From the runway to the streets of Liwasang, Bonifacio, the calls of Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines (YACAP) are clear; true climate justice holds no tolerance towards a fascist government! This September 21, the recently concluded show titled “Fashion Against Fascism and Fossil Fuels. Empire of the Son: Drought and Deluge,” conducted a reprise as part of the mass mobilization commemorating the 51st anniversary of Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s declaration of Martial Law.
Alab Ayroso, National Coordinator of YACAP, says, “This fashion show serves as a stark reminder that the issues that plagued our nation during the dark days of Martial Law still persist today.” Over half a century after the bloodiest chapter of Filipino history, another member of the Marcos family has assumed power in the Malacañang. True to the traditions of his family, Bongbong Marcos’s government echoes his father’s anti-environment and anti-people policies. The climate challenges we faced then have only intensified, and the specter of repression continues to haunt our political landscape. Year after year, the Philippines retains its distinction as the deadliest country in Asia for climate activists, as reported by Global Witness.
Artists, designers, and activists who worked on the show joined other sectors in the mass mobilization, bringing to light six key climate action issues in Marcos’s first year as the President — displacement, environmental plunder, mental health, food insecurity, disinformation, and human rights violations.
Mitzi Tan observes, “If the Marcoses’ Fashion Show in the Palace is exclusive and overindulgent, then the “Fashion Against Fascism” reprise is one unobstructed by walls and deceit. Unlike the empty, pseudo-nationalist gestures of our government officials, this show, like the larger fight against fascism, must be built on the calls of the masses.” [They] add, “In the midst of historical denialism and massive disinformation campaigns, this show joins the fight for promoting the truth.”
YACAP urges every sector of society, especially the youth, to persist in the face of tyranny. Xian Guevarra, National Spokesperson of YACAP, declares, “Just as the Marcoses’ fascist regime persists, so must our spirit of resistance refuse to die. September 21 is not only a day of remembrance but also a day to assert the continued struggle of the masses!”
Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines 