Survivors of Martial Law and activists gathered at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani in Quezon City on March 6 to pay tribute to the women martyrs of the dictatorship. The commemoration was held in time for the International Womens’ Day on March 8.
“We should never forget the sacrifices made by those who offered their lives for our nation,” said Gabriela Quezon City spokesperson Maristella Garcia.
The gathering recounted the work and contribution of the women martyrs to bringing down the dictatorship.
“For as long as there is no genuine democracy and no justice for our people, we shall continue the struggle they have started,” Garcia added.
Women fought against the dictatorship
“Back in the 70’s, women were no longer meek and docile. Women were also at the front lines against martial law, ” said Nenita “Ka Nitz” Gonzaga, Vice President for Women’s Affairs of labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno.
Nitz Gonzaga was then a third year student of the Philippine College of Commerce (now Polytechnic University of the Philippines) taking her internship at National Federation of Labor Unions (NAFLU) when Martial Law was declared.
She worked then as secretary of labor leader Felixberto Olalia.
“I wasn’t an activist back then. I was a just a mere secretary, but I soon found out that I was under surveillance,” said Gonzaga.
Two days after Ferdinand Marcos declared Martial Law, Ka Nitz noticed that agents belonging to the Military Intelligence Group were tailing her from the NAFLU office to her home.
Gonzaga narrated that her husband prevented the agents from arresting her. He insisted on joining her in jail if she was to be arrested.
Nitz Gonzaga was not cowed by the imposition of Martial Law. In fact, it further strenghtened her resolve to go ‘full-time’.
Four decades and five regimes after Martial Law, she is still active in the labor movement.
Ka Nitz was fortunate to have survived Martial Law. Thousands of bright young men and women perished during that dark period in our nation’s history.
“Young women activists vanished without a trace, ” said former political detainee Prof. Judy Taguiwalo.
As an example, she cited the case of Rizalina Ilagan, community organizer and writer of the underground publication Kalatas. Ilagan was abducted along with two other women companions in 1977 in the Southern Tagalog region. They have never resurfaced since then. Rizalina Ilagan is the sister of renowned playwright, director and also Martial Law victim Bonifacio Ilagan.
Bongbong Marcos’ election bid assailed
Taguiwalo, along with other survivors of Martial Law formed CARMMA or Campaign against the Return of the Marcoses to Malacañang early this year.
In her speech at Bantayog ng mga Bayani, Taguiwalo slammed the younger Marcos’ political ambition.
Named after his deceased father, Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. is eyeing the vice presidential slot in the upcoming May 2016 polls.
“It is untrue that Bongbong Marcos is not without fault. He benefitted from the dictatorship. He was a reserve officer for the Armed Forces of the Philippines and he was receiving a hefty salary from Philcomsat,” said Taguiwalo.
According to CARMMA’s statement, Bongbong was appointed chairman of Philcomsat by his father in 1985, where he received a monthly salary between $9,700 and $97,000.
“Up until this day, we have not heard an apology from the Marcoses. The ill-gotten wealth has not been returned to the Filipino people,” she added.
According to CARMMA, much of the family’s ill gotten wealth has yet to be retrieved. An estimated $10 billion are believed to have been stolen by the Marcoses and only $4 billion has been recovered by the Presidential Commission on Good Government.
The Marcoses remain in power after EDSA People Power 1986 toppled Martial Law. Bongbong Marcos is currently senator, while his mother Imelda Marcos is congresswoman of Ilocos Norte. His sister Irene Marcos is governor of Ilocos Norte.
