LIST: Community events, activities on 54th Martial Law commemoration

Already have Rappler+? Sign in to listen to groundbreaking journalism.

This is AI-generated. Read the article for full context. Report any errors.

MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos will mark the 54th anniversary of Martial Law on September 21, 2026, commemorating the declaration of Proclamation No. 1081 by then-president Ferdinand E. Marcos. It ushered in a dark period in Philippine history, marked by widespread human rights abuses and a crackdown on free speech.

While street protests remain a central fixture of remembrance, several groups are set to organize educational forums, film screenings, art exhibits, and interactive community gatherings across the country.

The ninth installment of the 1081 exhibit, honoring the victims of Ferdinand Marcos’ dictatorship, is open to visitors until Monday, September 21, at the UP Cebu Performing Arts Hall.

Students from UP Baguio will conduct alternative educational sessions in commemoration of the anniversary. Baguio-Benguet Laban sa Korapsyon will host talks, forums, and film viewings throughout the week, leading up to an assembly at the university on Monday, September 21, at 5:30 pm.

The UP Los Baños College of Arts and Sciences will screen seven short films about the Martial Law period at the CAS Auditorium on Monday, September 21, at 4 pm. Admission is free with online registration.

On Monday, September 21, at 6 pm EDT (720 Spadina Ave, Canada), Anakbayan Toronto will host an educational discussion on historical resistance, anti-fascism, and organizing.

DIKTADOR! is an immersive role-playing card game about Martial Law history and Filipino resistance organized by Project Gunita. The creators are partnering with different organizations to hold game nights throughout the month:

The Women’s Legal and Human Rights Bureau Inc. is organizing a trivia night about Martial Law history and current events on Sunday, September 20, 12 pm, at Sunshineboy Cafe in Mahinhin 57, Quezon City. The event will also feature Project Gunita’s DIKTADOR! card game. Register for free (solo or as a team) online.

GABRIELA Youth UP Manila and AlterMidya are hosting a screening of Igpaw Pasulong, which highlights stories of the Filipino masses during Martial Law. The event takes place at the UP Manila Theater on Wednesday, September 23, at 1 pm, followed by a discussion with women activists linking these narratives to present struggles. Registration fee is P30.

The DLSU Committee on National Issues and Concerns (CoNIC), in partnership with Active Vista, is screening Aswang on Thursday, September 24, 2:30 pm, at the Teresa Yuchengco Auditorium. The 2019 documentary investigates extrajudicial killings during the war on drugs. Online registration is required.

The UP Diliman Department of History will host a roundtable discussion on the book Marcos, Martial Law, and the Complexities of Memory in the Philippines on Tuesday, September 22 at Palma Hall. Editors and select authors will discuss how the memory of Martial Law continues to shape modern politics.

Bantayog ng mga Bayani, Buhay Ang People Power, August Twenty-One Movement, and the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation will host a candle-lighting ceremony for martyrs, heroes, and survivors on Monday, September 21, 5 pm, at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani in Quezon City.

The Kilusang Bayan Kontra Kurakot (KPKK) will hold an anti-corruption rally on Monday, September 21, 3 pm, at Liwasang Bonifacio. The mobilization marks the anniversary of Martial Law alongside the first anniversary of the Baha sa Luneta and Trillion Peso March, linking past human rights struggles to current anti-corruption advocacy.

The Makabayan party will join forces with KPKK for a protest on Monday, September 21, at 5 pm in Mendiola, Manila, demanding government accountability and historical truth.

Do you know of other events, protests, or activities commemorating the 54th anniversary of the Martial Law declaration? Send the details to move.ph@rappler.com — Rappler.com

Alyana Fabela is a volunteer for MovePH. She is a fourth-year AB Communication student at Ateneo de Manila University.