The traveling exhibition, in commemoration of the Edsa People Power Anniversary, provided a space for memory and truth-telling to debunk widespread misinformation
In commemoration of the 39th EDSA People Power Anniversary this February 25th, the Human Rights Violations Victims’ Memorial Commission (HRVVMC) brought the Martial Law Mobile Gallery: The Ten Essential Truths to the Atrium @ Benilde.
The event was in partnership with the Center for Social Action (CSA) of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB).
Held in celebration of National Arts Month, the traveling exhibition aimed to promote historical awareness, as well as foster a deeper understanding of human rights and democracy through printmaking.
The initiative, which underscored the pressing need to remember, conserve, and to educate, and engage the public, provided a space for memory and truth-telling to continuously debunk widespread misinformation about the atrocities committed during this dark chapter in the country.
The three-day installation presented illustrations by Martial Law survivor and Filipino social-realist artist Edgar “Egai” Talusan Fernandez (1955–2024) in collaboration with Ang Gerilya, an artist collective with works that took inspiration from Philippine culture and history. They explored socio-political issues and national identity.
The interactive gallery walked viewers through the human narratives of the Martial Law victims from the Freedom Memorial Museum Gallery (TFMMG). It further guided students on how to create distinct prints which symbolize essential truths about the Martial Law period.
The opening was led by HRVVMC executive director Chuck Crisanto and Benilde vice president for Lasallian Mission and Student Life Nicky Templo Perez.
“This year, the People Power Anniversary has a status lower than Chinese New Year, meaning it is a working holiday among all of the other holidays in our country,” Crisanto highlighted. “Definitely, we see a deliberate attempt to slowly erase it from memory.
“This mobile gallery is not an indictment of what was done in the past, but for us to actually review what we want for our future,” he added. “Ano bang klaseng lipunan ang gusto natin? Ano bang klaseng pamahalaan ang gusto natin? Anong klaseng sistema ng polisya ang nais natin? These are the things that we would like you to think about.”
Crisanto likewise extended his utmost gratitude to the college for having the progressiveness to host the mobile gallery. “Not every school is open to this kind of exhibit,” he stressed.
In her speech, Templo Perez noted the significance of initiatives such as the Martial Law Mobile Gallery: The Ten Essential Truths in storytelling and memory recall, especially with the upcoming mid-term elections.
“This exhibit gathers the real stories and tells them over and over again so we will always remember,” she stated. “Ipaalala and patuloy na alalahanin kung ano ‘yung mga nangyari noon para hindi na maulit.
“I hope we get a lot of students to see, read, understand, and hopefully act,” she added. “Sana yung mga kabataan natin, nakapag-rehistro para makaboto.”
For more information about the initiatives of Benilde CSA, visit https://www.facebook.com/centerforsocialaction.
