Abstract:
After the EDSA People Power in 1986, democracy, justice, and human rights were
supposed to be restored. However, the opposite seemed to be the case as widespread inequality,
and elite politics characterized the post-authoritarian era. Combined with the orchestrated plan of
the Marcoses to return to power through rampant dis- and misinformation campaigns and
Duterte’s rectification of the dictator’s legacy hastened the family’s resurgence. Martial law
history and records of atrocities instantly became a myth. The study primarily seeks to document
the stories of martial law survivors and to contextualize and understand the phenomenon of
lifelong activism. Thematic analysis was utilized to look for significant patterns and
commonalities in the participants' stories that would aid in understanding lifelong activism. The
themes that emerged from the narratives were 1) Early exposure to social issues and activism; 2)
Choice of being away from their families; 3) Every move is being watched; 4) Acceptance of
death; 5) Struggle for justice and democracy never ended; 6) Marcos’ resemblance to Duterte;
7) No Marcos should be in power again. The participants highlighted the principal role of the
school in imparting them the political knowledge and awareness of social issues that had
eventually influenced them to participate in social movements. Significantly, based on the
narratives of the three participants, their lifelong activism is attributed to personal, historical, and
political breakthroughs that they have witnessed and experienced throughout their lives.
