Martial Law survivor Joanna Cariño recalls her experiences during the Martial Law period
Summary
TLDRJoanna Pitino, a senior citizen and martial law survivor in the Philippines, recounts her experiences as a student activist during the 1970s. She details the intense political unrest, her illegal arrest, torture, and the severe human rights abuses she endured under martial law. Reflecting on the current political climate, she expresses concerns about a return to dictatorial practices. Despite her hardships, she remains proud of her lifelong activism and continues to advocate for systemic changes to improve society, particularly for farmers, workers, and indigenous peoples.
Takeaways
- 👩🦳 Joanna Pitino is a senior citizen, survivor of martial law, and former student activist from the University of the Philippines Baguio.
- 🚨 Martial law was declared in 1972, during which Joanna actively participated in protests and was arrested for her activism.
- ⚡ Joanna and her sister were tortured after their arrest, enduring electric shocks, beatings, and threats of further violence.
- 🏢 Joanna was held in a military camp where she witnessed and heard the torture of other political prisoners.
- 😔 The torture and detention led to long-term health issues, including hepatitis, which Joanna believes was a result of the abuse.
- 🔄 Joanna draws parallels between the human rights violations during martial law and those under the Duterte administration, citing extrajudicial killings and repression of democratic dissent.
- ⚖️ She highlights the systematic efforts to stifle opposition, including the jailing of political figures and the militarization of civilian bureaucracy.
- 🛑 Joanna emphasizes the importance of remembering the atrocities of martial law and ensuring that such abuses never happen again.
- 💪 Despite the challenges, Joanna remains proud of her activism and continues to fight for systemic changes in Philippine society.
- 🌱 She encourages the youth to carry on the struggle for a better society, drawing inspiration from the activism of her generation.
Q & A
Who is Joanna Pitino?
-Joanna Pitino is an elderly woman, a survivor of martial law in the Philippines, and a former student activist at the University of the Philippines Baguio.
What was Joanna's role during the declaration of martial law in 1972?
-During the declaration of martial law in 1972, Joanna Pitino was a student activist and a member of Kabataang Makabayan, actively participating in protests and advocating for systemic change in the Philippines.
What were the conditions like during the first quarter storm according to Joanna?
-Joanna described the first quarter storm as a time of great awakening for the youth, with many students taking to the streets to demand change. Progressive organizations had chapters in many schools, and activism was widespread.
What happened to Joanna after martial law was declared?
-After martial law was declared, Joanna was illegally arrested in 1974, tortured, and detained in a military camp for over a year. She was subjected to physical abuse, including electric shocks, and witnessed the torture of other political prisoners.
What were the effects of the torture Joanna endured?
-Joanna suffered from physical injuries, including burn marks from electric shocks, and was diagnosed with hepatitis, which she believes was related to the torture she endured.
How does Joanna compare the current administration to the martial law period?
-Joanna feels a sense of déjà vu with the current administration, drawing parallels between the human rights abuses and repression of political dissent today and those during martial law. She believes that the current situation in the Philippines resembles a de facto martial law.
What is Joanna's view on the current use of military personnel in civilian roles?
-Joanna is critical of the increasing presence of military personnel in civilian government roles, arguing that it reflects a mindset of impunity and repression, similar to that of the martial law era.
What does Joanna emphasize as the key lesson from martial law?
-Joanna emphasizes that the human rights violations during martial law should never be forgotten and that it is crucial to resist any attempts to repeat such abuses in the present day.
How does Joanna reflect on her life and activism?
-Joanna reflects on her life with pride, believing that she has lived for others and contributed to the struggle for systemic change in the Philippines. She remains committed to fighting for a better society, even as a senior citizen.
What is Joanna's message to the younger generation?
-Joanna urges the younger generation to continue the struggle for systemic change, just as the youth did during the first quarter storm and the fight against the Marcos dictatorship. She sees them as playing a crucial role in achieving a better Philippine society.
Outlines
😔 Survivor's Tale of Torture and Resistance During Martial Law
Joanna Pitino, a senior citizen and martial law survivor, recounts her experience during the declaration of martial law in the Philippines in 1972. As a student activist at the University of the Philippines Baguio, she witnessed the first quarter storm—a period of youth activism against a corrupt system. Joanna describes how she was arrested and tortured, enduring electric shocks and severe abuse at the hands of the military. Despite the horror, including hearing others tortured, Joanna remained defiant and critical of the regime. She draws a connection between her past trauma and the current human rights violations under the present administration, particularly the extrajudicial killings linked to the drug war, lamenting the repetition of history.
