Despite the coronavirus pandemic, several groups will be leading protests and activities to mark the 48th anniversary of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos’ declaration of Martial Law.

Marcos’ declaration on September 21, 1972 led to almost 10 years of military rule in the country, marred by human rights abuses, corruption, and attacks on press freedom. It was only in 1986 when democracy was restored in the Philippines.

As the country marks the 48th anniversary of Marcos’ Martial Law, many are renewing calls to safeguard democracy, fearing that President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration is leading what 1969-1972 members of the College Editors’ Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) described as de facto military rule.

They cited Duterte’s attacks on media organizations such as the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the numerous cases filed against Rappler, the shutdown of broadcast giant ABS-CBN, and the police’s red-tagging of the media. 

Several youth groups, including Youth Act Now Against Tyranny and CEGP,  are set to lead a multisectoral and nationwide protest dubbed “Tama na! Sobra na! Wakasan ang COVID-19! Wakasan ang diktadurang Duterte!” on Monday, September 21.

Youth groups will first hold a protest at the Commission on Human Rights at 2 pm. They will later march to Quezon Hall at the University of the Philippines Diliman for the multisectoral program at 4 pm.

CEGP said the protest seeks to highlight the Duterte administration’s “gross negligence” in handling the pandemic, as well as the “worsening state of education” in the country. They will also call for justice for victims of extrajudicial killings.

Here’s a running list of other activities to mark the 48th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law:

Metro Manila

Human rights groups, grassroots activists, and civil society organizations including In Defense of Human Rights and Dignity Movement (iDEFEND) will be leading a protest on Monday in Liwasang Diokno Freedom Park at the Commission on Human Rights at 9 am.

The protest aims to show the participants’ opposition to the Duterte administration’s current and proposed laws such as the anti-terror law, which iDEFEND said reflects some of the most oppressive Martial Law policies during Marcos’ dictatorship.

Naga City

Anakbayan Naga City will be leading a demonstration at Plaza Oragon in the city on Monday, 10 am, to speak out about the “de facto martial law” in the Philippines in light of rampant red-tagging, illegal arrests, and human rights abuses against marginalized sectors.

Iloilo City

Panay People’s Coalition, a broad alliance of church people, sectoral groups, human rights organizations, and opposition personalities, is holding a protest on Monday, 1 pm, at Sunburst Park, Iloilo City, to remember the sacrifices of those who opposed Marcos. Participants will march to the Iloilo Provincial Capitol after the program.

The coalition said the “nightmares of the Marcos dictatorship still haunt us up until this day.”

Online

University of the Philippines Day of Remembrance

From September 21 to 22, the UP System will be holding its UP Day of Remembrance, a virtual commemoration of the university’s “collective memories of the events leading to and following the declaration of Martial Law from the 1970s to the mid-1980s.”

Titled “Dambana ng Gunita: Mga Hulagway ng Pagkamulat at Kabayanihan 1972-1986,” the commemoration will showcase 4 webinars tackling the experiences of UP alumni and faculty during Martial Law, and an online exhibit depicting Martial Law narratives about resistance and hope.

To commemorate UP’s participation in the fight against Martial Law, the UP Day of Remembrance is held every September 21.

Livestreams of the webinars and the online exhibit will be available via TVUP.ph and TVUP’s YouTube channel. People may also register for the webinars via this link.

Ateneo de Manila University Martial Law Week

Ateneo de Manila University will hold University Martial Law Week from September 21 to 26.

The activities listed range from webinars about pursuing clarity in the age of revisionism and debunking myths in the history of the Philippine political economy, to an online rally from the Ateneo Human Rights Center and free screenings from Daang Dokyu Festival, among others.

Check out the schedule of activities below.

Daang Dokyu

Daang Dokyu, a documentary festival showcasing Philippine documentaries, will feature 5 films about Martial Law that “reveal and expose history and how its consequences continue to affect us.” The festival will be held from September 19 to November 5.

Active Vista International Human Rights Festival

Artist-activist collective DAKILA-Philippine Collective for Modern Heroism, through its human rights education institution Active Vista, will be running its 8th edition of Active Vista International Human Rights Festival (AVIHRF) from September 19 to 27.

Themed “Walang Pipikit 360,” the AVIHRF will feature festival forums, screenings, and events to urge the public to pay attention to the “worsening human rights situation” in the country.

Among the movies being shown in the festival are The Nightcrawlers, The Kingmaker, and On The President’s Orders. For schedule and ticket information, visit Active Vista’s website.

– Rappler.com

Do you know of other activities and protests done to commemorate the 48th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law? Send details to move.ph@rappler.com!