1.

Why does the period of activism also called the period of

the bloody placards?
Youth activism in 1970-72 was due to domestic and worldwide causes. Activism is connected
with the history of our Filipino youth. Because of the ills of society, the youth moved to seek
reforms. Some continued to believe that the democratic government is stable and that it is only
the people running the government who are at fault. Some believed that socialism or
communism should replace democracy. Some armed groups were formed to bring down the
democratic form of government.

Many young people became activists to ask for changes in the government. In the expression of
this desire for change, keen were the writings of some youth who were fired with nationalism
in order to emphasize the importance of their petitions. Many young activists were imprisoned
in military camps together with rebel writers. As early as this period of history we can say that
many of those writers who were imprisoned were true nationalists and heroes of their time. 

In my opinion, I think the Period of Activism is also called the Period of Bloody Placards
because the youth became completely rebellious during this period. This was proven not only in
the bloody demonstrations and in the sidewalk expressions but also in literature. Campus
newspapers showed rebellious emotions. The once aristocratic writers developed awareness
for society. They held pens and wrote on placards in red paint the equivalent of the word
MAKIBAKA (To dare!). They attacked the ills of society and politics. Any establishment became
the symbol of the ills that had to be changed. The frustrations of youth could be felt in churches
and school. Even the priests, teachers and parents, as authorities who should be respected
became targets of the radical youth and were though of as hindrances to the changes they
sought.

The literature of the activists reached a point where they stated boldly what should be done to
effect these changes.

The Literary Revolution The youth became completely rebellious during this period. They held
pens and wrote on placards in red paint the equivalent of the word MAKIBAKA. The literature of
the activists reached a point where they stated boldly what should be done to effect these
changes.

2. Why do you think it is called the period of rebirth of

freedom?
The state of literature during the rebirth of freedom was known as the early post-
liberation period. This period was a struggle of mind and spirit due to emancipation
from the enemy.
June 12,1898 is the first indepence from the Spanish who colonized our country, but
when the japanese came in our country to colonized and they are defeated we regain
our 2nd independence day on Jul 4 1946.

Well, in my opinion, it is not just called as rebirth of freedom for nothing. Filipinos had,
by this time, learned to express themselves more confidently but post-war problems
beyond language and print-like economic stability, the threat of new ideas and mortality
– had to be grappled with side by side.

On July 4th, 1946, the United States Government restored full independence in the
Philippines. After battling different imperial powers for years, the Filipinos finally
achieves their dreams. They were ahead of other countries trying to gain their freedom.
From the beginning, and that is why they were successful.