Joel Lamangan recalls imprisonment, torture in Martial Law years

MANILA, Philippines – Award-winning director Joel Lamangan spoke about his experience as a young person imprisoned during the Martial Law years at the gathering protesting the planned burial of the late President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

As seen in a video posted by PEP, the director, who was one of the speakers at the Lapu-Lapu shrine at Rizal Park Sunday, August 14, said that he was taken into custody and was tortured in those years. (READ: Palace: It’s clear Marcos is fit for Libingan burial)

“Nung 1973 pag kagraduate ko nung high school…Pagkatapos po, nung 1977, hinuli na naman ako. Hindi nagsawa, tinorture na naman ako. Mabuti nabuhay muli para ipagpatuloy ang paglaban ng di makatarungan [sa] panahon na iyon,” Lamangan said.

(It was 1973 when I graduated high school…And then after that, in 1977, they arrested me. They didn’t get tired, they even tortured me. I’m grateful to be alive to continue fighting the injustice from that time.)

Lamangan was a member of the militant group Kabataang Makabayan in that period; he shared his experiences in a 2012 interview with ABS-CBN’s Henry Omaga-Diaz during the 40th anniversary of the declaration. A story on abscbnpr.com notes that he fought for human rights during this time and was detained and tortured. 

At the rally, the director said that freedom is not lost after seeing the many protesters at the venue. 

“Apat na taon ng aking kabataan ang nasira dahil sa walang katarungang paraan ng paghuli at pag-torure noong mga panahong iyon…na ayaw kong mangyari ulit ngayon,” he said. 

(Four years of my youth were destroyed because of the injustice of arrest and torture at that time, which I don’t want to happen again in this time.)

“Sabi nila, ito raw panahon ni Marcos lalo na tinatawag ng mga millenials sa Facebook ang nagsasabi pinakamagandang buhay daw ang panahon ni Marcos…hindi totoo iyon!” he added, saying that it was a very dark time for the country. 

(These millenials on Facebook are saying that Marcos’ time was the time everyone experienced a beautiful life…that’s not true!)

Lamangan called on everyone to really take a hard look into Philippine history and culture.

“Nakakalungkot dahil walang regime na nagdaan at hanggang sa ngayon, tumitingin sa kultura bilang mahalagang bahagi na pang-unlad ng bayan,” he said. “Tinitignan ito bilang isa pagpapatawa at pagpapaiyak, hindi po! Ang kultura ay salamin ng pamumuhay ng bawat Pilipino sa particular na panahon.”

(It is very sad because no regime that went by and up to now, looks at culture as a very important tool to improve the country. They always look at it as a way to entertain, no! Culture is the mirror into a Filipino’s way of life in one particular time.)

Others at the rally include former Commission on Human Rights chairperson Etta Rosales, Solita “Winnie” Monsod, defeated presidential candidate Manuel Roxas II, Senators Leila de Lima, Risa Hontiveros and Bam Aquino, Ifugao Representative Teddy Baguilat Jr, and Albay First District Representative Edcel Lagman. ( IN PHOTOS: ‘Citizens’ assembly’ vs Marcos hero’s burial)

The body of the late president is reportedly scheduled to be buried on September 18. – Rappler.com