Street Memorials: A creative tribute to Martial Law heroes

MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The Bantayog ng mga Bayani (Monument of Heroes), a foundation in Quezon City Philippines that honors martyrs and heroes in the struggle against martial law and the Marcos dictatorship, has launched a creative information campaign called “Street Memorials,” to get more people to know about heroic individuals from that era. The campaign was developed in partnership with creative agency Dentsu Creative Philippines, under the leadership of Executive Creative Director Biboy Royong, and Creative Directors Paolo de Leon and Gian Nealega.

The “Memorials” are wooden sculptures that reveal portraits of unsung martial law heroes through candle drippings. Through extensive research, each memorial was situated in the exact location where the hero was murdered, abducted, or last seen alive. A symbolic QR code replaced the mouth of each hero, so when scanned, their stories can be retold in realistic spatial audio, creating an immersive and tangible reminder of the heroes’ bravery and sacrifice, right where it happened.

“Candles are for remembering,” explained Foundation Executive Director Ma. Cristina Rodriguez. “They are easily accessible and very familiar to us. We want to do this with other groups or families and to mount them in street corners, bus stops, schools, communities, or any meaningful location such as the spot where these martyrs were slain or last seen, where they worked or played, or where they were born. We want this campaign to reach as many people as possible, so they can learn the stories of courage during the Marcos Sr. era. We want the public to know our heroes and their sacrifices.”

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