Name: Mary Monique Faye T.

Binalo
Course/Year/Section: BSMT 2-A Date: 12/15/21
Activity 1:
Read a brief biographical entry of a historical personality. (e.g. a student at the time of Martial
Law, a mother during World War II, an activist present during the EDSA People Power 1). Write
a reflection paper about the life of that individual and his/her impact on Philippine society. Cite
the sources used in your paper.
Bonifacio Ilagan
Bonifacio Ilagan was a young activist and a martial law survivor who was tortured and
imprisoned between 1974 and 1976. He emphasizes that if the Marcoses fail to apologize to the
victims of martial law, they will never be able to move on from the horrors of the dictatorial
dictatorship. Ilagan was subjected to "systematic torture" by state forces for the next two
years. Rizalina, Ilagan's sister, was kidnapped, tortured, and raped before becoming one of the
thousands of desaparecidos, or forced disappearance victims. After being released from prison
in 1976, he reenrolled in UP and his debut play, the liturgical Pagsambang Bayan, depicted the
Marcoses' willful human rights atrocities. Rizalina, his younger sister, was memorialized in
Pagsambang Bayan. His other screenplays include Dukot, which focuses on extrajudicial killings
and political abductions, and Sigwa, about the First Quarter Storm and Martial Law, which won
him the FAMAS award for Best Story and Best Screenplay in 2011.
It was indeed a traumatic story and knowledgeable one, and despite of being oppressed he still
finds his reason to live and share his experiences not only to the youth but also to every
Filipinos. There are different sides of story of Martial Law, however, it is still immoral to kill, or
torture people despite its reason. Bonifacio Ilagan’s story has garnered many awards and was
recognized by many. “After all, when our young people do not learn the lessons of history. We
are bound to repeat the tragedy of the past.” (Bonifacio Ilagan). It's his way of informing future
generations that the harsh days of martial rule will always be remembered. However, the
generations today have different perspective already about the past, there were information
that has never been released by media which lead to confusions among the generation. I
believed that we have our own opinion, and we just need to respect each other.
Activity 2:
From the biography that you have read in Activity 1, complete the graphic organizer
below:

Personal Information An important experience in his/her life

 A Martial Law Survivor Boni Ilagan is a witness to the horrors of
 A multi awarded filmmaker and martial law. He was a student leader at the
playwright time who protested human rights violations
 One of the founders of KM in UP during the Marcos regime. He was arrested in
1974.
 He entered UP in 1968 as a political
science student
 He worked as a reporter for the TV
Times magazine
 Script writer for public affairs,
documentaries, operas and special.

Importance of his/her narrative to

Accomplishments
national history Bonifacio
 one of the founders of KM in UP Iligan
A Martial
writerLaw survivor, plays
of historical lifelong
foractivist
stage and
and human rights
television advocate, Ilagan
opened his Plaridel writer
 multi-awarded lecture by dedicating
it to winning
the memory of the Filipino
major literary heroes
awards among
and martyrs
them thewhoDonfought
Carlosand died Awards
Palanca to for
defend democracy,
Literature freedom and human
rights. “Ang Gawad
 Cultural Center Plaridel para sa akin
of the Philippines Literary
ay isang hamon upang ipagpatuloy ang
Contest
kanilang
 Palihang simulain,”
AurelioheV.said.
Tolentino
 Catholic Mass Media Awards
 Philippine Movie Press Club Star Awards
 Gawad CCP
Sources:
Torture victims ask: 'Healing without justice, forgiveness sans apology?' | ABS-CBN News
Gawad Plaridel 2019 awardee Bonifacio Ilagan—in the spirit of Plaridel – University of the Philippines
(up.edu.ph)
Bonifacio Ilagan: Gawad Plaridel 2019 - University of the Philippines Diliman (upd.edu.ph)
From guts to Gloria | Inquirer Lifestyle
Martial law's dark days remembered online (cnnphilippines.com)