Filipino group’s ‘Martial Law at 50’ event at human rights museum a success

Filipino group’s ‘Martial Law at 50’ event at human rights museum a success

PMHSI members with Marichu Antonio.
Photos: Jomay Amora-Dueck

By Jomay Amora-Dueck
The Philippine Reporter

The “Balik-Tanaw: Martial Law at 50” event held last September 23, 2022 at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR) was a huge success.

Members of the Philippine-Manitoba Historical Society, Inc. (PMHSI) said more than 500 people participated in this historic event. Among the 240 people who attended the film screening, at least 120 were students and teachers from Sisler High School, Maples Met School, MET Centre for Arts and Technology, University of Winnipeg, among others.

The event featured a martial law exhibit, a film showing (SHOWTIME® documentary THE KINGMAKER), and a cultural celebration to mark the 50th year since the declaration of martial law on September 21, 1972.

According to Nico Bryle Alfafara, co-founder of PMHSI, they organized the event to ensure the horrors and atrocities of the Martial Law era remain alive in the collective memory and consciousness of the nation and the Filipino community in Canada.

“We are so happy that a lot of young people like me came out to support us and learn about our past,” said Alfafara.

Marichu Antonio talks to students

Marichu Antonio and Chris Sorio, both Martial Law survivors, shared their harrowing experiences during the open forum.

Antonio was one of the “Pangasinan Seven” who was abducted by the military in 1984 and subjected to gruesome torture and abuse at a secret military safe house. She disappeared for 12 days and later was imprisoned without due process from 1984 to 1985.

Antonio was part of a group that won the class-action lawsuit against Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. in 1992 at a Federal Court in Hawaii. She now lives in Calgary and was the first Filipino and woman of colour to be named Calgary’s Citizen of the Year in 2021.

“It is very important for the young people to know the truth about our history. It is not right to deny it nor revise it and erase it from our history,” said Antonio.

PMHSI founders with Marichu Antonio

Vancouver resident Sorio also spoke during the open forum. In 1982, he was arrested by soldiers in Manila. Only 21-years old then, Chris said he was brought to a military camp where he was tortured.

“I was repeatedly electrocuted through my genitals. To make the electric shocks more intense, my captors poured water over me. I was stripped naked, and was subjected to both physical and mental torture. I was kept in isolation, threatened to be executed and was imprisoned for two years until the ouster of the dictator in 1986.”

The cultural night was also a hit. Among the Filipino-Canadian artists who graced the occasion were Mervin Sison, Jovelle Balani, Hazel Wallace, Paolo Camus, Alex Canlapan, Sean Pacheco, Danilo “Ka Daning” Ramos, Alapaap and the Missing Page.

“We are truly grateful for the love and support that we received from our partners, donors, government leaders, the youth and members of our community. Thank you CMHR for giving us a safe space to share our collective stories,” said Jomay Amora-Dueck, co-founder of PMHSI.

ML50 organizers and performers

MLA Obby Khan with MLA Dilget Brar and ST Jennifer Chen