Filipinos-Young and Old-Gather in New York City to Commemorate People Power of 1986 and Anti-Martial Law Movement

Photos by Jonna Baldres & John Paul Miranda

News Release
February 26, 2009

Reference: Gary Labao, NY Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines, email: nychrp@gmail.com

Filipinos-Young and Old-Gather in New York City to Commemorate People Power of 1986 and Anti-Martial Law Movement

New York-- Days before the 23rd anniversary of the so-called "People Power Revolution" of 1986, that saw the unseating of the 21-year dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos in the Philippines, Filipinos in New York City gathered to pay tribute to the legacy of the anti-Martial Law and anti-Marcos movement both in the Philippines and in New York City. PAGPUPUGAY, as the gathering was called, featured a lineup of song, poetry, video, and theatrical performances that united both older and younger Filipinos in tribute to a shared history.

The event was organized by the New York Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines (NYCHRP), and Anakbayan New York/New Jersey. It took place at Gallery 1199, or the Bread and Roses Cultural Project Gallery, at the headquarters of Local 1199 United Healthworkers East at the Martin Luther King Labor Center in Times Square.

The event opened with a prayer-reflection offered by Bea Sabino, a 17-year old member of Anakabayan NY/NJ, who also served as co-emcee for the program with Rico Foz of the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON).

University of the Philippines Professor Bienvenido Lumbera, National Artist for Literature and a former political prisoner under Marcos, delivered the keynote message via video.

“The First Quarter Storm [FQS] dealt a stunning blow to the US Marcos regime in 1970. It was also a wake up call to all patriotic Filipinos.” Lumbrera said in his message.

The FQS was three straight months starting on January 1970 of daily protests of Filipino youth and students mainly against the Vietnam War and intensifying US intervention in the Asia-Pacific region. It defied the subservient stand of the Marcos regime to US government dictates.

With the student protest movement at the forefront, the FQS proved so successful in stirring up the fighting spirit of Filipinos across the country that Marcos had to declare martial law on September 21, 1972, forcing student organizations such as the Kabataang Makabayan (KM), or Patriotic Youth, to go underground. Community organizing in the Philippines was outlawed and the country entered a very dark period in its history.

“Today the struggle continues” Lumbrera said as he urged for Filipinos in the US to remain steadfast and critical of the current Arroyo regime. He closed his message with a the famous battlecry of the FQS--- “Makibaka, Huwag Matakot!”

A Vibrant Movement Continues Underground

"But fascism did not stop us from organizing a vibrant movement nonetheless," stated Ramon Mappala of the NYCHRP, in a testimony to the FQS.

Mappala, then a member of KM, spoke of how the movement for social and economic justice in the country adjusted to the conditions by going underground, and how many paid the price under a US-backed fascist dictatorship. Mappala, like many of his contemporaries who continued on with their activism at that time, was captured and jailed.

Another big highlight of the evening was the testimony of Balthazar Pinguel, the last open national spokesperson of KM before the organization went underground.

True to form, Pinguel roused the audience with his brand of fiery agitation and tribute to KM that easily moved hundreds of thousands of Filipino students during the FQS in the late 60's thru early 70's to confidently take to the streets in protest.

"Marcos was shaking in fear of the strong and militant youth and students movement!" Pinguel said as he narrated his very own experience as a student leader in various rallies, protests and demonstrations. He also provided a glimpse of what was the U.P. Diliman Commune.

Pinguel was a victim of torture while in detention for almost a decade. He traveled with his wife Chato all the way from Philadelphia to speak at the event.

Youth of Yesterday Meet Youth of Today

Contemporary youth voices urging for the continuation of the FQS's legacy were also represented in performances by members of Anakbayan NY/NJ.

Members of Anakbayan performed a “Kilos-Awit” (interpretative movement) of a well-known FQS era song called "Martsa Ng Bayan" (The Peoples’ March). “Kilos-Awit" is an artform developed and made popular by KM activists back in the 60’s that continues to be a staple among rallies and protests today. The performance spoke of the broad alliance-building among the various social sectors of Filipino society during the Marcos dictatorship.

Another classic, "Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa", a poem by Andres Bonifacio and that was made into a song by political prisoners in the 70s was sung by Taospuso of SANDIWA National Filipino Youth Alliance and Tutz Saulon of Kabalikat Domestic Workers Group. Peewee Recaido of the Kappa Pi Fraternity played the guitar accompaniment.

The active role of Filipino women against the anti-dictatorship movement such as the MAKIBAKA was also acknowledged. A witty but meaningful poem by Gabriela-USA member Melanie Dulfo of Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment was delivered. Donnie Manuel, singer and songwriter, offered an acoustic performance of “Kababaihan”, one of his compositions.

Martial Law Under Arroyo

After an emotional video documenting the EDSA Uprising of 1986 that brought some audience members to tears, Anakbayan member Yves Nibungco and NYCHRP members Gary Labao and Lolan Sevilla each spoke of the need to continue the legacy of the FQS and EDSA 1 because martial law is still present under the current regime of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

"The Philippine movement still needs you, and younger generation of activists need your wisdom and lessons learned from that time, because there is still martial law in the Philippines today under Arroyo," stated Labao.

Community members were given the opportunity to share their own experiences. Bebot Galvan of KABALIKAT Filipino Domestic Workers Support Group delivered a testimony of her experiences as a teenager during the martial law era. A Maranao, Potri Ranka Manis, spoke of her experiences and treatment by the Philippine military while in detention. Clemencia Wong, Vice-Chair of the Human Rights Committee of the Philippine Nurses Association of America (PNAA) also spoke of her experiences during the 1986 EDSA uprising even though she was already in the US. NY cardiologist Dr. Orlando Apiado of the Movement for a Free Philippines (MFP) spoke of vibrant active anti-Marcos movement amongst Filipinos in New York City, particularly when the late Senators Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Raul Manglapuz and human rights lawyer Romeo Capulong all lived here. Another MFP member New Jersey based Atty. Emerito Salud closed the event with another poem. ###


Pics attached:

1. PAGPUPUGAY group shot
2. Bienvenido Lumbera video keynote message
3. Balthazar Pinguel of Kabataang Makabayan
4. Balthazar Pinguel speaks about the FQS
5. Anakbayan NY/NJ Kilos-Awit rendition of "Martsa ng Bayan"

To view more pictures from this event, visit: http://photobucket.com/pagpupugay_21feb2009