UP Day of Remembrance 2020
UP to hold virtual commemoration of the struggle against Martial Law in UP Day of Remembrance 2020
Celeste Ann C. Llaneta, UP Media and Public Relations Office
On 21 September 1972, then President Ferdinand Marcos signed Proclamation No. 1081, placing the Philippines under Martial Law. This marked the beginning of a period of authoritarian rule that ravaged the nation’s democracy and economy and saw a record number of human rights violations, such as extrajudicial killings and disappearances. Fourteen years later, the Filipino people succeeded in ousting the dictator with the words “Sobra Na, Tama Na! Oust Marcos! Lansagin ang diktadura!” as their battle cry.
Now, 48 years after Marcos’ declaration of Martial Law, we once again revisit this dark period in our country’s history and honor the heroes who fought, struggled, and gave their lives for the cause of freedom and justice, even as many of the same dark forces continue to plague our society today. Even as we face the seismic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, we refresh our memory of the evils of dictatorship and renew our struggle with the battle cry, “Never again, never forget!”
From September 21 to 22, the University of the Philippines System will hold its UP Day of Remembrance 2020, 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.
This year’s UP Day of Remembrance, titled “Dambana ng Gunita: Mga Hulagway ng Pagkamulat at Kabayanihan 1972-1986”, consists of two main activities: four webinars featuring UP alumni and faculty who fought during Martial Law sharing their experiences; and, an online exhibit to feature Martial Law narratives of resistance and hope that continue to resonate up to now.
These online activities will be held across all eight UP constituent units, and will revolve around four themes: Hamon ng Batas Militar, focusing on the early years of clampdown on civil liberties and adapting to the situation with new forms of struggle; Detenido, Desparecido, a remembrance of the Marcos regime’s violation of human rights and cruelty through disregard of due process, indefinite imprisonment, torture, disappearances, and killings; Sining at Panitik: Daluyan ng Tinig, recalling writers and artists who created new forms of expression, inspiring and mobilizing the masses for action against deception; and, Patungong People Power: Turning Points, on the events in the 1980s that became turning points which led to the end of the Marcos dictatorship.
In pursuit of its tradition of struggle for academic freedom and democratic ideals, UP stood at the forefront of the resistance to Martial Law and the Marcos regime, contributing to this struggle many of its best and brightest. Now UP deems it proper to enshrine their names and struggles for younger and future generations of the University to emulate. It is for this reason that UP President Danilo L. Concepcion signed Proclamation No. 1 in 2018 declaring September 21 of every year as UP Day of Remembrance during which special lectures, meetings, and ceremonies will be held across the UP System to commemorate UP’s participation and sacrifices in the struggle against dictatorship and tyranny.
The UP Day of Remembrance 2020 is made all the more significant as the University commemorated in February this year the 50th anniversary of the First Quarter Storm, which led to the Diliman Commune and other watershed events prior to the declaration of Martial Law.
The UP Day of Remembrance 2020 is open to all teachers, educators, scholars, and Filipinos who wish to continue learning about our country’s history and who believe in the importance of upholding and defending basic freedoms, civil liberties, and human rights.
Register at: https://tinyurl.com/UPGunita2020
Livestream of the webinars and the online exhibit will be available via TVUP.ph and TVUP’ YouTube channel.
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Stories from the fields of struggle against Martial Law abound in UP Day of Remembrance 2020
Celeste Llaneta, UP Media and Public Relations Office
“Never again! Never forget!”
These words live on as the University of the Philippines, the country’s national university, remembers the signing of Proclamation No. 1081 by the dictator Ferdinand Marcos on September 21, placing the Philippines under Martial Law, with a two-day webinar event, the UP Day of Remembrance 2020, “Dambana ng Gunita: Mga Hulagway ng Pagkamulat at Kabayanihan 1972-1986”. [September 21 is UP Day of Remembrance]
The online event, which will be held via Zoom and broadcasted on YouTube on September 21, Monday, and September 22, Tuesday, features leading Martial Law activists who will share their experiences of struggle against the Marcos dictatorship, stories of courage in the face of imprisonment and torture, of resourcefulness and creativity in the face of repression, and of perseverance and heroism in the face of death. [Register at https://tinyurl.com/UPGunita2020]
There will also be recorded performances and a video-exhibit of sights and sounds of life under Martial Law.
Following is the program for the UP Day of Remembrance 2020:
“Dambana ng Gunita: Mga Hulagway ng Pagkamulat at Kabayanihan 1972-1986”
UP Day of Remembrance 2020
HAMON NG BATAS MILITAR
September 21, Monday, 8:45 a.m. - 12:00 n.n.