⚖️ Echoes of Martial Law in Modern-Day Repression
Joanna reflects on the disturbing similarities between the martial law era and today's political climate, noting the reemergence of military influence and the silencing of dissent. Under the current administration, military personnel have filled civilian positions, and democratic opposition is being systematically repressed. From charges against political figures to the branding of activists as terrorists, Joanna argues that the government is shutting down democratic freedoms. She warns that while martial law may not be officially declared, the de facto state of repression closely resembles that dark chapter in Philippine history. The use of state power against opposition, both armed and peaceful, is indicative of an encroaching dictatorship.
🌱 A Lifelong Fight for Human Rights and Justice
Reflecting on her life, Joanna expresses pride in her long-standing commitment to activism. As a former youth activist turned senior citizen, she acknowledges her role in advocating for systemic change in Philippine society—where wealth is concentrated in the hands of a few, and marginalized communities such as farmers, workers, and indigenous peoples remain disenfranchised. Despite the grim political situation, she calls on the younger generation to continue the unfinished revolution and to fight for a better future. Joanna emphasizes that the struggle is intergenerational, with youth playing a vital role in pushing back against dictatorship and advocating for a fairer, more just society.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Martial Law
💡Student Activism
💡First Quarter Storm
💡Torture
💡Political Prisoners
💡De facto Martial Law
💡Human Rights Violations
💡Youth Idealism
💡Systemic Change
💡Never Again
Highlights
Joanna Pitino describes her background as a senior citizen, an evil woman, and a survivor of martial law, reflecting on her involvement as a student activist during the First Quarter Storm.
She recalls the general awakening among youth in the Philippines during the First Quarter Storm, where students took to the streets to protest an unacceptable system.
Joanna shares her experience of being arrested illegally in 1974 along with her younger sister and being subjected to torture, including electric shocks.
She describes being brought to a military camp and later a hospital, where despite showing clear signs of torture, the military doctor dismissed her injuries as nothing serious.
Joanna recounts hearing the cries of other tortured political prisoners in the camp and describes the brutality faced by those who opposed the regime.
She draws parallels between the current administration's actions and those during martial law, citing the increased militarization of government positions and repression of democratic dissent.
Joanna highlights the ongoing extrajudicial killings under the guise of the drug war and how this mirrors the violent tactics used during martial law.
She criticizes the labeling of political opposition and activists as terrorists, noting the systemic efforts to silence dissent through legal and extralegal means.
Joanna points out the use of Executive Order 70 and the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict to target not just armed groups but also democratic organizations.
She expresses concern over the de facto martial law atmosphere in the Philippines today, with the military's growing influence over civilian bureaucracy and suppression of civil liberties.
Joanna reflects on the historical importance of acknowledging the human rights violations that occurred during martial law, emphasizing the need to remember and learn from the past.
She contrasts the alleged achievements of martial law, such as infrastructure projects, with the severe human rights abuses, arguing that these accomplishments cannot justify the suffering inflicted on Filipinos.
Joanna shares her sense of pride in her life's work and her ongoing commitment to fighting for systemic change, particularly in advocating for the rights of farmers, workers, and indigenous peoples.
She urges younger generations to continue the struggle against dictatorship and injustice, drawing parallels to her own youth activism during the Marcos era.
Joanna emphasizes the unfinished nature of the revolution in the Philippines and the need for continued effort towards a more equitable society for future generations.
Transcripts
I'm Joanna Pitino I am an evil woman a
senior citizen and a survivor of martial
law
so when Marshall was declared in 1972 I
was a student activist actually in
organic Oakman 69 sigur rós University
of the Philippines Baguio I was a member
of capital Maccabean and those were
exciting these days of the first quarter
storm when so many of the youth went out
into the streets seeking to change
unacceptable system pairing there was a
general awakening no panel no more no
before martial law in first quarter
storm but on a third level in generally
awakened Inka see goons on Pilipinas
hundreds of thousands went out into the
streets come with us about do so masa by
so there were chapters of progressive
organizations in all of the schools in
Baguio and simply using the student
paper to speak about the issues and then
the marches were getting very frequent
mana ganya mcaren and element commune
the Catalan Danang barricade actually
the University of the Philippines bug
you
they ran after the student activists and
beat them up we were brought to jail in
the buggy jail pero they were not able
to charge us from the copied basic
Camino once again he you know upon de la
camisa boss
pero when martial law was declared and
all civil liberties and freedoms were
abused
so I got illegally arrested in April or
June of 1974 upon arrest
I was with my younger sister Georgie we
were tortured the torture was aside from
the slapping and beating around was
electric shock we were brought to a safe
house and then we were brought to
somewhere near the sea of course we
thought the worst then because I mean it
was Marshall know I was getting ready to
be raped or to be killed and then after
two or three days we were not yet
brought to the camp because this is when
they do the torture but actually they
also do it in demands they brought us to
