PSHS–MC commemorates Martial Law’s 50th anniversary

BY ATILA VINCULADO

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law, the social action clubs and official student publications of Philippine Science High School–Main Campus (PSHS–MC) conducted events such as exhibits and film showings last September 21.

The day kicked off with Lingon, an event that featured Batch 1972 alumnus Jobart Bartolome who shared his story about him and his batchmates fighting for their education amidst the challenges brought upon by Martial Law.

This was followed by performances from different clubs and bands to honor Martial Law victims.

“We went [with] this approach in order to cater [to] the youth and to make them more interested to join us reminisce or ‘lingon’ to our past,” said Celver Huerte Ortiz, vice president of AKSIS, editor-in-chief of Ang Lagablab, and club coordinating head of the student council.

Shortly after the program was an uncensored film showing of movies about Martial Law hosted by Celluloid and the Bake Club. The event showcased Lino Brocka’s Bayan Ko and Jun Lana’s Barber’s Tales.

According to Thandie Aliño, president of Celluloid, the event not only showed films about Martial Law, but it also shed light on how regular people were affected by the regime including the torture of women and the state of the poor back then.

Proceeding the film showing was a candle lighting in the Advanced Science and Technology Building (ASTB) Hall to honor the lives of the martyrs of PSHS. The library also hosted a book exhibit on Martial Law, which was on display for the remainder of the week.

AKSIS, Ang Lagablab, and The Science Scholar also held “Kung Paano Kayo Noon, Ganito Pa Rin Kami Ngayon,” a human exhibit along the ASTB to the back lobby. This detailed the stories of the Pisay martyrs, events that happened outside of Pisay, and how these events mirror the administration today.

According to AKSIS President Danielle Santos, the exhibit was inspired by the Wall of Martyrs AKSIS had set up in the library.

“We thought it could be a good way to have people read and learn more about Martial Law by having something physically set up for them to see like our exhibit,” explained Santos.

A freedom wall for students to write down their thoughts on Martial Law and answer the question “Bakit maganda kung walang Martial Law?” (“Why is it good without Martial Law?”) was also set up outside the library.

The event netted positive feedback among students, with Min Sung Lee of 9-Cesium stating: “. . . I think that overall, it was a fantastic and informative program that tries its best to teach the modern generation about the horrors and grief of the [sic] Martial Law.”

Royce Southeast Asia, Pacific, and South Korea President Dr. Bicky Bhangu were shown on screen.

To conclude the festival’s opening, members of the PSHS–MC music club Bravura’s String Orchestra group performed an arrangement of the Enkanomiya Battle Theme.

The festival featured 45 science educational films available for free online as videos-on-demand from November 3 to December 3.

Students were given a preview of the available films with a screening of “With Heart and High-Tech — How People Master Challenges,” which discussed the resources technology has provided to improve the lives of many.

“The film really did spark interest in something that I didn’t really know of be- fore. With the incorporation of biotech, it was just interesting how science can solve [problems] in the world we live in,” remarked Aydan Ables of 10-Graviton.

After a 10-minute break, students participated in a short game that tested their knowledge of common German phrases. The event concluded and the students who volunteered received prizes provided by the organizers.

Karl De Leon from 10-Graviton said the event allowed him to appreciate modern advancements in science and technology with the growing problems around society: “Modern-day scientists, using the most out of our resources, aim to cater to all those very specific problems that trouble people in their everyday lives.”

All 45 films can be accessed upon registration through the Goethe-Institut Philippinen site.