MANILA, Philippines – The Ateneo de Manila University will hold classes on Thursday, September 21, to mark the 45th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law under the Marcos regime, despite President Rodrigo Duterte's announcement suspending classes.
"In the Loyola Schools, classes and activities will go ahead as scheduled. As a community, we are not blind to the lessons of our history," the statement announced on Tuesday, September 19.
President Duterte suspended government work and classes in public schools on Thursday and declared it a "national day of protest."
The Ateneo has lined up several activities to mark the anniversary:
- September 18 to 22
- Awareness-raising campaign
- September 18 to 22
- Malikhaing Protesta: Banner-making contest
- September 20
- Organizing Dissent: A Workshop on Activitism and the Specter of Martial Law (4 pm to 6 pm at Faber Hall)
- September 21:
- Sala sa Sala: Sifting Through Sins (5 pm to 6:30 pm at Leong Hall Auditorium)
- September 22:
- Discussion on Political Detainees' Experiences during Martial (5 pm to 7 pm at Leong Hall Auditorium)
- Special School Forum: Remembering Martial Law, Renouncing Extrajudicial Killings: Voice from Ateneo and Beyond (5 pm to 6:30 pm at Escaler Hall)
- Community Mass (7:30 pm to 8:30 pm) at the Church of the Gesu
"We, in the Loyola Schools, have various activities this week that can help us critically reflect on the past and pray fervently for the future of our nation," the statement said. (READ: LIST: Martial Law 45th anniversary activities, protests)
"We stay vigilant in guarding the values we hold close to our hearts: integrity, courage, justice, compassion, and hope."
On September 23, 1972, the former president appeared on television and by virtue of Proclamation 1081 supposedly signed on September 21, formally declared martial law nationwide. (READ: Marcos’ martial law orders)
During Martial Law, the Philippines incurred up to $24.4 billion in debt by 1982. (READ: Marcos years marked 'golden age' of PH economy? Look at the data)
Numerous stories of torture, repression, and enforced disappearances of activists hounded the darkest chapter of Philippines history. About 70,000 people were imprisoned and 34,000 tortured, according to Amnesty International, while 3,240 were killed from 1972 to 1981. – Rappler.com