MANILA, Philippines—Students marched through heavily fortified streets on the 54th anniversary of martial law despite a massive police deployment and warnings of possible arrests, saying the risks only reinforced the necessity of their presence.
More than 15,700 National Capital Region Police Office personnel were placed on full alert across Metro Manila for the Sept. 21 commemorations, following clashes and arrests during the previous year’s demonstrations.
Police said the deployment aimed to maintain public safety while allowing peaceful assemblies.
For Alyssa, a Visual Communication student at the University of the Philippines Diliman College of Fine Arts, joining the commemoration was rooted in the right to speak and remember the victims of the dictatorship.
“I think the reason why we are here is because even if there are activists being arrested, we should not be afraid to express our call because it is our right to speak,” she said. “This day is important. The martial law commemoration should not be forgotten because there are so many victims.”
Jake Bitar, a Grade 12 student at Mandaluyong City High School, said that police presence did not change his decision to attend.
“We are here to show that we are together, that we will not forget,” Jake said.
He emphasized that student participation extends beyond classroom learning. “Because I know that I fought the right way, so I will not be afraid,” he said.
Connecting past to present
The students’ calls to remember martial law coincided with broader protests targeting corruption and demanding government accountability.
Kabataan party-list Rep. Renee Co framed the anniversary as an opportunity to connect historical abuses with contemporary concerns.
“As we commemorate the 54th anniversary of the declaration of martial law under Marcos Sr., we remember the widespread human rights violations and corruption that occurred then and continue to this day,” Co said.
Co also called for accountability regarding the Marcos family’s alleged ill-gotten wealth, criticizing selective law enforcement priorities.
“The police are more than ready to supposedly maintain peace and order during protests, but when it comes to holding corrupt officials accountable, they suddenly remain silent,” she said.
She added that the protesters’ calls continued despite police barriers and other security measures.
“The ranks of police, rows of barbed wire and concrete barriers, or even tear gas and batons cannot stop the anger of thousands of young people who are being robbed of their future,” Co said.
Youth mobilization expands
Beyond remembrance, students joined other sectors raising concerns over corruption, inadequate public services, education funding, attacks on student rights, and projects they view as serving foreign interests.
The group framed the mobilization as youth demands for accountability for corruption, increased education funding, protection of student rights, public services, and opposition to foreign-oriented initiatives including Pax Silica.
They described the conditions driving participation as a “flood” of corruption, hunger, debt and injustice.
For Alyssa, mobilization serves as an antidote to misinformation spreading online.
“Until now fake news is still rampant in social media,” she said, adding that students should join organizations so they can better understand what they are fighting for and what their rights are.
Jake emphasized collective strength despite intimidation.
“Even if we are being threatened or there are many threats, we should be here. We should show that we are strong, that we are united here,” he said.
Memory and action
On a day marked by barricades, police deployments and competing calls for order and accountability, students like Alyssa and Jake chose to remain visible.
For them, remembering martial law means exercising their right to speak, learning from history, and deciding for themselves whether the issues raised in the streets deserve attention.
“They cannot stop the people from calling for what is right,” Alyssa said. (davaotoday.com)
