Martial Law Chronicles forum held at DLSU

Susan Quimpo, co-author of the book Subversive Lives: A Family Memoir of the Marcos Years spoke as the main resource speaker in the Martial Law Chronicles Forum held last March 15 at the Verdure, Henry Sy Sr. Hall. Organized by the Office of Student Leadership Involvement, Formation, and Empowerment (SLIFE) and the Center for Social Concern and Action (COSCA), the forum aimed to develop critical thinking among Lasallians with regard to the Martial Law years.

Atty. Jose Manuel Diokno, dean of the DLSU College of Law, opened the program by talking about his own experiences during the Martial Law era and retelling how his father was captured without reason in 1974. After his capture, Diokno’s father decided to create an organization called Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG), composed of human rights lawyers who worked for the protection and promotion of human rights during the reign of former President Ferdinand Marcos. The organization continues to this day.

Quimpo was then invited to speak on stage, where she discussed the contents of her book. Through it, she retold the death of her parents and the array of torture and arrests endured by family members who participated in revolutionary movements.

“We all started at a very young age,” Quimpo described, as she talked about how she and her siblings became involved in the revolution. One of her brothers, Ryan, did not allow his polio to thwart his participation in the national democratic cause despite being diagnosed at a very young age. Although his condition hindered him from physically participating in anti-Marcos protests, he used his skill in writing to be involved in the national democratic cause instead.

Quimpo also described the rallies that occurred before the declaration of Martial Law, which was mostly composed of students. One instance that has stuck with her was when students gathered in front of the former House of Congress (now the National Museum) to burn an effigy of a crocodile to symbolize corruption, which they then attempted to throw at Marcos.

“Let the youth of today know that under Marcos rule there was dictatorship; there was revolution, not by a few, but by millions of Filipinos,” said Quimpo, quoting her book.