Site clearing in preparation for the construction of the country鈥檚 Freedom Memorial Museum, one of the provisions under Republic Act No. 10368 or the Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013, commenced on Sept. 27 after the signing of the deed of transfer by the 天美视频 (UP) and the Human Rights Violations Victims’ Memorial Commission (HRVVMC) at Quezon Hall, and with the ceremonial cutting of wires at the museum鈥檚 future site in UPD.
Dubbed 鈥淔reedom Rising,鈥� the handover signaled the start of the relocation of the UP Diliman (UPD) Campus Maintenance Office (CMO) to the adjacent lot, with newly built offices and workshops that were funded by the HRVVMC so that the 1.4 hectares of UPD land along Carlos P. Garcia Avenue being vacated by the CMO may be used by the HRVVMC for the intended museum.
In an agreement formalized in 2019, UP granted the HRVVMC the use and possession of the said area for the museum provided that the HRVVMC will construct for UP a separate building for UP offices that needed to be relocated.
The Freedom Memorial Museum will serve as a permanent structure and educational resource that immortalizes the Filipino people鈥檚 heroic struggle against dictatorship and preserve the memory of victims of human rights violations during the regime of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos (1972-1986). The 鈥淏ook of Tears鈥� sculpture, designed by Arch. Joselito Gutierrez and multimedia artist Toym Leon Imao, which was unveiled on September 20 as part of the annual observance of UP Day of Remembrance, will stand at the museum鈥檚 entrance.
Reaffirming UP鈥檚 commitment to human rights, freedom, and justice
UP President Angelo Jimenez reiterated the University鈥檚 commitment to human rights, freedom, and justice. 鈥淭oday marks a milestone deeply related to our most valued principles and values, and that is human rights,鈥� he said.
鈥淲e are what we remember. And if we forget, we slide deeply into that slippery slope of perdition. We will simply lose our freedom. It鈥檚 as simple as that. And so it is with great importance that this University鈥攖hat has all throughout our history stood for freedom鈥攃onsecrates this day with a renewal of our commitment to fight for this freedom though the heavens fall,鈥� said Jimenez, as he emphasized the importance of constructing the Freedom Memorial Museum.
A day of gratitude
HRVVMC Executive Director Carmelo Crisanto expressed his gratitude to UP for the 鈥渏oyous occasion.鈥� 鈥淓ssentially, UP provided us 1.4 hectares or something like 2.8 billion pesos in value for the land. And for that, the Memorial Commission is very grateful,鈥� he said. Crisanto added that they expect the transfer and clearing to be done within six months and the construction to be completed within 18 months.
UPD Chancellor Edgardo Carlo Vistan II said the event should inspire Filipinos to keep on learning from the past, and to have hope in building a progressive and peaceful nation. 鈥淭his signifies the forging of stronger bonds in our common goal to never forget those dark times in our history so that it may never come to pass again,鈥� he said.
Director Mary Joyce Crisanto of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Human Rights Policy Centers Office read the message of CHR Chairperson Richard Palpal-latoc, who highlighted the importance of honoring those who fought tyranny and injustice. 鈥淭ogether, let us always keep in our hearts and minds the sacrifices of the past, and look for a new way forward, where democratic principles and human rights are not merely aspirations, but are living realities enjoyed by all,鈥� she said.
The deed of transfer was signed by HRVVMC Executive Director Carmelo Crisanto, Director Mary Joyce Crisanto of the CHR Human Rights Policy Centers Office, UP President Angelo Jimenez, and UPD Chancellor Edgardo Carlo Vistan II. They also posed with bolt cutters used in the ceremonial cutting of the wire fence at the CMO complex, the future site of the Freedom Memorial Museum.
At the end of the program at Quezon Hall, Liz Fortun led the singing of the patriotic song, 鈥淏ayan Ko鈥�, as everyone raised their fist in the air, symbolizing the fight for freedom. Professor Glecy Atienza of the UPD College of Arts and Letters, Department of Filipino and Philippine Literature, served as emcee.
The handover ceremony was witnessed by human rights victims and survivors of martial law, human rights defenders, party-list representatives, and UP officials, faculty, staff, and alumni. Notable attendees included: former CHR Chair and Akbayan Party-list Rep. Etta Rosales; Director May Rodriguez of the Bantayog ng mga Bayani Foundation; Judy Taguiwalo, former UP Faculty Regent and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) council member; Bayan Chair Emeritus Carol Araullo; Karapatan Deputy Secretary General Jigs Clamor; HRVVMC Board of Trustees member Elvira Lapuz; ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro; Gabriela Women鈥檚 Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas; UP EVP Jose Fernando Alcantara; UP VP for Academic Affairs Leo Cubillan; Ma. Shari Ni帽a Oliquino, UP AVP for Academic Affairs (Student Affairs); and Prof. Maria Angelica Abad, UP Protocol Officer.
From Quezon Hall, officials and guests proceeded to the CMO complex, where they cut the wire fence at the site. Alcantara and Crisanto also delivered short messages to end the program at the future site of the museum.
