Human Rights Violations Victims' Memorial Commission

16/09/2026

🎭 BANTAYOG: Alaala at Gunita | A Staged Reading Cycle on Martial Law and Memory

The Human Rights Violations Victims' Memorial Commission (HRVVMC) invites everyone to support Scene Change as they present BANTAYOG: Alaala at Gunita—a limited staged reading cycle bringing together two powerful plays that examine Martial Law, state violence, disappearance, and the vital work of public memory.

SHOW SCHEDULE
VILLA by Guillermo Calderón (translated & directed by Giancarlo Abrahan)

🗓️ September 19 & 20 | 7:30 PM

Three women debate how to memorialize Villa Grimaldi, a center of torture and detention during Augusto Pinochet's military dictatorship in Chile.

DESAPARESIDOS adapted from Lualhati Bautista's novel by Guelan Varela-Luarca (directed by Guelan Varela-Luarca & Kat Batara)

🗓️ September 26 & 27 | 7:30 PM

Following activists Anna and Roy through the Martial Law era and its aftermath, reflecting on the lingering impact of political disappearance and how past traumas shape future generations.

📍 Venue: Power Mac Center Spotlight Blackbox Theater, Circuit Makati

🎟️ Get Your Tickets: tinyurl.com/scbantayog2026

🔗 Follow Scene Change: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574716559784

Together, let us honor the past, challenge denial, and uphold the discipline of remembering. See you at the theater!

15/09/2026

The Human Rights Violations Victims’ Memorial Commission (HRVVMC) Library conducted resource acquisition activities at the Manila International Book Fair (MIBF) on 10 September 2026.

In line with the Commission’s mandate under Republic Act No. 10368, the Library develops and maintains Filipiniana collections covering the history and broader context of the Martial Law period, including human rights violations, the experiences of victims and survivors, activism, resistance, media and journalism, culture, and the arts. The Library also acquires foreign publications that provide perspectives on democracy, conflict, social justice, trauma, resilience, and mental well-being.

The HRVVMC Library aims to strengthen and diversify its collection with relevant and reliable resources that support research, education, historical memory, and a deeper understanding of human rights and the experiences of individuals and communities.

Discover more related resources through the HRVVMC Library OPAC: https://libraryopac.hrvvmc.gov.ph/

14/09/2026

𝗜𝗖𝗬𝗠𝗜: Across four sessions on September 5 and 12, The Freedom Memorial Museum Gallery hosted 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗺: 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗮𝘄 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗼𝗿𝘀.

Eight Martial Law survivors (Tina Bawagan, Niva Gonzales, Nilda Fullon, Jovie Labajo, Edna Aquino, Alex Aquino, Doris Nuval, and Boni Ilagan) led over 60 visitors through an immersive journey of remembrance and reflection, sharing raw, firsthand accounts of struggle and resistance during the 1972–1986 Martial Law period. By sharing their firsthand experiences, they turned the gallery into an active space for dialogue and learning—connecting past and present, honoring the truth, and standing against historical distortion.

This special initiative is organized in celebration of the 80th Anniversary of the International Council of Museums - ICOM and its theme, "Museums Uniting a Divided World," and in commemoration of the 54th year since the declaration of Martial Law in the Philippines.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our partners, Bantayog ng mga Bayani and the Survivors’ Hub (1972–1986), for helping make this meaningful collaboration possible.

Never forget. Hear the stories, honor the truth, and keep the memory alive.

14/09/2026

𝐋𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐚 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐭: 𝐀 𝐋𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐚𝐰

The College of Media and Communication Library, in partnership with the Human Rights Violations Victims’ Memorial Commission and the Freedom Memorial Museum, invites the academic community and the public to a lecture examining how Martial Law has been documented and represented in the media.

Date: 18 September 2026
Time: 1:00 PM
Venue: CMC Auditorium

Mr. Alfred Mendiola, History Researcher at the HRVVMC, will lead the lecture, highlighting the importance of memory work in sustaining truth, justice, and democratic resilience.

Registration is available via the QR code or through this link: https://forms.gle/FDMS6Ff2AZiH6WWv6

12/09/2026

Honoring historical truth and the enduring spirit of courage through shared memory.

In line with the commemoration of the 𝟱𝟰𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗮𝘄 in the Philippines, HRVVMC is partnering with the UPD College of Media and Communication Library to host the 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗮𝘄 𝗠𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘆: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗻 𝗘𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵𝘀.

This participative exhibit features the works of Martial Law survivor and Social Realist artist Edgar “Egai” Talusan Fernandez, in collaboration with Ang Gerilya, offering a powerful artistic and educational look at the Martial Law period (1972–1986). Selected books from the HRVVMC Library will also be available for browsing, together with other educational resource materials.

