Art exhibit shares survivors’ stories 50 years after martial law in the Philippines

On the 50th anniversary of martial law being declared in the Philippines, the stories of survivors and witnesses are coming to life in Montreal in a new art exhibit titled “Gintong Batas” (Golden Rule).

“This is about remembering what happened and making sure it never again happens,” said Joey Calugay, the co-organizer and participating artist in the exhibit.

In 1972, Ferdinand Marcos, president of the Philippines, placed the entire country under martial law. That meant the country was under military rule, and that Marcos held unlimited authority to make and enforce laws. What followed was a period of a one-man rule until 1986.

Survivors of the martial law Tess and Jess Augustine recount the 14-year period.

“We were not allowed to gather in threes, rumor mongering was considered a subversion, we didn’t know what was going on around us. We were basically repressed and military was everywhere,” said Jess Augustine.

Tess and Jess Augustine at “Gintong Batas” (Golden Rule) art exhibit in Montreal. (Credit: CityNews/Felisha Adam)

Tess remembers their friends and colleagues who were tortured, some killed.

The period saw countless amounts of human rights abuses, targeting those who fought against Marcos’ dictatorship, including political opponents, student activists, journalists and religious workers.

In an emotional speech, Cheney De Guzman, part of Migrante Quebec, says 3,400 individuals were tortured, 3,240 killed, and 70,000 were illegally imprisoned.

Fifty years later, Calugay wants people to remember that those who faced the impacts of those 14 years are still alive today.

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But on the anniversary, survivors Tess and Jess say they fear history may repeat itself. Recently Marcos’ son was elected president of the Philippines. He describes the years of his father’s rule as the golden years.

“Many of the newspapers are being closed down, the people who are working in the church, and in human rights are being arrested. So it’s happening. It’s being repeated,” Jess said.

She says awareness now is more important than ever.

“An exhibit like this is very important to really counter the lies and to again commemorate and celebrate what we accomplished to bring democracy back,” said Jess.

“Gintong Batas” was set up at an event space at 435 Beaubien Ouest in Mile End.