SOME 200 Thomasians joined the 15,000 protesters during the rally to commemorate the 46th anniversary of the Martial Law declaration.
The protest began with a eucharistic celebration led by Filipino Dominicans’ prior provincial, Fr. Napoleon Sipalay, O.P. at San Agustin Church and a march from Intramuros to Rizal Park.
Sipalay, the UST vice chancellor, said recounting the horrors of Martial Law is needed in today’s political climate where attempts at changing or revising history are being made.
“We remember history to learn from history, we remember those who suffered and those who [survived] and we would like not to repeat it again,” Sipalay said.
UST Simbahayan Director Mark Anthony Abenir said the University upholds the Church’s beliefs in protecting people’s dignity and human rights.
“Tumutugon tayo sa tawag ng Simbahan na igunita ang pangdaigdigang selebrasiyon ng kapayapaan at igunita ang malagim na kasaysayan ng Martial Law para hindi na siya mangyari muli,” Abenir said.
Students from different groups marched from España to Rizal Park to condemn the administration’s war on drugs, likening it to the human rights violations during the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos’ Martial Law.
“[Mga Tomasino galing sa] iba’t ibang local societies [ang nandito]. May mga representative din ang Central Student Council from their advocacy committee,” League of Filipino Students-UST Chairman Dindo Roxas said.
