In celebration of the Philippine Lasallian Peace Month for Democracy and Human Rights this Sept. 21 to Oct. 21, the Benilde Center for Social Action (CSA) launched the inaugural Benilde Human Rights, Democracy, and Peace Festival (HRDP Festival) today, Sept. 19.
The event will run until Sept. 26, and will bring together a series of meaningful activities aimed at strengthening Benilde’s commitment to democracy, peacebuilding, and the defense of human rights.
The HRDP Festival will showcase diverse activities in partnership with Benilde schools, offices, student organizations, and community partners. Coinciding with the anniversary of the 1972 declaration of Martial Law, the weeklong series of events will confront questions of memory, justice, and the collective responsibility of the present generation.
Each event is designed not only to educate but also to engage the Benildean community in active reflection on pressing global and local issues. With themes of solidarity, remembrance, and advocacy, the festival invites students, faculty, and partners to deepen their roles as advocates of truth, justice, and inclusion.
A festival of voices, stories, and reflections
The week-long program was supposed to open with the “Voice for Palestine Mural Wall Painting Exhibition Launch with Panel Discussion” on Sept. 19 at the 12th floor of the Design and Arts (D+A) Campus. However, due to the transport strike, the mural launch was rescheduled and further details will be announced soon.
The launch will showcase artistic expression as a tool for resistance, remembrance, and solidarity with Palestine. The accompanying panel discussion will give Benildeans an opportunity to learn more about global struggles for freedom and connect them with our local pursuit of justice.
A screening of short films and documentaries on the impact of war on drugs was presented at 5F Auditorium, Duerr Hall, Taft Campus. The event is in partnership with DAKILA, Active Vista, and Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates. The line up is composed of films by Eileen Cabiling, Kiri Dalena, Kasharelle Javier, and Monica Calderon. Students and faculty are expected to join the discussion, drawing parallels between issues of defense of human rights.
The heart of the festival will be marked on September 23, beginning with “Misa ng Pag-alala: Benilde HRDP Festival Opening Mass” at 10:00 AM in the Chapel of Saint Benilde, The Atrium. This opening Eucharistic celebration will serve as a prayerful remembrance of all those who fought—and continue to fight—for democracy and human rights.
Immediately after, at 11:00 a.m., the community will gather for “Sa Pagbaba ng Luksa Exhibition Launch and Walkthrough,” to be held at the Lobby of The Atrium. This exhibition will reflect on narratives of grief, struggle, and hope, showing how art and memory can challenge silence and impunity.
Culminating the festival is the “Benilde Films for Human Rights,” a day-long event scheduled for Sept. 27, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the 12th floor Digital Screening Room, D+A Campus.
By highlighting young creators, the program emphasizes how the memory of authoritarianism is being reinterpreted and reimagined by a generation removed from 1972 yet still bearing its legacies. The talkback sessions after the screenings will give space for intergenerational dialogue, opening questions on how memory is preserved, transmitted, and sometimes resisted. The program hopes to spark dialogue among students and film enthusiasts while reminding the community of the role of cinema in amplifying marginalized voices.
At a time when democratic values are continuously challenged and human rights are under threat both locally and globally, the festival invites every Benildean to take part in meaningful conversations, celebrate voices of resistance, and continue building a culture of peace.
Attendance is open to all Benilde students, faculty, and staff. Each event presents a unique way to engage, whether through prayer, film, art, or dialogue. Don’t miss the chance to be part of Benilde’s first Human Rights, Democracy, and Peace Festival.
Together, let us remember, reflect, and respond.
