‘Never again’: Stars, artists mark 49th Martial Law anniversary

As the country marked the 49th anniversary Martial Law on Tuesday, September 21, several artists and celebrities were among those who spoke up to encourage people to remember the dark time in Philippine history.

Late dictator Ferdinand Marcos placed the Philippines under Martial Law on September 21, 1972 – the start of a nearly decade-long regime marked by humans rights abuses, media suppression, corruption, and the accumulation of government debt.

Among the prominent personalities that spoke out was TV host Bianca Gonzalez, who invited followers to watch a video where millennials meet Martial Law victims. 

“Para sa mga kabataan who want to know more, hindi gawa gawa ang kwento ng Martial Law victims. Totoong tao sila, mga anak, kapatid, magulang, lolo’t lola,” she said. 

(For the youth who want to know more, the stories of Martial Law victims are not made up. They’re real people, children, siblings, parents, grandparents.)

Para sa mga kabataan who want to know more, hindi gawa gawa ang kwento ng mga Martial Law victims. Totoong tao sila, mga anak, kapatid, magulang, lolo't lola. 4 minutes lang itong video, iniimbitahan kitang panoorin: #NeverForget #NeverAgainhttps://t.co/TgQDP6bTTW

— Bianca Gonzalez (@iamsuperbianca) September 21, 2021

Bianca earlier stressed her stance on the Marcoses when she spoke up on Toni Gonzaga’s interview with Bongbong Marcos.

In a tweet RT-ed by Liza Soberano, Black Sheep posted a clip of the actress from the film Alone/Together, where her character speaks about remembering the past, no matter how painful. 

“To forget is to deny the present of any meaning. #NeverAgain #NeverForget,” they wrote.

To forget is to deny the present of any meaning. #NeverAgain #NeverForget pic.twitter.com/AvFOzy059z

— Black Sheep (@Black_SheepPH) September 20, 2021

On Instagram, Angel Locsin posted a collage of photos from the Martial Law era, including a photo of Boyet Mijares, the then 16-year-old son of Primitivo Mijares who authored The Conjugal Dictatorship, a tell-all on the Marcoses.

Locsin included a quote from philosopher George Santayana: “Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”

Host Robi Domingo on Twitter said “Sa Bayan ko, lalo na sa mga Kabataang Pinoy…Huwag makalimot. Hindi na muli (To my country, especially, the Filipino youth, don’t forget. Never again).”

Sa Bayan ko, lalo na sa mga Kabataang Pinoy… Huwag makalimot. Hindi na muli. 🇵🇭 #NeverForget #NeverAgain

— Robi Domingo (@robertmarion) September 21, 2021

Filmmaker JP Habac posted a photo on Twitter, quoting a protest sign that read “Kapag namulat ka sa katotohanan, kasalanan na ang pumikit (when you’ve opened your eyes to the truth, it’s a sin to shut them again).”

https://twitter.com/jphabac/status/1440173504452694019

According to Amnesty International, about 70,000 people were imprisoned, 34,000 tortured, and 3,240 were killed from 1972 to 1981, under the Marcos regime.

– Rappler.com