'Alab ng Puso' lecture counters claims that Martial Law was PHL’s golden years

In commemoration of Human Rights Day, the Commission of Human Rights, Bantayog ng mga Bayani, National Union of Journalists in the Philippines, I-Defend, and Dakila organized 'Alab ng Puso' at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani Saturday afternoon.

Absent from the gathering early in the afternoon are chants and witty signs. The program instead started with a lecture by Professor Xiao Chua of De La Salle University.

Chua quoted from the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos' diary, which detailed his intention to have absolute power through Martial Law.

Xiao Chua quotes from Marcos' diary pic.twitter.com/it88JbsBfz

— Aya Tantiangco Miura (@ayaruim) December 10, 2016

Chua also pointed to Juan Ponce Enrile's ambush in asserting that the conditions to declare Martial Law were not met.

"Nag-imbento sila ng ambush," Chua said.

Also addressing the claims that the Marcoses were rich before they declared Martial Law, Chua pointed to the discrepancy in their declaration of wealth before and after their regime.

Mayaman nga ba ang mga Marcos bago ang Martial Law era? pic.twitter.com/7QdwkLxcN3

— Aya Tantiangco Miura (@ayaruim) December 10, 2016

In response to the claims that numerous infrastructures were built during Martial Law, Chua asked, "Kaninong pera ba 'yan?"

"Tax ng lolo at lola," he declared. "Tax natin, kasi utang."

The constricting atmosphere was also discussed, with Chua declaring that something as seemingly benign as having long hair for boys was banned.

Chua recounted for the crowd the torture that happened, revealing that helping in the outskirts could lead to people being tagged communists. They would then be arrested and brutalized.

Activist had creative ways to protest: Wearing black ribbons, holding flowers, singing the national anthem and dispersing immediately after. pic.twitter.com/uRjQFbV2lk

— Aya Tantiangco Miura (@ayaruim) December 10, 2016

The experience of women like Sister Marianni, Lily Hilao, and more activists were told again, illustrating extreme violation of Human Rights.

Hilao was raped repeatedly while detained during Martial Law.

Xiao Chua recounts the death of Lily Hilao pic.twitter.com/mQvJHnsibA

— Aya Tantiangco Miura (@ayaruim) December 10, 2016

Elsewhere at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani, murals were being made and the stage was being set for a concert scheduled to last until midnight. —ALG, GMA News