Youth rallies for Martial Law anniversary

By Christopher Tigno

Kabataan Partylist organized a peaceful rally to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law in the Philippines Last September 21.

Jay Del Rosario, a UP Los Banos student and leader in the rally, said that one of their goals is to raise awareness regarding the Education Act of 1982 and to “remind the current generation of what happened 40 years ago.”

“10 years after the declaration of Martial Law, the Marcos regime started weakening. That’s when [former President] Marcos passed the Act of 1982 to gain the support of the owners of universities in the Philippines and to suppress student rights,” Del Rosario said. “He even gave universities the power to raise enrollment fees without going through the consultation and the regulation of the government.”

The rallyists rendezvous site and starting point was under the Espana overpass in front of the University of Santo Tomas. Police officers flanked the rallyists as they spread out banners on the concrete and waved tarpaulins to passers-by and vehicles.

Students from other universities - Colegio Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, Philippine Women’s University, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, University of Santo Tomas, University of the East, and University of the Philippines - also joined the protest.

Majan Lazo, a sophomore in UST, said that their protest was not just some stunt to turn heads their way.

“The problems faced by the youth in the past are still the same problems that we’re facing right now. We’re fighting for change,” she said.

Police officers assured that the rally would be peaceful but will still watch over students for safety measures.

“We are going to make sure that nothing dangerous happens not only to them but also to their audience,” a police officer said.

Rallyists travelled on foot toward the Mendiola Bridge. When asked why they chose the bridge as their protest site, Del Rosario said: “During the Martial Law era, youth freedom fighters and the police clashed on that bridge. There is already a historical background to the place, which makes it a great spot to let our voices be heard.”