On August 21, Benigno Aquino was assassinated. Monday, August 22: a muted sense of confusion broke out on campus as rehashes of the preceding night’s news that started as off-hand jests became serious apprehensions.
The first trimestral final exams scheduled beyond 4:30 that day were postponed due to “power failure,” the official word for a brownout that had lasted all day. Rumors snowballed among students waiting at the South Gate: rumors of Marcos’ fatal coma in Honolulu, rumors of the imposition of curfew and martial law, news of bank runs…
Although the next 23 days saw not the involvement of De La Salle University as an identified identity, more and more La Sallites were getting involved on their own, if not merely keeping up with the news and witnessing the marches.
According to Student Council President Nando Pahati, around 46 La Sallites joined in Aquino’s funeral procession at 2:00 p.m. from the Luneta on August 31. In La Salle on September 13, almost 200 students filled Benilde 406 at 12:30 p.m. to watch the American and Japanese news videotapes on the Aquino assassination, which included an American film essay on the existing conditions at the onset of Martial Law, the Philippine-American alliance, and the history of the Marcos administration from 1969.
It was on September 19, 1983, at the Athanasius Gym, that the involvement of La Sallites in the most current national issue really “exploded”.
Fully 2,000 to 3,000 La Sallites packed all available space on the hard court as early as 11:30 a.m., to hear the talks and analyses of the videotapes, throwing confetti and paper planes, booing at the screen images of Imelda and FM, and staying hushed to hear every nuance, message, and phrase the speakers said.
Speakers invited to address the De La Salle Academic Community were Butz Aquino, brother of the late Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr.; Nonong Avensia, a representative of the JAJA and former technical adviser to Imee Marcos; Ninez Cacho-Oliveras, one of several journalists harassed and dismissed for anti-administration writings; and Brother Rolly Dizon, head of the Catholic Educator’s Association of the Philippines (CEAP) and Principal of La Salle Greenhills.
Professors Salvador Gonzales and Elpidio Sta. Roana analyzed and interpreted the videotapes shown, while Student Council Vice-President for Academics Irwin Lee reiterated the official support of the DLSU Student Body for the issues and measures discussed that day, among which were the boycott of government-controlled dailies, non-violent reformation through prayer, and support of the small newspapers Mr. & Ms, Who, Business Day, Malaya, and Philippine Times.
Chants of “Ninoy! Ninoy! Ninoy!” welcomed Butz Aquino, as he opened with “Salamat at bumukas na ang Kalayaan.” Editorializing against joyriders who would heckle for violence and then disappear at the first sound of gunfire, he stressed the need to know what Filipinos are fighting for; the need to be constantly aware, to be able to discern between truth and lies.
“We have lasted this long,” he said, “because we are articulating the true feelings of the Filipino people.” Emphasizing the need to exhaust the last possibility for peace, he repeated that if the people’s demands for reform are reasonably met, a dialogue for reconciliation should not be ruled out; he warned that any “troublemakers in the group” should be removed, during the very time of the assassination, “this is why he came home…Ninoy’s death brought new life to the Philippines. Those who were apathetic before have now come alive, and those who were apolitical are now politicized: Makati businessmen as well as the students and the poor.”
Reforms advocated by Aquino on behalf of these groups were: true and honest elections; a free press; freedom for all political prisoners; a multi-sectoral Executive Committee representative of the people (not Marcos’ handpicked Executive Committee) in the case of the President’s resignation; and a Constitutional Convention to revise and abolish the 1973 “Marcos” Constitution, which gave the President “too much power.”
“We do not want another Marcos to happen in our country, ever again,” he said. As for the multisectoral Committee, he proposed, “Each region and sector, students, urban poor and labor class alike, should have a representative slot. Let us have candidates that are pushed by the people; let the office seek the candidate and not the candidate seek the office.”
Peaceful means suggested were the letter-writing campaigns and the boycott of repressed newspapers, even boycotts of classes to allow students to participate in the demonstrations (which would continue until November 27, Benigno Aquino’s birthday).
Earlier that day, amid the profuse distribution of small mimeographed sheets calling for participation in that week’s protest rallies at Liwasang Bonifacio, a meeting of the University Administration was being held at the Waldo Perfecto Seminar Room in the SPS Building. It was 9:00 a.m.
Although the Administration expressed the desire to make a stand as an institution and to coordinate the scattered activities planned on campus, the main objections centered on class boycotts. Bro. Andrew Gonzalez remarked, “We have to keep the educational process going on.” On the need for security, he added: “Marcos is not worth dying for.” Concerned about student participation in the rallies, he remarked “Unless you have a crowd it will be very embarrassing.” Minor activities agreed upon were the continuation of the newspaper boycott and support for Radio Veritas and its newsletter.
At noon on campus, nearly every La Sallite within audible distance was observed to have stood still, as 21 church bells pealed; they recited the National Prayer for Justice and Peace.
Among student organizations on campus which identified their political concern were: the La Salle Students Democratic Alliance (LSSDA); the Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity & Sorority-DLSU; the BIGKIS; the Bio Circle; the BOYS; Combatch ‘84; Concerned Students for Social Action; the History Political Science Students Union; the Kapisanang Pilipino ng La Salle; the Karate Club (LSKS); the Kilusang Makabayan, Samahan sa Arte at Panulat; the United Students for an Assimilated Philippines (USAP); and students who grouped themselves under the title of “Friends.”
This article was published in The LaSallian‘s Archives 2024 special. To read more, visit bit.ly/TLSArchivesSpecial2024.
