THOMASIANS must exercise faith and sincerity in putting the “Never Again” slogan into action, UST Vice Rector for Religious Affairs Fr. Pablo Tiong, O.P. said on Sept. 22 in a Mass commemorating the 51st anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law.
In his homily during the Mass at Santisimo Rosario Parish Church, Tiong recalled joining protests during the waning years of the dictatorship of the late president Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
“It made me think, hanggang protesta na lang ba tayo rito? […] Ano ba ang dapat nating gawin, martsa-martsa na lang tayo?” Tiong said.
(It made me think, do we just protest? What should we do? Do we just march and march?)
To realize the premise of the “Never Again” slogan, Tiong said Filipinos must be firm and have sincerity and hope.
“‘Never Again’ is not to be [just] shouted, it has to be something that we must act upon,” Tiong said.
“Ang sabi natin, ‘Never Again,’ but [kung] kulang tayo sa pananampalataya, kung hindi tayo tapat [at] sincere, [and] if we are not strong and we will not have Christian hope, here we go again, hindi ‘Never Again’ ang mangyayari,” he added.
(We say “Never Again,” but if we lack faith, if we are not honest and sincere, and if we are not strong and we will not have Christian hope, here we go again, “Never Again” will not happen.)
Tiong cited the pastoral letter written by Kaloocan Bishop Pablo David in February last year to commemorate the anniversary of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution that toppled Marcos.
In his letter, David underscored that neglect of the truth behind the injustices and cruelty of Martial Law is harmful to Philippine society.
Tiong also urged Thomasians to stand up for the truth and fulfill the UST motto, “Veritas in Caritate,” (Truth in Charity), which he said was related to freedom.
“Goodness without truth is pretense,” he said. “Service without truth is manipulation. There can be no justice without truth.”
The Mass, presided by Faculty of Arts and Letters Regent George Phe Mang, O.P., was followed by a candle-lighting ceremony to remember those killed during the Marcos regime.
It was part of the “Balik-Tanaw” commemoration the UST Artlets Student Council held as part of the 51st anniversary of the declaration of military rule.
Over half a century ago, Marcos Sr. signed Proclamation 1081 that placed the Philippines under Martial Law.
The decree was dated Sept. 21, 1972, but was announced to the public on Sept. 23, 1972 when martial rule was already well underway and after the arrests of opposition politicians and dissidents.
His dictatorial rule saw 3,257 deaths, 35,000 tortures, and 70,000 imprisonments, according to human rights group Amnesty International. Fernando Pierre Marcel B. dela Cruz
