Labor group Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO) said September 21, 1972, the day martial law was declared in the country, holds a special place in the collective memory of Filipino workers.
The group said this is because it represents decades of "heroism and sacrifice" by thousands of workers to carry forward the promise of genuine democracy and freedom that had been denied to the people.
"For many of those that answered the call of the times, freedom and democracy were not just abstract ideas or concepts. These principles served as the rallying cry uniting workers, farmers, students, professionals, intellectuals, all sorts of ordinary Filipinos, that believed in a future where the right to participate in the affairs of our nation can be enjoyed by all," Sentro said.
That's why, the group said, the example and memory of those who have fought for democracy and freedom should continue to be celebrated today.
The group said today's commemoration is therefore an affirmation that the "fight of those that went before us continues until now."
"Sentro, together with the rest of organized labor, as well as the broader Philippine progressive movement, believe that so long as the structural roots of our collective suffering - capitalist exploitation, elite rule, and patriarchy - remain in place, then the ghost of Marcos will continue to haunt us even after Duterte," Sentro said.
"In the same spirit, as long as these structures remain, then our hope for a better future as shown by the heroism of the martial law activists and the stubborn resistance of those that reject dictatorship today will continue to inspire our movements, organizations, and communities," they added.
"This September 21st, let us never forget the historical roots of our commitment to democracy and freedom. The slogan #NeverAgain, is not just a call for us to remember Marcos’ crimes. It is also a plea that we must always keep in our memory the stories of resistance and victory that sustain our hope for a better world," said Sentro.