To commemorate the 52nd anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law, MSU-IIT’s Institute for Policy Innovation and Leadership (IPIL) in collaboration with the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP) and the CASS Executive Council (CASS-EC), hosted a forum at the New CASS Lobby on Monday, October 7.
Featuring resource speaker Mr. Elmar Albios, an alumnus of the Department of History and current admin assistant at the Office of Student Development Services (OSDS), the forum aimed to share real stories of survival and resistance from the Martial Law era, highlighting the need to keep these crucial conversations alive.
“This discussion is never about Marcos. This is about the real stories of people,” he emphasized.
IPIL Head Prof. Maria Pia Sison, also asserted the notion of never forgetting the struggles, sacrifices, and hard won lessons from the darkest chapters of Philippine history, advocating to protect the rights and freedom of the future generation—a call for action to “Never Again, Never Forget.”
During the discussion proper, Mr. Albios presented four books that help to understand and conceptualize the events of Martial Law, including a digest of the declaration speech, an analysis of its impact on the country’s economic status and impoverishment, and a discussion of human rights violations.
“We collect stories which translate into lessons and lessons that translate to our actions,” he stressed.
Hailing from Molave, Zamboanga del Sur, he shared how his family and community were affected by martial law. He distributed index cards with the names of individuals from his hometown, and explained one by one on how each of them rose to fight for their rights and for society.
“Your opinion should be based on facts,” Mr. Albios advocated, pointing out that opinions should be backed by valid information, not speculations from online vloggers on social media platforms.
He highlighted the importance of triangulating, validating, and corroborating information, stating that it is wrong to use facts to further personal agendas and that one should refrain from making remarks about other people without proper basis.
During the open forum, Irah Shiene Guiang, CASS-EC Governor and BA History student, addressed the need to shift our focus from national to local perspective and sought tips on beginning a paper about Martial Law.
“You start with consent, you build a rapport with the key informant during the interview,” Mr. Albios stated, sharing his experiences and struggles with thesis writing while emphasizing the importance of consent and data privacy. He further noted that the thesis topic should be personal and engaging to be able to focus on it.
Christian Angelou Embalsado, KASAMA Senator and BA Philosophy Major in Applied Ethics student, expressed amazement for Mr. Albios’ thesis on Molave, particularly his family’s active role in the local activist scene during martial law.
In response, Mr. Albios clarified that his thesis acknowledges that not all 21 rural barangays of Molave are included. “The paper is a developing paper,” he said, adding that further input is needed in order to make it comprehensive and factual.
Meanwhile, Rickylyn Baronda, a BA Sociology student, probed about the impact of Martial Law on human rights.
“Human rights was affected…the moment nga naay na detained, naay na tortured,” Mr. Albios answered, asserting that these events constitute serious violations of human rights, and moving forward requires us to uphold human dignity and respect the law and one another.
Arjie Castillon, KASAMA President and BS Biology (Microbiology) student, remarked on the need for student leaders to take action in tackling misinformation amidst changing perspectives.
He noted that students often seek information through short videos instead of attending seminars, emphasizing the need to find new means for disseminating accurate information and fostering a deeper understanding of martial law history.
Mr. Albios added that engaging discussions about history are crucial, urging educators to interact with the students. “Make it simple, understandable, for the children, make it relatable.”
As the discussion came to a close, the CASS-EC Legislative Secretary Ameena Alonto stressed the significance of committing to justice, freedom, and truth; to unite and move forward in the face of Martial Law’s horrific legacy.
This annual forum commemorating the declaration of Martial Law serves as a constant reminder to learn from the past and strive for a better future.
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