritarianism. “We should just continue to speak truth to power because that’s how we can maintain our freedom and democracy.” He further emphasized that we must continue to fight in order to build a just and humane Filipino nation, keep using our platforms online because the government is finally starting to listen.

A survivor of the Martial Law– Hilda Narciso was next to speak up about her experiences and thoughts. She claimed that the citizens should not break the bridge between those who experienced the Martial Law and the youth, the Millennials. She talked about how she asked students why they sided with the Martial Law. Narcisa reminded everyone that it took 14 years before the EDSA Revolution happened, 14 years before the Filipinos got their freedom back. 

Narcisa repeated throughout her whole speech that we should be critical and analytical. We should not only listen to one side of the story, “If you listen to the other side, listen to all sides” Narcisa said. She recommended that everyone should try watching documentaries made by the Commission on Human Rights namely “Our Voices, Our Story, Our Redemption”, “So Why, Samar?” and “Palembang Massacre.” She said to the youth specifically that we should listen to the real victims, and review our history. As she ended her speech, Narcisa told the audience once more to do their roles as the citizens of the Philippines, “Mapagsuri, Mapagtanong, Mapagkalkal.”

Former LS Sanggunian President Quiel Quiwa took the stage next after Hilda Narciso’s speech. In his point of view, he talked about why everyone is shouting “Never Forget”, “Never Again,” and ‘No to Martial Law.” He explained that we should always have a reason why we shout these phrases. Quiwa said that until the present, our country still feels the wounds and scars the Martial Law has brought to us. He also told us to think of why we are still commemorating those times. 

“Healing takes time but we have to do something with the time given to us.” Quiwa said as he explained what ‘Never Again’ means, he told the youth that we should know our country’s history, how it gained independence, how the Martial Law ended and more importantly, what it lacked and why we still see hints of the Martial Law in the present. The Former Sanggunian President ended his speech by telling the youth to continue fighting.

The last guest speaker was Mrs. Maria Victoria Dimalanta, the current principal of the Ateneo de Manila University Senior High School. She mainly talked about her experiences during the time of Martial Law. As a comparison, Mrs. Dimalanta said that during the Martial Law, it was as if she was wearing a facemask 24/7. As a child during those years, she explained how a lot of people died for the country and they made her realize that the Filipino is worth dying for. She added that we should never forget the dark history of our country and all those who sacrificed so that we could gain our freedom. Before ending her speech, she asked everyone, “Ano ang ipinaglalaban ninyo?”

Finally, Mrs. Dimalanta ended her speech by thanking the organizers of the event, APCO and ASHS Sanggunian & reading an excerpt from a marker about Martial Law installed in a city hall near Manila to remind the youth why they should “never forget.”

The special episode was formally closed after APCO President Lallie Asica said her special thanks to all the speakers who took part in the event.

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Ana Rufa Padua
News staffer