21/09/2025
"𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵, 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀."
Huwag sayangin ang protesta ng nakaraan at sabay-sabay tayong tumindig laban sa katiwalian.
The Senior (+) Red Cross Youth of PCSHS stands firm—𝗡𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻, 𝗡𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁.
21 September 2025 — This year marks the 𝟱𝟯𝗿𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗮𝘄 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀, a period in our nation’s history that continues to shape conversations about freedom, democracy, and human rights.
On September 23, 1972, 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗡𝗼. 𝟭𝟬𝟴𝟭 placed the entire country under Martial Law (Kagan, 2023). According to Amnesty International (2022), thousands of Filipinos were arrested, detained, and subjected to human rights violations during this period, while institutions such as media and civic organizations were heavily restricted.
But the story of Martial Law is not only one of repression—it is also one of resilience. Ordinary Filipinos, from students to workers, showed that courage could not be silenced. Their struggles remind us that freedom and justice are never simply handed down; they are safeguarded by vigilance and collective responsibility.
Today, 53 years later, we cannot allow history to fade into silence. Remembering Martial Law means more than looking back. It means carrying its lessons forward. It calls us to be active citizens, to protect our democratic spaces, and to ensure that abuses of the past are never repeated.
As we commemorate this day, let us not only remember but also commit: to honor those who sacrificed, to defend the values of truth and justice, and to stand firm in saying—now and always—𝗡𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁, 𝗡𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻.
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SOURCES:
Amnesty International. (2022, September 21). Five things to know about Martial Law in the Philippines. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2022/04/five-things-to-know-about-martial-law-in-the-philippines/
Kagan. Richard. (2023). Marcos declares martial law in the Philippines | Research Starters | EBSCO Research. EBSCO. https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/law/marcos-declares-martial-law-philippines
🖋️: Fatima Benabese
🎨: Jervy Pascual