Pauline de Guzman / Special to the BusinessMirror
‘IT was the best of times for nurturing our youthful idealism; it was the worst of times for the dangers posed to our lives,” Elso U. Cabangon, president of League of Editors for a Democratic Society-College Editors Guild of the Philippines (LEADS-CEGP) 6972, said of his experience during the martial-law period as a member of the CEGP and the LEADS.
League of Editors for a Democratic Society-College Editors Guild of the Philippines (LEADS-CEGP)
He said that back then, being part of LEADS-CEGP meant harnessing your writing skills to engage in the discussion of issues confronting Philippine society, and being ready for any eventuality that can cost your life in serving the people.
Cabangon described the imposition of martial law as “a period of worldwide student unrest” when students in the country first got caught up in the ferment of the anti-Vietnam war protest movement. It then turned inward to protest the commercialization of education due to the ever-increasing tuition cost, and finally fighting the Marcos government for its corruption and human-rights violations.
After 40 years, former student editors and staff of LEADS and CEGP from 1969 to 1972 had a reunion that later on led to a decision to become a more formally constituted organization. On January 21, 2011, LEADS-CEGP 6972 became a nonstock, nonprofit association registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
To date, the association offers a scholarship program called “Kislap” that aims to continue serving the people, especially the impoverished youth.
“As the name implies Kislap, we hope that this little effort can catch fire, first among our members then our friends and relatives,” said Louie Segismundo, chairman of LEADS-CEGP 6972 scholarship committee.
Segismundo said that this school year, the program has 13 scholars, with four graduating from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) inApril. The association signed a memorandum of agreement with PUP on the selection of scholars whom they will support every year.
Meanwhile, the scholarship fund is supported by voluntary contributions from better-off members. The association also had published its first book entitled Not On Our Watch, Martial Law Really Happened—We Were There about true-to-life stories of 13 Filipino student journalists in the midst of Marcos dictatorship that became a best seller for months. With this, they are planning to have a sequel and to produce a short film based on members’ experiences during martial law and after.
“We learned much about our societal ills and what we perceived to be solutions through intensive studies of nationalist literature, discussions with comrades and engaging in mass actions,” Cabangon explained on why LEADS-CEGP 6972 still continues to pursue its vision hinged on a common love for country. He also advises the youth to “not be afraid to test the waters, soak up every knowledge given to you and serve the people.”