Would You Have Survived Martial Law?

1.

You are a doctor in a barrio during martial law and are offered a spot as the Head of the Medical Section under the Regional Operational Command of a guerilla group.What do you decide to do?
- A.
  
  Refuse the offer
- B.
  
  Take the offer
Correct Answer
A. Refuse the offer

Explanation
The safest choice would have been: Refuse the offer.

Dr Juan Escandor was a doctor when martial law was declared.

In 1975, he went to Cagayan Valley to link up with the New People’s Army and serve as Head of the Medical Section under the Regional Operational Command. On March 30, 1983, Escandor and a province-mate were hurriedly crossing EDSA when they were taken.

When his body was recovered, a pathologist found that his skull had been broken open, emptied and stuffed with trash, plastic bags, rags and underwear. His brain was stuffed inside his abdominal cavity.

(With excerpts from martiallawfiles.wordpress.com)

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2.

You receive a call saying that your father, who had gone missing (presumably taken by the military for his 'subversive' behavior), is alive and wants to see you.What do you decide to do?
- A.
  
  Don't meet with him
- B.
  
  Meet with him
Correct Answer
A. Don't meet with him

Explanation
The safest choice would have been: Don't meet with him

Boyet Mijares was only 16 years old in 1977 when he received a call that his disappeared father (whistleblower and writer Primitivo Mijares) was still alive. The caller invited the younger Mijares to see him.

A few days later, Boyet's body was found dumped outside Manila, his eyeballs protruding, his chest perforated with multiple stab wounds, his head bashed in, and his hands, feet and genitals mangled.

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3.

At a rally during a strike, things go from peaceful to violent when the military starts bombarding people with the use of water cannons.Water can't really do much harm but you see people in the front struggling to hold their line. What do you do?
- A.
  
  Go to the front and help hold the line
- B.
  
  Leave the rally right away
Correct Answer
B. Leave the rally right away

Explanation
The safest choice would have been: Leave the rally right away

Juvelyn Jaravello was a parish-worker in her home province of Negros Occidental towards the end of martial law.

In September 1985, a three-day people’s strike – welgang bayan – was planned to be held all over the island of Negros. On the afternoon of the second day of the strike, they were attacked by constabulary soldiers, paramilitary members, and armed goons of local sugar plantation owners.

As they fired water cannons on the demonstrators, Jaravello moved to the frontline. Next, the soldiers started throwing teargas canisters. Then machine guns from atop the municipal hall started firing. A stampede followed. Jaravello and 19 others died in the Escalante massacre, mostly from gunshot wounds; hundreds were hurt.

(With excerpts from www.bantayog.org)

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4.

At an open forum with a high ranking official, you have a question about transparency that the speaker may take offense to.Do you stand up and ask your question?
- A.
  
  No, stay quiet
- B.
  
  Yes, it's a public forum
Correct Answer
A. No, stay quiet

Explanation
The safest choice would have been: No, stay quiet

Archimedes Trajano was 21 when he questioned Imee Marcos on why she was the National Chairman of the Kabataang Barangay during an open forum.

He was forcibly taken from the venue by Imee's bodyguards, and was tortured and thrown out of a building window, all because the presidential daughter was irked by his question.

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5.

Drunk soldiers try to barge into your house one night in search of your brother. He isn't home but you and your younger siblings are.What do you do?
- A.
  
  Demand to see a search warrant
- B.
  
  Stand back and let them search the house
Correct Answer
B. Stand back and let them search the house

Explanation
The safest choice would have been: Stand back and let them search the house

Liliosa Hilao was a college student when martial law was declared.

One evening in April 1973, drunken soldiers barged into the Hilao family residence looking for her brother. When she insisted that they produce a search warrant or an arrest order, the soldiers beat her up, then handcuffed and took her away to Camp Crame.

The following day her older sister Alice was called to the Camp Crame Station Hospital. Liliosa’s body bore visible marks of severe torture, and even sexual abuse. She was already dead.

(With excerpts from www.bantayog.org)

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6.

