21/09/2026
September 21, 1972, marked the beginning of a dark chapter in Philippine history. When Ferdinand Marcos Sr. placed the country under Martial Law, extraordinary government powers were used to suppress dissent and strengthen state control. The consequences extended beyond political repression, reaching forests, rivers, mountains, and ancestral lands whose communities were often displaced in the name of development.
Fifty-four years after Martial Law, displacement, environmental destruction, and the persecution of community advocates remain pressing concerns.
Today, we remember the horrors of Martial Law not only to remember the abuses committed against the Filipino people under the Marcos dictatorship, but also to honor the courage of those who stood up and fought for change.
As environmental advocates, we must not allow history to repeat itself. Let us continue to stand against the destruction of our forests, rivers, and communities, and defend the people whose lives and livelihoods are threatened in the name of development.
Our struggle for environmental protection is also a struggle for human rights, justice, and a future where communities and nature are valued over profit and power.
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ผ๐๐ผ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐๐ง๐ฉ๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐ฌ. ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐จ๐ฉ๐ง๐ช๐๐๐ก๐ ๐ค๐ ๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐ฅ๐๐ค๐ฅ๐ก๐.
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๐ฉ๐ผ๐น๐๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐บ. ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ. ๐ก๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น๐ถ๐๐บ.
โ๏ธ: Ash Ash, Claire, Haira
๐ผ๏ธ: Sam
