People Power at 40: UP Diliman and the role of student activism

2026-02-24 - 10:44

MANILA, Philippines – During the authoritarian rule of Ferdinand E. Marcos, the University of the Philippines and other universities became known as centers of dissent. The youth made themselves heard during the First Quarter Storm, where 50,000 people joined protests organized by student groups. It was also at UP Diliman that the Diliman Commune took place, with students barricading the campus to protest rising oil prices and the looming declaration of Martial Law. These were just some of the moments that showed the courage of student activists against the Marcos dictatorship. Let’s revisit the university, where the spirit of resistance emerged that contributed to the larger movement that would culminate in the People Power Revolution. Reporter/writer/video editor: Gelo Gonzales Script editor, supervising producer: JC Gotinga – Rappler.com