MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews / 24 February) – Various groups will hold a screening of the award-winning Martial Law documentary “11,103” to mark the 38th anniversary of the Edsa People Power Revolt that toppled the Marcos dictatorship.
The screening will be on Feb. 28, from 6:30pm to 9:00pm, at the audio-visual room of Holy Cross of Davao College, Sta. Ana Avenue, Davao City.
“The screening is organized in light of the increase of dis-, mal- and misinformation regarding the Martial Law period, spread predominantly through social media,” according to the press release from Forum Ziviler Friedensdienst-Philippines, Active Vista, Dakila, the Media Educators of Mindanao, Pasalidahay, Mindanao Histories and Studies Advocacy Group, and Holy Cross of Davao College, the event’s organizers.
It said the attempt to downplay the serious human rights violations during Martial Law “feeds into existing trends of polarization and normalization of violence. By screening the documentary publicly and for free, the organizers hope to popularize first-hand narratives of Martial Law and thus contribute to countering mis-, mal- and disinformation about this historical period.”
The screening will be accompanied by a showing of the interactive exhibition “Mindanao-woven: Threading our Histories, Weaving our Peace” exhibition, which will open at 5:30PM onwards.
A panel discussion will also happen after the screening with film programmer Jay Rosas, Rhys Lacia of Holy Cross’ Institute of Davao Studies, Melissa Barrera of Dakila, and Mimi Arquiza, a Martial Law survivor from Davao.
The discussion will focus on the need to promote Mindanaoan histories, including from the Martial Law period, and the role of media in doing so.
According to a discussion guide on the documentary prepared by Active Vista, “11,103 documents the dedication, commitment, and sacrifice of the people that had given their lives and freedoms to fight for freedom and democracy during the grim years of the Marcos government.
“The film features numerous martial law survivors as they tell their own experience of martial law. It tells the stories of ordinary people of the struggle and the different types of human rights violations during those times including arbitrary arrest and detention, torture, extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances and massacre to repress dissent against the unsatisfactory performance of the government to address the needs of the people.”
Participants are required to register for the event via this link bit.ly/11103davao, bring their valid IDs, and follow the dress code of the Holy Cross of Davao College.
President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. imposed martial law on Sept. 21, 1972, a few months before the end of his term.
Marcos would rule with an ironfist until his ouster on the night of Feb. 25, 1986 via a civilian-backed military mutiny that ended his 21-year regime.
He and his family fled to Hawaii where a court that heard a class suit filed by human rights violations victims found him guilty of the charges and ordered him to pay an indemnification. (MindaNews)
