A PRODUCT called “Break In Case of Martial Law” posted on Ateneo Trade caused an uproar as several students and faculty on Facebook and Twitter cried foul over insensitivity towards the victims of Martial Law.
The product is a pair of yellow slippers encased in a glass jar, labelled “BREAK IN CASE OF MARTIAL LAW,” which sells for Php 325. It was originally posted on February 16 by seller Matthew Cua, taken down by an Ateneo Trade administrator, and put up again the next day.
Ateneo Trade is a Facebook group dedicated to being a safe venue for buying and selling goods among the Atenean community.
Sensitivity issues
Some Ateneans expressed their opinions that the selling of the product was done in “poor taste,” since it trivialized and capitalized on the Martial Law period and its victims.
Development studies supersenior Priolo Opelanio posted screenshots of the post on Twitter saying, “Wow, Atenean. Congratulations in capitalizing on the issues that slowly destroy our nation.”
Cua and Ateneo Trade administrator Angelo Villasanta clarified that the proceeds would go to several NGOs, including “either WorldVision, Oxfam, ActionAid or CARE.”
“Does that justify how this product trivializes one of the darkest periods in our history, one wherein thousands of Filipinos were tortured and killed?” replied Quantitative Methods and Information Technology Assistant Instructor Nathania Chua.
Amidst criticism, Cua explained that instead of trivializing Martial Law, the product rather “[uses] humor against tyranny.”
“I don’t think I understand. How does selling these slippers, in any way, contribute to the fight against tyranny?” replied political science sophomore Janus Maclang.
Another concern raised by English Department Instructor Miguel Lizada was how the product reinforced the dichotomy between the Marcoses and the Aquinos.
“My concern here is that it sustains the Aquino vs Marcos rhetoric… The Marcosian return to power is now very possible because of this dichotomy; we need to reimagine EDSA as the People’s Revolution not as the one mobilized by the Aquinos,” he said.
“Not overtly insensitive”
In an online interview with The GUIDON, Cua was asked what his stance was on the people who found his product tasteless. He explained that he posted it on Trade because he had extra pieces on hand, and that he wanted to focus on the future of Martial Law rather than the past.
“I made these things and I have extra so I posted it here. This isn’t a ‘product for commercial purposes;’ although I understand productizing something on martial law by a company is insensitive by some people,” he said.
“I don’t think I’m talking about PAST Martial Law, but rather, the future of Martial Law, although I understand when we talk about it we automatically gravitate to the Marcos era Martial Law. Maybe I should renamed it to break in case of future People Power Revolution?” he added.
Cua denied his being directly insensitive to the victims of Martial Law, but he respects those who express their opinion on it.
“My general stance is that I didn’t overtly nor directly be insensitive to the Marcos martial era victims. If you don’t like it or share the same sentiments, don’t buy it, but you can say you are affected by this and explain why,” he said.
Although the Ateneo Trade administrators refused to comment on why the post was deleted and allowed for reposting, Cua said it appeared like a form of censorship.
“One of the issues is that my post was taken down. Now, because I wasn’t directly and overtly being insensitive, I saw it as censorship which I raised to the Ateneo Trade admins which among themselves decided that it was censorship,” he said.
Donation to NGOs
According to Cua, he plans to give proceeds, if any, to NGOs he plans to meet in a conference in Bohol.
“If there are proceeds, I will donate it [to] several NGOs as I mentioned, I’m part of Community of Practice (CoP) and we do have a private disaster response and relief conference in Bohol among a lot of NGOs,” he said.
For every piece sold, Cua said he would donate 25 pesos to the NGOs.
“I wanted a few pieces of this to give away to friends but because of how shipping works I’m stuck with around 80 pcs of these things so I’ll have to cover my costs first. The total cost is around 300 pesos so I charged 325 so that means 25 pesos ? But that depends if I can cover all the costs,” he said.
“Apolitical trade page”
Some commentators on social media have also condemned the Ateneo Trade administration for allowing such a product to be sold on the page. The administration has given a non-unanimous stand on the issue to The GUIDON, claiming that such stand only reflects the views of some administrators who wish to remain anonymous.
“We are representative of a university who values engagement and free speech. When we say everyone has rights (of speech and opinion), don’t forget we mean everyone; even oppressors and people whose opinions and views may differ from ours. We are firstly apolitical because we are a marketplace. If you disagree with something or someone, you do not force them into your beliefs. Rather, you engage them and have them understand your side. Acknowledge their good points and tell them why their bad points are wrong. Talk to them. Do not censor. Do not trial by publicity.”
“We do not share the opinions of sellers who sell at the page. We manage an apolitical trade page where people are free to sell items that they want, as long as they break no laws (of the University and of the Country). Any concerns regarding the nature of any posts, may it be vulgar, political, etc. should be taken up with the sellers.”
