IN PHOTOS: Martial Law activists in US reunite vs Marcos burial

SAN FRANCISCO, USA – It took the plan to bury Ferdinand E. Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani to reunite graying activists who denounced the dictatorship once more – just like the old times.

For 14 years during the martial rule of Marcos, the Philippine consulate located on 447 Sutter Street in this city was the focal point of protest action against the dictatorship. Anti-Marcos activists banded together under the Katipunan ng mga Demokratikong Pilipino (KDP), made personal sacrifices, and delayed their education and career just to allot time for political work.

After the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution, the KDP disbanded, although individual members continued their advocacies and campaigns related to various issues close to them.

On September 8, they saw each other again in a rally in front of the consulate to denounce the planned hero’s burial for Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. (The Supreme Court has held two sessions to hear the oral arguments for and against the administration’s plan to bury Marcos at the Libingan. Pending the SC decision, all parties were prohibited by the Tribunal from burying him there.)

For the old activists, seeing their daughters join the protest gives them hope.

– Rappler.com

Rick Rocamora is an award-winning photographer based in California. During Martial Law, Rocamora was beaten and arrested by the San Francisco Police Tactical Squad during a demonstration in front of the Philippine Consulate.

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