Organizer: Harvard University Asia Center
Type/Location: In person / Cambridge, MA
Description:
Join the Harvard University Asia Center for a three-part lecture series with speaker Ed Garcia, Filipino Peace Practitioner and Framer of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, who will discuss peace-building and resistance in the Philippines.
Day 1: Struggle Against Dictatorship: The first lecture deals with watershed events in the Philippines that shaped the country’s future: the 'First Quarter Storm' of the 1970s, the declaration of martial law by Marcos, Sr., who turned from president to dictator, the repressive regime unleashed in 1972, and the assassination of the opposition leader, Senator Ninoy Aquino. From the perspective of a participant observer, this lecture describes the People Power experience that brought down the conjugal dictatorship and analyzes its aftermath.
The lecture concludes with an assessment of the 1986 Philippine Constitution, which aimed to provide a blueprint for a more humane society. The narration also identifies valuable lessons from experience on the ground, identifying shortcomings and strengths in the attempts undertaken to build a better society. The aim in this first lecture is to shed light on possible paths forward that are relevant to countries facing similar situations.
Day 2: Waging Peace Requires a Marathon Mentality: The second lecture draws upon the experience of working towards possible peace in the Philippines and various countries across Asia, Africa, the Americas, and the Middle East. It identifies four clusters of significant learnings:
Placing people at the heart of the process.
Taking ownership of the process to embrace the outcome.
Restoring broken relationships.
Recognizing that peace agreements are points of departure, not final destinations.
The discussion concludes by observing that peacemaking is an ongoing task and emphasizes the conviction that it requires a marathon mentality.
Day 3: Reinventing Resistance: The third lecture discusses the challenges of reinventing resistance today. While the battles of yesteryear took place in the so-called “parliament of the streets” or at negotiating tables to reach mutually agreed upon political settlements, nowadays the search for truth and trust in the practice of politics requires the capacity to distinguish fact from fiction, deal with disinformation, push back against the dumbing down of politics, and reimagine ways to communicate and connect with diverse constituencies.
In a world populated by regressive forms of populism that take advantage of the failed aspirations of those marginalized from mainstream politics or a fairer share in a more inclusive economy, the question that must be asked in the light of the Philippine experience is this: how to reinvent resistance to ensure that the past is truly past and does not derail the present.
Registration:
To register, click here.