Prian T.

Tadlip
I-BA Communication
COMM 1SP

As part of the generation Z who was not on the actual scene during the Martial Law by

the Marcos’ regime, I neglected this important issue at first. Every time my family would talk

about this matter, I just shut up because I didn’t care. They narrated that Marcos was the best

president and the economic growth of our country on that period was blooming. The same

situation I learned from our school, teachers emphasized that Marcos’ regime totally lifts up the

country from poverty. Then, I entered UP and all my life, I was living with a lie. Through the

forum that was conducted last September 19, my perspective to this issue shifted and I was

informed by the truth.

The “Never Again to Dictatorship: A Public Forum in Remembrance of the Struggle

against Martial Law” gave me an opportunity to appreciate the suffering of our fellow Filipino

countrymen. The highlight of the forum was the stories of the Martial survivors that led me to

think critically about our situation today. We are slowly experiencing dictatorship by Duterte’s

administration. Someone told me that he can be the next Marcos and we don’t agree with that

since we already saw how cruel it is. It opened my mind to be vigilant with the issues happening

around our country because I realized who else will help this nation? Us, the Filipino, of course!

The moment I started to absorb the stories of our Martial Law survivors was also the exact

moment I realized that this should not be neglected. This should be worth fighting for because as

what I have witnessed from the forum, they have been beaten, killed and suffered. Now, I

reflected, where is the love for the country?

The love for the country that we hoped for are consumed by their power. We don’t want

that to happen again. Never Again, Never Forget to Martial Law!