🗓️ 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟳-𝟭𝟴, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
🕰️ 𝟭𝟬:𝟬𝟬 𝗔𝗠 𝘁𝗼 𝟯:𝟬𝟬 𝗣𝗠
📍 𝗟𝗼𝗯𝗯𝘆, 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗹 𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗹, 𝗨𝗣 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘀, 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘇𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆

Open to the public. Come and visit this space dedicated to historical truth and collective remembrance.

(Note: Alongside the public exhibit, an exclusive session entitled “𝗔 𝗟𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗮𝘄” will be conducted for registered participants on September 18.)

Special thanks to our promotional partners, the UP Center for Ethnomusicology and Marz Today.

11/09/2026

The Human Rights Violations Victims’ Memorial Commission (HRVVMC) is proud to announce that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has formally commended the HRVVMC for our performance in delivering both our financial and physical commitments for the mid-year of 2026!

This recognition reflects our unwavering commitment to fiscal responsibility, good governance, and operational efficiency as we continue our vital mission of preserving historical truth, honoring Martial Law survivors, and promoting human rights education across the nation.

We share this milestone with our partners, advocates, and the Filipino people whose support inspires us to serve with integrity and dedication.

Rest assured, HRVVMC will maintain this momentum to fulfill all our targets for the rest of the year!

10/09/2026

Pursuant to Memorandum Circular No. 135, s. 2026 issued by the Office of the President, and in anticipation of the continued heavy rainfall associated with the Southwest Monsoon, the HRVVMC will be implementing a Work-From-Home (WFH) arrangement today, September 10, 2026 (Thursday).

During this period, schedule adjustments are as follows:
HRVVMC Office: CLOSED
Library and Archives: CLOSED
The Freedom Memorial Museum Gallery: OPEN

The HRVVMC assures the public of the continuous delivery of services during the aforementioned working period.

For inquiries and requests, clients may contact HRVVMC through our official email address: [email protected].

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

09/09/2026

Meet the second batch of survivor-guides behind 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗺.

HRVVMC presents 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗺: 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗮𝘄 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗼𝗿𝘀 at The Freedom Memorial Museum Gallery. We are honored to introduce the Martial Law survivors who will lead the second installment of these special guided tours on 12 September 2026:

𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝟵:𝟬𝟬 𝗔𝗠)
• Edna Aquino
• Alexander Aquino

𝗔𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗼𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝟮:𝟬𝟬 𝗣𝗠)
• Doris Nuval
• Bonifacio Ilagan

More than a museum tour, this is an opportunity to encounter history through firsthand stories of courage, resistance, and remembrance. Join us in honoring truth, preserving memory, and challenging historical distortion.

This special initiative is organized in celebration of the 80th Anniversary of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) and its theme, "Museums Uniting a Divided World," and in commemoration of the 54th year since the declaration of Martial Law in the Philippines.

📍 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗺 𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘆
🗓️ 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟱 & 𝟭𝟮, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
🕣 𝟵:𝟬𝟬 𝗔𝗠 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟮:𝟬𝟬 𝗣𝗠 (𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗯𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝟭𝟱 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗿)
𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: https://forms.gle/CaUK6wZcP3mzjywS7 (𝗕𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗹𝗼𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹; 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁)

𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗘: Strictly no walk-ins allowed. All waitlisted participants will receive a confirmation a day before the scheduled tour. The event is FREE and open to the public.

07/09/2026

𝗧𝗮𝗿𝗮, 𝗸𝘂𝘄𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗮𝘆𝗼? 𝗧𝗮𝗼 𝘀𝗮 𝘁𝗮𝗼.

Sa nalalapit na paggunita ng ika-54 anibersaryo ng deklarasyon ng Batas Militar, muling bubuksan ng Human Rights Violations Victims’ Memorial Commission ang espasyo para sa pakikinig, pag-alala at pakikipagkapwa-tao sa mga mismong nakaranas ng Martial Law.

𝘚𝘢 𝘛𝘢𝘰 𝘴𝘢 𝘛𝘢𝘰: 𝘔𝘨𝘢 𝘒𝘶𝘸𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘯𝘨 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘓𝘢𝘸, makakasama natin sina Gng. 𝗡𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗮 𝗚𝗶𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗮-𝗙𝘂𝗹𝗹𝗼𝗻 at G. 𝗕𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗼 𝗝𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗦𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗮𝘀, dalawang survivor na magbabahagi ngkanilang salaysay at karanasan noong Batas Militar.

Isasagawa ito sa 9 Setyembre 2026, 8 n.u. sa National University Las Piñas. Nakalaan at makakatuwang sa aktibidad na ito ang mga mag-aaral ng NU-Las Piñas.

06/09/2026