by Ardelle Costuna and Ylexis Rualo

Wearing black and holding white balloons, the College of Mass Communication (CMC) community flocked to the Bulwagan ng Malayang Pamamahayag to take part in the college’s commemoration of the 2nd anniversary of the Maguindanao massacre.

CMC Dean Rolando Tolentino lit two candles in commemoration of the Maguindanao Massacre. /KIM PAUIG

Professors Luis Teodoro, Georgina Encanto and CMC Dean Rolando Tolentino gave statements asking the Aquino government to fulfill his promise to give justice to the victims, especially the 32 media workers who were among those murdered.

They also showed support for the International Day to End Impunity with a candle-lighting ceremony led by Dean Tolentino and the offering of 58 white roses from students to signify each of the victims.

“Kapag tinitingnan natin itong mga imahe ng mga nasawi dito sa Ampatuan Massacre ay nagiging tao sila sa atin, hindi lang sa istatistika, (kundi) taong may mga karapatan at paninindigan,” Tolentino said.

The program was continued at the Plaridel Hall veranda where the CMC Student Council (CMCSC) and CMC organizations gave their unity statements to support the global call to end impunity and seek justice for the victims.

“Sana po hindi na dumating ang araw na kumupas na ang ating itim na t-shirt at wala pa ring nakakamit na hustisya,” CMCSC Journalism Representative Lysa Britanico said.

Students marched around the academic oval before meeting with other media organizations in UST for the march to Mendiola. /KIM PAUIG

From the parking lot, the CMC community marched around the Academic Oval to show their solidarity and urge other UP students to join in their cause.

Afterwards, they convened at the University of Santo Tomas where they joined other media and student movements and marched to Mendiola.

The Committee to Protect Journalists, an international watchdog committed to protect press freedom, tagged the Maguindanao massacre as the “worst case of media killing in recent history.”