21/09/2026
Joint Statement of FEU Diliman Tertiary Student Coordinating Council and Recognized Student Organizations on the 54th Commemoration of Martial Law
Today, as Filipinos marking the 54th anniversary of Martial Law and the dark legacy of Proclamation No. 1081 signed by Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr., we are reminded that history is far from a closed chapter. Instead, it lives on the daily realities and struggles we face as a nation.
Decades have passed since the dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s regime left a bloody trail of thousands of innocent lives who were illegally imprisoned, brutally tortured, and killed, burying true historical accountability in silence
Under the current administration, those very same authoritarian shadows are felt anew. The problems continue due to widespread of corruption, political dynasties, the control and distortion of history, and self-serving policies that prioritize political power over the marginalized, leaving the nation trapped in a systemic crisis.
True reform can never be achieved under a system of government that protects itself rather than the people. For too long, the resilience of the Filipino people has been the band-aid solution, forcing citizens to endure endless hardships while those in power act with impunity. We firmly assert that relying on endless resilience is never the answer. Filipinos do not deserve the crisis, injustice, and neglect we are currently experiencing because we deserve a responsive, transparent, and accountable government that works exclusively for the people.
As Tamaraws, we refuse to let history be sanitized or forgotten. It is our moral duty to carry forward the legacy that left of those generations who fought for the country before us. Let us honor the victims and survivors of Martial Law not just by remembering, but by standing with the oppressed and actively fighting for a society built on genuine justice, freedom, and human rights.
Hindi na muling pipikit ang mga matang nakadilat. Never again, Pilipinas!
Pubmat by: FEU Diliman Psychology Organization
