Photo by Philippine Star (A worker cleans the Martial Law Memorial Wall in Manila yesterday in preparation for the commemoration of the 51st anniversary of the declaration of martial law today.)
Retired Catholic bishops Deogracias Iniguez Jr. of Kalookan and Antonio Tobias of Novaliches are set to lead a solemn mass at the iconic EDSA Shrine to mark the 51st anniversary of the declaration of martial law by former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
In a heartfelt message, the EDSA Shrine posted on Facebook, “Never again! We remember in our prayers the victims of martial law. We also pray that this darkest period in our history may never be repeated!”
The mass is scheduled for 12:15 p.m. and has been announced by church-run Radio Veritas.
Adding his voice to the commemoration, Liberal Party president Rep. Edcel Lagman emphasized that the memory of this grim chapter in Philippine history must endure to guard against any potential recurrence. He stated, “We celebrate anniversaries not only to honor past achievements but also to denounce past horrors.”
On this day, September 21, 1972, Ferdinand Marcos Sr., then the president, signed Proclamation 1081, placing the entire nation under martial law—a state that persisted until it was officially lifted on January 17, 1981. It was during the People Power or EDSA Revolution in February 1986 that he was finally ousted from power.
The martial law era left a devastating legacy, with recorded incidents of 3,257 extrajudicial killings, 35,000 documented cases of torture, 77 forced disappearances, and 70,000 incarcerations.
The EDSA Shrine, erected in 1989, stands as a poignant symbol commemorating the 1986 People Power Revolution. Notably, it was also the epicenter of the 2001 EDSA Revolution, which led to the ousting of former President Joseph Estrada.
Furthermore, the University of the Philippines (UP) is organizing a noon-time noise barrage today. In a memorandum released on September 18, UP President Angelo Jimenez urged members of the UP System to participate in activities that remember the atrocities and suppression of freedom during the martial law period. Jimenez encouraged individuals to use car horns and any available means to create noise across the campus.
