History is a weaving of all peoples’ stories. And as with all stories, history is in the telling. More than the story itself, the way we tell stories shapes our view of the world – the past, the present, and the future. At this point in history, when opposing forces wield their best to control the narrative, the telling of our stories is a battlefield.

We struggle with historical revisionism —a stab to our hearts as Filipino people who struggled for more than 300 years of control under the hands of powers both foreign and our own. A hero’s burial was given to the dictator Ferdinand Marcos, or recent dark past lacks integration in education curriculum, and disinformation and misinformation spread on social media. These blatant erasures and the muddling of facts not only paved way for the return to power of the most disdainful of political figures, but has also opened up new avenues for those new ones who seek to rise to power – politically, culturally, and economically.

These attacks against historical truths — propelledby the malignant use of creativity, innovation, and political persistence — prove the power of storytelling. What we must never forget is that this power is ours too.

We are more creative. We are more innovative. The persistence of old, wise ones and the vigor of the young ones will prove to be stronger. Most of all, correctness, built on seeking justice for the masses who struggled under the old and new dictatorships, is ours.

In pursuit to #NeverForget, DAKILA and Bantayog ng mga Bayani, with the support of Forum Asia, and through the Active Vista International Human Rights Film Festival, present “Wall of Remembrance: Digital Bantayog ng mga Bayani” — a joint effort to bridge gaps in Martial Law education by expanding and extending working spaces for education.

This exhibition which recreates the Bantayog ng mga Bayani’s iconic memorial center is now accessible to digital visitors from the regions and abroad — stylized and up-to-date, and interactive to promote and facilitate education on the heroes of the Martial Law era.

Memories serve as markers so our nation will #NeverAgain fall in the cracks of our past mistakes. The Digital Bantayog pushes and innovates on the objective of the Bantayog ng mga Bayani not only in preserving the memory but aspiring to expand the spaces where memory is preserved.

We are under attack. For the last few decades, we truly are. With the advent of new technologies and new ways of telling stories, the battlefield towards the control of the narratives is ever-changing. And with this, the call to #NeverForget must evolve with the times while retaining the integrity of the message.

For all of us, seekers and vanguards of truth and justice, storytellers, and makers, this is one simple truth: The struggle against Martial Law has not ended yet. We are living in the struggle and, through stories, we will persevere.

#WalangPipikit