The Bantayog ng mga Bayani marks the 54th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law with an exhibit titled 'Never Forget,' featuring 54 photographs by veteran photographer Joey Manalang, enhanced using technology and artificial intelligence. Photos by Jessie Cruzat, ABS-CBN News
MANILA -- A collection of 54 photographs documenting the Philippines under the martial law rule of former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and the subsequent struggle that led to the restoration of democracy is on display at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani in Quezon City.
The exhibit that opened Sunday featured photographs by veteran photojournalist Joey Manalang.
It centered on the theme “Never Forget” and captured scenes from the dictatorship of Marcos Sr., which began in 1972 and ultimately culminated in the 1986 People Power Revolution.
The exhibit coincides with the 54th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law which falls on September 21.
The photographs were unexpectedly rediscovered by Manalang’s brother in the basement of their family home in Quezon City, organizers said. This brought hundreds of photographic negatives back to life after nearly four decades.
Jessie Cruzat, ABS-CBN News
The photographs were subsequently preserved, scanned, and digitized through the help of artificial intelligence.
For public historian Xiao Chua, the exhibit provides a reminder that the People Power Revolution was the result of years of struggle and sacrifice.
“The exhibit reminds us that People Power was not a very simple thing that happened, na nagkaisa ‘yong mga tao then na patalsikin ‘yong dictator. That there was a lot of struggle within the movement. And makikita natin yan. And also, ‘yong conflict that people power was not totally peaceful,” Chua said.
While the 1986 revolution was peaceful in the sense that it succeeded in removing the dictator without a full-scale armed confrontation, the years leading to it were still marked by violence, unrest and sacrifice, Chua said.
He noted the importance of preserving and telling these stories, particularly as Filipinos continue to enjoy the freedoms won through the struggles of the past.
“Kailangan i-kwento ‘yong kwento na ‘yon. We have to tell a complicated story. Papakaingatan natin ‘yong freedom natin. Hindi natin pabayaan, hindi natin ibibigay ulit sa isang diktador,” Chua said.
Jessie Cruzat, ABS-CBN News
For Martial Law survivor Jovie Labajo, the exhibit was an important way of showing younger generations what actually happened during the dictatorship.
“Ito ay alaala na sagrado ‘yong dangal ng tao. Kailangan pangalagaan mo ‘yon. Minsan may pagkakataon na isang ordinaryong mahirap, meron siyang ginagampanang pananagutan sa lipunan. Tumindig. Labanan ‘yong pang-aapi. Ang kasaysayan ang nagsasabi na ano mang uri ng pang-aapi, ang lakas ng sambayan ang susupil,” said Labajo.
For 20 year-old Wesley Vergara, a member of the anti-martial law group August Twenty One Movement (ATOM), the photographs offered a different perspective on a period he only learned about through books and documentaries.
“Bilang hindi pa buhay ng Martial Law, nakikita kong malaking opportunity yung photo exhibit na ito to serve as a lesson… it gave me a new angle where I can see what truly happened,” Vergara said.
The exhibit was organized by ATOM, Buhay ang People Power, and the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation, in partnership with the Bantayog ng mga Bayani.
It will remain open to the public until September 21.
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