“IT’S ALWAYS important that we remember to remember,” said School of Social Sciences Chairperson Toni Potenciano.
Potenciano was one of the scores of Ateneans clad in black tops who took part in a prayer vigil and noise barrage yesterday, commemorating the Maguindanao massacre that took place three years ago.
“I think [the massacre] is probably one of the most violent things that we [are forgetting]. In our forgetting these things, we can be victims to repeating the same thing again. There is importance in remembering, so that we learn,” Potenciano added.
Fifty-eight people, including journalists, were killed in Maguindanao on November 26, 2009. They were en route to the Commission on Elections provincial office when armed men identified to be working for the Ampatuan clan stopped and killed them.
“Their sacrifice allowed the country to be aware of the issues that surround and plague our political system,” said School of Social Sciences Junior Central Board Representative Louis de Jesus.
“We are celebrating their lives, hoping for a better democracy than we have now, while… grieving for their loss.”
Before the prayer vigil proper, participating Ateneans stood by the portion of Katipunan Avenue in front of Gate 2.5 and held a noise barrage while holding placards with messages decrying impunity and demanding justice for the massacre victims. The students encouraged approaching vehicles to honk their horns.
A few moments after the prayer vigil, the noise barrage resumed for some more minutes.
Before heading to the protest and prayer event, the students had watched a film produced by Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism in commemoration of the third anniversary of the massacre.
The School of Social Sciences Sanggunian and student political party Christian Union for Socialist and Democratic Advancement (Crusada) organized the event.
Both Potenciano and de Jesus are members of Crusada.
Student leaders chime in
Also in attendance were notable members of the Sanggunian and former student leaders.
“There has been barely any progress ever since the start of the trial. No one has been convicted yet. There are people who still are fighting for the victims to ensure that justice will be served,” said Sanggunian President Gio Alejo in a mix of English and Filipino.
“Hopefully, this will really send a message to our community and those outside that we still care.”
Former Crusada Premier Miguel Rivera said, “Public support or interest [in the case] has been waning. This is more of a show of solidarity for the families of the victims.”
Alliance of Student Leaders Chairperson Moses Albiento said that in light of the upcoming elections, people should look back at the event.
“Nakabantay tayo sa mga nangyayari, at hindi natin iiwanan ‘yung mga nakaraan… Maipapakita natin sa mga pulitiko na ang ginawa nila ay hindi malilimutan ng mga tao (We keep watch of what is happening, and we will not simply leave what happened in the past… We want to show government officials that we will not forget what they have done).”
