UPLBPERSPECTIVE
VOLUME XL ISSUE 1
JULY-OCTOBER 2013
FEATURES
CONTINUING THE STRUGGLE
FOUR DECADES AND A YEAR AFTER MARTIAL LAW A call to the studentry yearning for genuine freedom from oppression. As the UPLB Perspective, along with the whole nation, commemorates the 41st anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law, we honor those who braved the oppression. We honor the heroes and martyrs—those who died and disappeared fighting for social justice and genuine democracy. And we honor the masses, the Filipino people, who vowed that never again shall this happen.
BACKTRACK Maria Leticia Pascual-Ladlad was the first woman editor-in-chief of the Aggie, Green and Gold, UPLB’s then-student publication and UPLB Perspective’s precursor in 1971. Hailing from Carigara, Leyte, she studied BS Agricultural Chemistry. Ladlad exposed herself to the people’s struggle, being a member of the College Editors’ Guild of the Philippines and Samahan ng Demokratikong Kabataan. She then married former student council chairperson Vic Ladlad. Just like many youth activists, Ladlad went underground at the onset of Martial Law on September 21, 1972. She continued to be part of the militant student movement until she, with a group of comrades, went missing in 1975 within the auspices of the Philippine General Hospital in Taft. Ladlad, along with her comrades, remains missing up until this day.
It is from these events that we must draw our consciousness and courage to prevent the rise to power of yet another fascist dictator. Four decades and a year have passed, but we are still haunted with the same oppressive ambience of the martial law. Human rights are often overlooked; press freedom remains to be a myth; and equality seems to dwell only in our most hopeful dreams.
But there is more to a commemoration. More than the appraisals, we are left Today we are challenged with extrawith tasks at hands. judicial and media killings, political repression and human rights violations Be it be realized that September 21, which are all still raging in the country. 1972, is more than just a highlight in The people are still burdened with the Philippine history. As we commemorate spoils of corruption and exploitation. the courage of those who fearlessly Social services such as education and called for rights of the people, we are healthcare still fail to meet the needs of also brought back to an excruciating the people. Workers still yearn for fair scene of tyranny. Four decades and a salaries and work conditions. Farmers year have passed since former presi- are still landless due to pretentious land dent Ferdinand Marcos smacked the reforms. people’s democracy through the declaration of his martial rule—turning the This is our generation now—confront70’s into an era of political repression ed with the same tribulations four deand censorship, a time of corruption cades and a year after Lean Alejandro and poverty, a period of the bedlam of and Abraham Sarmiento Jr., four dedemocracy. Four decades and a year cades and a year after Rizalina Ilagan have passed, yet the people, especially and Ma. Leticia Pascual-Ladlad. As we the youth of this generation, seem to be savor the fruit of these people’s sacriunable to find a personal connection to fices and labors, let us vow to continue what has happened then. the fight they have fought—carrying the same unfazed spirit they have carried. Four decades and a year ago, the rule of an iron fist tried to quell a growing The struggle will not be an easy one. resistance against an authoritarian rule. Therefore, we must act collectively. We It did not succeed. The increasing op- cannot afford to be divisive in our campression further fuelled the people’s paigns. Four decades and a year after resilient determination to topple the op- today, the next generation—our chilpressor. Even [P] was born out of the dren—will look back to this time. Some students’ dissent on media repression— of them will ask, “Four decades and a making it the first student publication to year ago, what have you done?” be reestablished after the declaration of When that time comes, we will have a martial law. definite answer. The establishment of [P] delivered a clear message throughout the student NEVER AGAIN TO MARTIAL LAW. DARE TO ACT. ranks. The struggle shall not cease. DARE TO STRUGGLE.
ML’s 41st, victims remembered, youth groups light candles PAUL CARSON
In memory of the thousands who were victims of Martial Law and in continuous condemnation of the widespread corruption of the pork barrel system, youth and student groups held a candle-lighting ceremony in Carabao Park in the University of the Philippines - Los Baños (UPLB) campus. The organizations call for the abolition of the pork barrel system and rechanneling funds to social services, gathering various speakers from youth organizations, including KABATAAN Partylist and Anakbayan. This was followed by cultural presentations and solidarity messages by organizations which were “created by Martial Law,” including the UPLB Perspective, cultural organizations Umalohokan, Inc., UPLB Writers’ Club, UPLB Development Communicators’ Society, and Kapatirang Plebeians-UPLB Curia. Umalohokan, Inc. presented a short act symbolizing the struggles of the people from the 1896 Revolution up to modern times. The speakers claimed that the pork barrel scam, and the various human rights violations and extrajudicial killings reflect a “virtual, undeclared Martial Law.” which allegedly proves that there has been no change in the administrations following Marcos’. “The struggle continues, and until there is, our fight for genuine freedom and democracy remains,” said Diego Gabriel Torres of Anakbayan, himself a son of a Martial Law survivor. [P]