Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses and Martial Law
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BATAS MILITAR
On 21 September 1972, president Marcos promulgated a new constitution, in which the democratic principles of the Philippines had been laid down. In the subsequent fourteen years, however, Marcos did not take much notice of his own laws. He ignored the parliament, had opposition leaders arrested and tortured, and his other enemies killed. Together with his greedy wife Imelda and a group of friends and acquaintances, he plundered the Treasury on a large scale. Both those who committed the oppression and their opponents who survived it are introduced in this documentary. Examples are former president Corazon Aquino, but also Imelda Marcos herself and the left-wing leader Bernabe Buscayno. Illustrated by numerous interviews, a reconstruction is made of fourteen years of dictatorship on the Philippines. The film includes photographs, film and video recordings that have never been shown before.
The International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA)
iHABILIN: We Remember Our Heroes
#NEVERFORGET #NEVERAGAIN
We still remember.
On this day, 49 years ago, Martial Law was declared.
Today, we still remember that together we, the people, prevailed.
Remember the heroes of Martial Law through HABILIN — a 12-part animated video series about a time when ordinary Filipinos inspired courage in others and won back our freedom.
The HABILIN video series was created to evoke hope and re-introduce our heroes from Martial Law to the next generation. It was created by young people for young people.
All our featured heroes were ordinary Filipinos who did extraordinary things for others. We are here today, able to speak freely, able to encourage dissent against oppression because of their courage, their sacrifice, and their choice to stand up and shine light in the dark.
These are the stories of heroes whose names may not be familiar to most but whose courage and sacrifice gave us our freedom.
May we honor their heroism and legacy. May we all live out their lessons.
HABILIN is presented by the Commission on Human Rights, the UP SAMASA Alumni Association, and produced by WiseOwl and PumaPodcast.
The 12 storified animated videos are creative interpretations of biographies of select heroes from the Bantayog ng mga Bayani.
WiseOwl PH
“Portraits of Mosquito Press" documents the struggle for press freedom at the time when the country was still in the grip of the Marcos dictatorship.
“Mosquito Press” was Marcos’ belittling of the small, independent newspapers which he allowed to operate to give a semblance of press freedom under his autocratic rule.
The small, independent newspapers led by We Forum, owned and edited by Jose Burgos, Jr., were called the “alternative press.” Alternative to the establishment press owned by Marcos cronies and relatives and toed the government line that Marcos was the savior of the Philippines.
We Forum was critical of Marcos. When asked by international media about issues raised in We Forum, Marcos dismissed it as nothing but the handiwork of the “mosquito press.” In effect, they are just mosquitos. Nothing that he cannot swat easily.
Later, Marcos would realize that mosquito bites can be potent.
Ellen T. Tordesillas
Alaala: A Martial Law Special
Alaala is a special documentary by the GMA Network aired in commemoration of the 45th anniversary of President Ferdinand Marcos’ declaration of Martial Law. It took viewers through the journey of Martial Law activist and award-winning screenwriter Bonifacio Ilagan (portrayed in the special by Alden Richards), as well as Ilagan’s good friend Pete Lacaba, played by Rocco Nacino and his activist sister Rizalina, portrayed by Bianca Umali.