Diliman Commune
DateFebruary 1–9, 1971
Location
Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines

14°39′17.50″N 121°3′52.09″E / 14.6548611°N 121.0644694°E / 14.6548611; 121.0644694
Caused by
  • Initial: Gasoline price increases.
  • After Day 1: Death of Pastor Mesina, and attempted PC Metrocom assault on the campus.[1]
Goals
  • Reverse the price increase; and
  • stop the military intrusion in UP Diliman
MethodsProtests, demonstrations, occupation
Resulted in
  • During the uprising: Arrest of students and protesters, destruction of UP Diliman properties;[1]
  • End of the uprising: Voluntary end of uprising by students on February 9, supposedly after assurances of various concessions;[1]
  • Eventual: Declaration of martial law the following year, 1972.
Parties

Diliman Commune
Lead figures
Number
unknown
unknown
Casualties and losses
1 student

The Diliman Commune was an nine-day uprising led by the students, faculty members, and residents of the University of the Philippines Diliman,[1][2][3] on February 1–9, 1971 — about a year after the events of the First Quarter Storm and about a year before Marcos' eventual declaration of Martial Law.[4][5] It began as a planned protest through which the UP community and transport workers would denounce a three centavo increase in oil prices under the administration of Marcos. However, this changed when violence marred the proceedings on the first day of the protest, resulting in the wounding and eventual death of Chemistry student Pastor "Sonny" Mesina, after which the Philippine Constabulary Metropolitan Command attempted to storm the campus and suppress the protest. After this, the demands of the protests shifted from focusing on stopping oil price increase and instead became more about the end of the use of military force in the campus.[1]

The occupation ended on February 9 when students took down the barricades voluntarily, believing that the administration had conceded to eight demands which included a rollback of gasoline prices, a promise of justice for Sonny Mesina, and a guarantee that the military or police would not enter the campus in the future.[1]

The name was a reference to an intentional community established by the protesters patterned after the Paris Commune of 1871. Like the supporters of Paris Commune, the protesters referred to themselves as Communards. They renamed the University of the Philippines Diliman campus to "Malayang Komunidad ng UP Diliman" ("Free Commune of UP Diliman"). They also took control of the DZUP radio station and the UP Press, and ran their own publication called the Bandilang Pula ("Red Flag").[6]

Notable participants

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Abad, Michelle (February 1, 2021). "LOOKBACK: The Diliman Commune of 1971". Rappler. Archived from the original on June 5, 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  2. ↑ "Martyrs & Heroes: MESINA, Pastor "Sonny"". Bantayog ng mga Bayani. October 14, 2015. Archived from the original on June 14, 2021. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  3. ↑ "The University Gateway". University of the Philippines Diliman Office for Initiatives in Culture and the Arts. Archived from the original on December 3, 2018. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
  4. ↑ "16. The 1971 Diliman Commune was inspired by the 1871 Paris Commune". FilipiKnow. University of the Philippines: 30 Facts About Philippines' Premier University. July 5, 2015. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
  5. ↑ Palatino, Mong. "Pagbabalik-tanaw sa Diliman Commune" (in Tagalog). Tinig.com. Archived from the original on June 23, 2011. Retrieved August 8, 2010. Google translation
  6. ↑ Reysio-Cruz, Matthew (February 26, 2019). "A walk to remember: UP organizes Commune Tour". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  7. 1 2 3 Scalice, Joseph (July 26, 2023). "I am sorry to hear of the passing of Willie Nepomuceno". Facebook. Facebook, Inc. Retrieved July 27, 2023. When the barricades were lifted, Nepomuceno, who was a member of the UP Student Council, voted in defense of the commune behind the leadership of Ericson Baculinao in a bill sponsored by Sonny Coloma.


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