the military camp in Campo de France and
then when it is arrived in the military
camp shortly thereafter I was brought to
the hospital actually they give you a
checkup a when you arrived in the camp a
champion by a military doctor who will
just say that or he seems to be in
perfect health even if we were showing
them the burn marks here in you know in
your toes in your thumbs to show that
and telling them that we were actually
subjected to this abuse parallel shortly
after that nah I was diagnosed with
hepatitis something and I really think
that was in relation also to to the
torture that we received when I was
there at Camp believe us we could hear
torture happening there in the other
room because if we were kept as in an
intelligence office we were not put in
the regular the pension we were kept in
an intelligence office for more than a
year you could hear really cries of
torture and then there was one day when
there was a busload noise in fact two
busloads of political prisoners rounded
up in early read and then you could see
them
they were really some couldn't walk some
had they were really really heavily
tortured and really crappy young stories
of tortured and honest and a political
prisoner is known I get a feeling of
deja vu
Cassie Parra inamrinone nanny re willing
alone top was actually the numbering of
killings is even much more already in
the short time of this detect
administratio and young ejk because
that's not only against political
dissenters pero even those nabina Tyson
drug war now Peleg on twenty seven
thousand among igano and so Peron I
think for victims of martial law parang
melancholy feeling of deja vu and then
chambray what we want in asana is never
again and to never forget to never
forget what happened then there's
already Marshall done in the now I know
ledyba it has already been extended for
a second year and then if you look at
what is happening wider society parable
hollows maybe facto martial law kasi one
there has been the feeling up of
military personnel the one siddhappa
Thai civilian bureaucracy McKee
positions even the swd DILG you know all
of this have been filled up already with
military people generals who have about
a mindset actually the mindset Nana na
Luna with the support of the president
that they can do all of these things
with impunity and then the the
repression of all democratic dissent
they file the file new charges against
us
that was among the list that they were
calling us terrorists they filed charges
against the political opposition they
put the Lima in jail they filed charges
against trillions and some
vice-president other senators so and
then look what they did to the Supreme
Court I know they took out the chief
justice and then so they are really
systematically closing all democratic
dissent top was if Alabama undemocratic
on karapatan was a low pass a trabajo
you are branded as terrorists and you're
I mean subject to your security
threatened and everything so and then
Nyonya with this national task force to
end the Communist local armed conflict
executive order 70 and the whole of
nation approach they're even using
already really all of the agencies of
the state against groups that they
consider enemies of the state whether
this is not only the armed groups but
actually democratic organizations like
the ordinary people's Alliance and other
organizations kya Hindi money adenine
declare Appa para Sabu filipinas
actually hollows made a pact to marshal
Luna not Google it lung and mammalian
Safin in Lompoc Peniel on karapatan
Allen you look at the number of killings
trumped-up charges forced evacuations
you know political prisoners
Donegan Quan these are already
manifestations that actually he already
have a dictatorship even if not yet
formally declared
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
when we judge a certain period in
history
duh but all rounder did not in dignity
Dignan paralytic man did not in talega
home anonymous may be bigger at Saka new
human rights violations committed
against thousands of people I think no
amount of kasabian along disciplina in
the Langevin discipline ends in a
civilian construction of roads the
infrastructure which Etrigan when Cassie
Union clean acclaim and accomplishments
pero I think no amount of that can para
bangies are just outward trappings you
Caputo ha naneun i thousands of
Filipinos we're really severely abused
their rights violated during martial law
at I think my Laguna convict amount in a
Telugu it humpin a defining feature of
martial law hashem prey karana Nikitin
gali comedian semana
you know me panting ena oh this period
Namanga brought us progress in
everything and we want to bring it back
to the basics that human rights
violations were severely committed and
that they shouldn't be allowed
[Music]
Oh
[Music]
who'll accompany CCC Han in fact looking
back on my life
hmm I think I will a led a good life
I think marami akong napa to none
[Music]
I think I lived for others not only for
myself
haha
I think Mira knock on a door Oh sir
the younger activists onion so voila
welcome Vinick CCC hand and I am proud
of what I have done and what I continue
to do so from a youth activist then I'm
already a senior citizen now but of
course the struggle for systemic changes
in Philippine society such that the
wealth of society does not get one of
polarized by only a few such that the
farmers can own the land that they till
such that the workers can have a decent
wage and decent living conditions such
that we indigenous peoples can own our
ancestral lands and define our
self-determined development kailangan
epic Lebon and motto Yamanaka bata and
because we you young people are at that
stage in your life where you know there
is still the youthful idealism trying to
change society for the better under
conditions when there is already a clear
direction towards dictatorship and
martial law param panda Gong Allah and
Mully like during the first quarter
storm and the struggle against Marcos
dictatorship Kayla and Mellie Niang
kobata and I Paul Hawken uncanny long
historical
papel building tag upon mana nah
unfinished revolution attack upon Petula
Veneto until we have a better Philippine
society for the future generations
[Music]
you
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