Hilda Billano Narciso, a Martial Law survivor, refuses to be defined solely by the trauma she endured. Arrested in 1983 on false charges, she was tortured and raped in military custody, yet she insists, “I’m a victim, but a survivor.” Now in her 80s, Hilda has dedicated her life to advocacy, healing, and speaking out against injustice.
Forty years after the People Power Revolution, she reflects on survival, cruelty, and the enduring belief that life remains beautiful. She observes how power shifts yet often repeats the same patterns of violence—whether under Marcos’ declared Martial Law or Duterte’s “undeclared” version. “Extremes, but the same,” she says, criticizing leaders who prioritize personal interests over the nation.
Hilda urges people to seek balance and light amid darkness. “You cannot tell right from wrong if you remain in the dark,” she warns, emphasizing accountability and restitution. Healing, for her, is both personal and collective: “When you heal yourself, you heal others. When you heal others, you heal the country.”
Despite the pain she has witnessed, Hilda holds onto hope—not because cruelty is absent, but because understanding human contradictions reveals life’s beauty. Her resilience stands as a testament to the enduring fight for justice and the power of healing. (Bea Gatmaytan / MindaNews)