[8:45am] Protest Performance and Video Exhibit
[9:00am]
National Anthem
Welcome Message, UP President Danilo L. Concepcion
Opening Remarks, UP Vice President for Public Affairs Elena E. Pernia
[9:30am] Overview of the Webinar Structure and Two-Day Discussions
[9:40am]
“Mga Huling Araw ng UP Student Council Bago-Batas Militar”
Carol Pagaduan-Araullo, Chair, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan
[10:05am]
“Mga Unang Sabado ng Martial Law”
Mamerto Calalang “MC” Canlas, former UP History instructor, author of SoMa Pilipinas Studies 2000 in Two Languages (2002) and SoMa Pilipinas Ethnotour Guide Book (2013)
[10:30am]
“Some Trying Times of My Life”
Ma. Cristina Pargas-Bawagan, activist and human rights victim of the Marcos regime, retired teacher of Philippine Science High School
[10:55am]
“Mga Karanasan bilang Human Rights Worker”
Liza Acevedo-Ilagan, Professor, UP Baguio Fine Arts Program
[11:20am] Q&A Session with Speakers
[11:40am] Synthesis
[11:50am] Closing Remarks, Dr. Michael L. Tan, former UP Diliman Chancellor
and UP Professor Emeritus
[12:00nn] UP Naming Mahal
[12:05-12:44pm] Break
[12:45pm] Protest Performance and Video Exhibit
DETENIDO, DESAPARECIDO
September 21, Monday, 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
[1:00pm]
Opening Remarks: Dr. Carmencita D. Padilla, Chancellor, UP Manila
Introduction by Webinar Moderators
[1:20pm] Overview of the Webinar Structure and Two-day Discussions
[1:30pm]
“Babaeng Makibaka sa Likod ng Rehas”
Dr. Judy M. Taguiwalo, activist, former UP Professor, former Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development
[1:55pm]
“Entablado, Megaphone at Kulungan”
Susan Tagle, activist, musical director, Senior Technical Adviser, PTV-4
[2:20pm]
“Desaparecido: Southern Tagalog 10”
Atty. Filemon Nolasco, lead convenor, UP Los Baños Bantayog Project
[2:45pm]
“Ang Maging Manggagamot sa Samar”
Dr. Sylvia Ciocon de la Paz, activist, wife of slain “Doctor-to-the-barrios” Dr. Remberto Daniel “Bobby” de la Paz
[3:10pm] Q&A Session with Speakers
[3:30pm] Synthesis
[3:45pm] Closing Remarks, Dr. Fernando C. Sanchez, Jr., Chancellor, UP Los Baños
[4:00pm] UP Naming Mahal
SINING AT PANITIK: DALUYAN NG TINIG
September 22, Tuesday, 8:45 a.m. - 12:00 n.n.
[8:45am] Protest Performance and Video Exhibit
[9:00am]
National Anthem
Opening Remarks, Dr. Ricardo P. Babaran, Chancellor, UP Visayas
[9:20am] Overview of the Webinar Structure and Flow of Two-Day Discussions
[9:30am]
“Teatro sa Panahon ng Batas Militar”
Dr. Glecy Atienza, Professor, UP Departamento ng Filipino at Panitikan ng Pilipinas
[9:55am]
“Iba’t-ibang Tradisyon sa mga Awit-Protesta”
Christian “Bong” Ramilo, activist, musician and songwriter, and member, Asian Movement for People’s Music
[10:20am]
“Patatag: Bagong Ritmo ng Paglaban”
Dr. Fidel Nemenzo, Chancellor, UP Diliman
[10:45am]
“UPLB Perspective: Paggiit sa Pamamahayag”
Dr. Vicky Espaldon, Professor, UPLB School of Environmental Science and Management
[11:10am] Q&A Session with Speakers
[11:40am] Synthesis
[11:55am] Closing Remarks, Dr. Melinda dP. Bandalara, Chancellor, UP Open University
[12:00nn] UP Naming Mahal
[12:05-12:44pm] Break
[12:45pm] Protest Performance and Video Exhibit
PATUNGONG PEOPLE POWER: ‘TURNING POINTS’
September 22, Tuesday, 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
[1:00pm]
Opening Remarks, Dr. Larry N. Digal, Chancellor, UP Mindanao
[1:20pm] Overview of the Webinar Structure and Two-Day Discussions
[1:30pm]
“CONCOMSA Tungong Pagbabalik ng USC”
Malou Mangahas, former executive director, Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ)
[1:55pm]
“Welgang Anson’s sa harap ng BP 130/227”
Leila Yap-Aboga, alumni activist
[2:20pm]
“The 1982 Jose Rizal College Strike”
Loretta Ann “Etta” P. Rosales, Chair, Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines
[2:45pm]
“NADSU at Welgang Bayan ng Cebu, 1984”
Prof. Phoebe Zoe Maria Sanchez, union leader, Professor of history and sociology, UP Cebu
[3:10pm]
“Sakbayan sa Northern Luzon 1984”
Dr. Raymundo “Rey” Rovillos, Chancellor, UP Baguio
[3:35pm] Q&A Session with Speakers
[4:05pm] Synthesis
[4:25pm] Closing Remarks, Atty. Liza D. Corro, Chancellor, UP Cebu
[4:30pm] UP Naming Mahal
The UP Day of Remembrance 2020, “Dambana ng Gunita: Mga Hulagway ng Pagkamulat at Kabayanihan 1972-1986”, is open to all teachers, educators, scholars and Filipinos who wish to continue learning about our country’s history and who believe in the importance of upholding and defending basic freedoms, civil liberties and human rights.
Register at: https://tinyurl.com/UPGunita2020.
Livestream of the webinars and the online exhibit will be available via TVUP.ph and TVUP’s YouTube channel.