MARTIAL Law survivors urged Thomasians to continue fighting the lies spread online about the regime of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
During the two-part discussion titled “Tao sa Tao: Mga Totoong Kwento ng Martial Law,” the survivors recounted their experiences during the dictatorship to students of the UST National Service Training Program (NSTP).
Among the stories told was that of Nilda Fullon, who was 19 years old when she was abducted, harassed, and detained by military men on charges of subversion.
“Tahimik, madilim, malungkot – ‘yan ‘yung declaration ng Martial Law,” said Fullon, recalling the day Marcos Sr. placed the entire Philippines under Martial Law in 1972.
Fullon, who became a teacher, urged Filipinos to stay watchful, even after more than 50 years since the declaration of martial rule, to prevent it from happening again.
“‘Wag tayong maging kumpiyansa na hindi tayo apektado dahil ‘pag ‘di tayo nanindigan, ‘di tayo nag-ingay, ‘di tayo nagsalita, nanahimik tayo, mangyayari at mangyayari sa atin ‘yan,” Fullon said during the second session on April 16.
“Mahalaga ang boses ng bawat isa sa inyo. ‘Pag may nakikita kayong mali, stand your ground, ‘wag manahimik,” she added.
In the March 5 session, Martial Law survivor Carmelito Tatlonghari, a former UST Pharmacy faculty member, shared his experience of abuse in 1978, when he was incarcerated for seven months in Bicutan.
Tatlonghari said the Marcos family had yet to express remorse.
“Before unity, there should be the redemption of the family. But sa nakikita natin, parang walang pagbabago,” he said. “If [Marcos Jr.] still believes that what his father did was right, hindi puwede ‘yon.”
Another Martial Law survivor, Boni Macaranas, narrated to the NSTP students how he was beaten up, electrocuted, and burnt with cigarettes by soldiers when he was detained for three months.
Fullon said the liberties enjoyed by Filipinos were obtained at the expense of the suffering that Martial Law victims had to endure.
“The democratic space that we are enjoying now, puhunan dito ay buhay. Hindi ito dumating lang. Isang katerbang tao ang nagsakripisyo para rito,” she said.
The “Tao sa Tao” Martial Law discussions were organized last year to help raise awareness among students regarding Martial Law through the personal accounts of survivors. The event was launched at the University of the Philippines – Diliman.
The sessions held at the UST Tan Yan Kee Student Center on March 5 and April 16 were organized by the NSTP Office and the Human Rights Violations Victims Memorial Commission.