You are approached with an opportunity to join the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines, which documents cases of violations and military abuses.How do you respond?
- A.
  
  Join the Task Force
- B.
  
  Let the opportunity pass
Correct Answer
B. Let the opportunity pass

Explanation
The safest choice would have been: Let the opportunity pass

Albert Enriquez was a young humanrights worker in Quezon when he was abducted in 1985.

He volunteered to work with the local unit of Task Force Detainees of the Philippines, which had been documenting cases of violations and military abuses. He assisted prominent humanrights lawyers Joker Arroyo, Wigberto Tañada and Ed Abcede in a court case involving political detainees.

Enriquez was on his way home when two armed men dragged him from the tricycle he was riding into a car. He shouted: “I am Abet Enriquez. My parents are Mario Enriquez and Clarita Rivera. Tell my parents I’ve been picked up by the military!”

Two days later, his family heard that tricycle drivers in the area had been talking about the incident.

(With excerpts from www.bantayog.org)

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7.

Songwriting is your passion and you draw inspiration from the world around you. When martial law is declared your songs are viewed as subversive material, leading you to go underground.What do you do then?
- A.
  
  Give up your passion and live quietly
- B.
  
  Write more songs to keep the fighting spirit alive
Correct Answer
A. Give up your passion and live quietly

Explanation
The safest choice would have been: Give up your passion and live quietly

Maria Lorena Barros was a student activist during martial law.

When President Ferdinand Marcos suspended the writ of habeas corpus in 1971, Barros was one of 63 student leaders charged with subversion. She went underground, helping to fight the dictatorship. She continued to write poems, songs and essays from the underground. In 1974, the regime announced a P35,000 reward for her capture.

On March 24, 1976, Barros was seriously wounded in an armed encounter with constabulary soldiers. Medical treatment was promised by her captors if she would cooperate with them, but she said she would rather die for her beliefs. She was shot in the nape. She was 28 years old.

(With excerpts from www.bantayog.org)

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8.

You are a lawyer when martial law is declared and you see the abuses suffered by a lot of your poor clients.How do you help them?
- A.
  
  Bring their cases up to the courts
- B.
  
  Leave them to deal with their problems
Correct Answer
B. Leave them to deal with their problems

Explanation
The safest choice would have been: Leave them to deal with their problems

Crisostomo Cailing lived and practiced law in Mindanao during martial law.

Cailing was not one to make fiery speeches, but he consistently defended the victims of military abuses. He went to court to protest against illegal arrests, and he looked after the rights and welfare of the numerous political detainees. He shunned opportunities to become rich, never owned a car, and chose to live a simple life. His clients were invariably poor, and at times it was he who gave them money for their needs.

One evening in early July 1985, Cailing was at home, seated in front of an open window, when a gunman took aim and killed him before walking away to get aboard a motorcycle waiting one block away. His daughter, 15, witnessed the murder.

(With excerpts from www.bantayog.org)

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Would You Have Survived Martial Law?

You are a doctor in a barrio during martial law and are offered a spot as the Head of the Medical Section under the Regional Operational Command of a guerilla group.What do you decide to do?

You receive a call saying that your father, who had gone missing (presumably taken by the military for his 'subversive' behavior), is alive and wants to see you.What do you decide to do?

At a rally during a strike, things go from peaceful to violent when the military starts bombarding people with the use of water cannons.Water can't really do much harm but you see people in the front struggling to hold their line. What do you do?

At an open forum with a high ranking official, you have a question about transparency that the speaker may take offense to.Do you stand up and ask your question?

Drunk soldiers try to barge into your house one night in search of your brother. He isn't home but you and your younger siblings are.What do you do?

You are approached with an opportunity to join the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines, which documents cases of violations and military abuses.How do you respond?

Songwriting is your passion and you draw inspiration from the world around you. When martial law is declared your songs are viewed as subversive material, leading you to go underground.What do you do then?

You are a lawyer when martial law is declared and you see the abuses suffered by a lot of your poor clients.How do you help them?