President Aquino Leads Launch Of Freedom Memorial Museum

President Benigno S. Aquino III led on Thursday the launch of the Freedom Memorial Museum at the Bulwagang Ninoy within the premises of the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center in Quezon City.

The museum, which honors the men and women who risked their lives to defend human rights and freedom for the Filipino people, aims to engrave in the minds of the present and future generations the cause and effect of the Marcos dictatorship and the brutality of Martial Law.

In his speech, President Aquino underscored the importance of learning from past mistakes, as he quoted George Santayana: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

“Baka magandang sabihin na rin natin sa Tagalog: ‘Ang nakakalimot sa pagkakamali ng lumipas ay siguradong uulitin ang mga pagkakamaling ito.’ Ito nga po ang diwang itinataguyod ng pagtitipon natin ngayong araw — ang pagpapasinaya ng Freedom Memorial Museum na naglalarawan sa madilim na kabanatang dinaanan ng bansa sa ilalim ng Batas Militar, at sa kabayanihan ng mga nakipaglaban para sa ating kalayaan,” he said.

“Sa paraang ito, nasasariwa ang aral ng nakaraang diktadurya, at naituturo ito sa kabataan upang hindi na ito maulit pa,” he added.

The museum will provide a resource center containing primary sources on martial law and human rights violations, including an oral history facility. It will also have a venue for workshops, conferences, and artistic presentations about the martial law period, human rights, and justice.

The construction of the museum is part of the implementation of Republic Act No. 10368 – “An Act providing for reparation and recognition of victims of human rights violations during the Marcos regime, documentation of said violations, appropriating funds therefore and for other purposes.”

Section 26 of the Act provides for the establishment of a memorial in honor of human rights violations victims (HRVVs), whose names will be inscribed in the Roll of Victims.

The museum, to be built on a 2.4-hectare area, will be managed by the Human Rights Violations Victims Memorial Commission, led by its Board of Trustees that was created under Section 27 of the Act.

President Aquino hopes that the museum would teach the young generation the importance of freedom and democracy.

“Itinataguyod natin ang museong ito hindi lang para balikan at sariwain ang kalupitan ng diktadurya, kundi upang makita din ng ating kabataan kung gaano kahalaga ang kalayaan at demokrasyang ipinaglaban at tinatamasa na natin sa kasalukuyan. Sa henerasyon po namin, hindi kailangan ng museum para maalala ang madilim na sitwasyon ng bansa sa ilalim ng diktadurya.

“Para sa kapakanan ng kabataan, at sa layuning maunawaan nila ang pinagdaanan natin sa Batas Militar, dito natin nakikita ang halaga ng ganitong proyekto. Ayon nga sa kasabihan: Ang hindi lumingon sa pinanggalingan, hindi makakarating sa patutunguhan,” the Chief Executive explained.

“Hindi na nga po natin maibabalik pa ang mga naglahong dekada. Ang puwede po nating gawin: Tugunan ang mga problema ngayon, at paghandaan ang kinabukasan. Iyan nga po ang ginawa at patuloy nating ginagawa sa nakalipas na halos anim na taon. Mula sa paglago ng ekonomiya at imprastraktura, hanggang sa pagpapaunlad sa kabuhayan, edukasyon, kalusugan, at iba pang serbisyong panlipunan, talaga naman pong nakikita natin ang transpormasyon sa ating lipunan,” he added.

Instead of the usual groundbreaking ceremony, the launch of the museum was highlighted by a time capsule ceremony, which was done purely virtual.

After his speech, President Aquino, together with National Historical Commission of the Philippines Chairperson Maria Serena Diokno, pressed a button on stage to lock the virtual vault where the digital capsule was stored. (PNA) SCS/PND/EDS