Habilin: The Light in Each of Us

 

Introduction

Hello teacher & fellow educator!

This is a guide so you can make full use of the “Habilin” video series provided by the Commission on Human Rights and SAMASA. The videos make great stimulus with your class to explore the topics of the Martial Law period, and each citizen’s responsibility to fight for what they feel is best for the country. The videos are recommended for Grades 7-12, or students aged 13 and up.

HABILIN is a series of 12 short videos, each animated in a different style. It tells the stories of nine (9) “Little lights” – ordinary Filipinos who had the strength and courage to hope and act amidst the dark time of Martial Law under the Marcos regime. Each Little Light had their own way of fighting for freedom, democracy and justice, and more importantly, their own light inspired more lights.


Learning Objectives

With the videos + this learning aid, the hope is that you can use one,
two or three of your classroom/online sessions to:

  • Spark the students’ interest in what really happened during Martial
    Law under the Marcos dictatorship, and the events that led up to the
    People Power Revolution
  • Inspire reflection & discussion on how anyone, even a student, can be
    a Little Light in the darkness
  • Introduce or expand on the concept of civic responsibility and action.
    When Little Lights come together, they can make big changes.

 


At the end of the “Habilin” class sessions, your students should have more familiarity with the Martial Law era, civic responsibility & action – and curiosity to seek more information about these.

 

Habilin as a learning experience

You are free to view or share the videos as is! They can be watched together as a class, or shared for the students’ individual viewing. Watch them all at the same time, or over a few sessions. If you would like to deepen the learning, use this guide! It recommends the order for viewing the videos following themes – and includes sample questions as prompts for reflection & discussion, plus some group or individual exercises/assignments when applicable.

Flow of Discussion for Themed Viewings

  1. Seeing the context of the characters
  2. Connecting to the current context
  3. Exploring themes
Recommended Order of Watching
  • Liwanag*

Introduces concept of Little Lights


  • Armando Palabay
  • Nestor Principe
  • Lazaro Silva

A good set to start with. Armando & Nestor’s story outline a chronology for Martial Law, and all three stories show that students can make a difference


  • Margarita Gomez
  • Sr. Mariani Dimaranan
  • Elma Tangente

Good themed viewing on expectations on gender roles, family & societal pressure, and the courage to fight for change


  • Marciano Anastacio Jr.
  • Lumbaya Gayudan

Good themed viewing on prejudice & shifts in perspective


  • Coronacion Chiva

Told like a legend, this serves as a final mythic story that also serves as a rousing call for heroism

  • People Power*

The culmination of all the Little Lights coming together & creating Big change

  • Habilin*

An inspiring message that invites the audience to be a Little Light for change

 


 

Download Teacher guide here: Teacher Guide (Eng) | Gabay ng Guro (Fil) 

 

 

Watch

Watch the videos together as a class, or shared for the students’ individual viewing.

 


Liwanag


Armando

Learn more about Armando


Nestor

Learn more about Nestor


Lazaro

Learn more about Lazaro


Discuss

No need to go through all questions & feel free to make your own

Seeing the context of the characters
  • Does anyone in the class know anyone from Ilocos? Have the Ilocanos they know spoken of any political beliefs or attitudes?
  • The young Nestor grew in an area that was ruled by gangs and rogue policemen. Nestor and his brothers first learned martial arts to protect themselves. He came to detest authorities who abused their power. Why do you think he turned from karate, to “utak at salita, mga sulat talumpati, malasakit at
    samahan” later on?
  • Can anyone share an experience where you were corrected/reprimanded or given constructive feedback, but with humor?
  • Or how about the other way around, have you
    ever used humor to correct, give feedback or reprimand someone?
Connecting to the current context
  • Have you ever encountered people who are very set in beliefs that are very
    different from yours (not necessarily political, even just liking pineapple in
    pizza) and tried to talk to them about it?
  • Armando used theater to bring to light, “isabuhay”, the only-whispered-about
    abuses or real effects of the Marcos regime. How would he have done it
    today?
Exploring Themes
  • As a young person today, what are the “powers” you have to bring about change in your
  • As a class, as students, what change would you like to happen in your immediate community, your location or the country?

 


Activities
Group work

Taking inspiration from Armando & Lazaro, write and act out a funny
scene/skit that also brings to light a cause you feel strongly about. Share in class.

Individual Assignment

Taking inspiration from Nestor, write a letter to someone in charge of, or has
influence over, a cause you care about. Explain your concern, and be clear on what you would like them to do.

 

Watch

Watch the videos together as a class, or shared for the students’ individual viewing. Watch them all at the same time, or over a few sessions.

 


Margarita

Learn more about Margarita

 


Sr. Mariani

Learn more about Sr. Mariani

 


Elma

Learn more about Elma


Discuss

!Only samples! No need to go through all questions & feel free to make your own

Seeing the context of the characters
  • Margarita started her adult life as a socialite model and Miss Philippines. When she returned to university, she became active in political discussions, volunteered with activist groups, and eventually went underground herself, living with rural communities. If she were your friend or family member, how would you react to this change in her “career path”?
  • The young Nestor grew in an area that was ruled by gangs and rogue policemen. Nestor and his brothers first learned martial arts to protect themselves. He came to detest authorities who abused their power. Why do you think he turned from karate, to “utak at salita, mga sulat talumpati, malasakit at samahan” later on?
  • Can anyone share an experience where you were corrected/reprimanded or given constructive feedback, but with humor?
  • Or how about the other way around, have you ever used humor to correct, give feedback or reprimand someone?
Connecting to the current context
  • Margarita, Sr. Mariani and Elma each had triggers or causes that pushed them
    to go beyond their comfort zones – what social issues do you feel most strongly
    about today?
  • Margarita was the “It girl” of her time. Are there similarly influential people now
    who you feel are using their popularity or beauty to make positive changes in
    society or the country?
Exploring Themes
  • Have you ever gone against set expectations of you, or a role/stereotype
    assigned to you (ex., bunso, kwela, nice girl) because of a cause you felt strongly
    about?
  • Do you feel that there are still set expectations that limit what women are “allowed” to do?
  • Do you feel that girls or women have to fight extra hard for the changes they
    want to see?

Activities
Group Work
  • Education played a big part in Margarita, Mariani & Elma’s stories of activism.
  • Choose a cause that is close to your group’s hearts.
  • Choose “students” that you feel need to know more about this cause that affects them. (Ex., if your cause is the sovereignty of Philippine waters, your students may be fishermen)
  • Create your own fun module that will teach them about the cause.
Individual Assignment
  1. Draw a picture of you, surrounded by the people you interact with the most
  2. Beside each person, write down how you think they see you, or their set expectations of you

Discuss in class: Do you feel these expectations are reflective of who you really are or want to be?

 

Watch

Watch the videos together as a class, or shared for the students’ individual viewing.

 


Marciano

Learn more about Marciano

 


Lumbaya

Learn more about Lumbaya

 


Discuss

No need to go through all questions & feel free to make your own

Seeing the context of the characters
  • Marciano went through a difficult adolescence. He figured in neighborhood
    brawls and indulged in drugs and alcohol. He moved from one school to
    another and could not hold on to any job. He became the proverbial tambay,
    spending his days hanging out with friends, drinking in front of sari-sari
    stores and warring with gangs from other neighborhoods. Whenever you
    come across the so-called tambays, or similar characters in your neighborhood,
    do you see that they could some day be like Marciano too?
  • Lumbaya was a Butbut tribal leader from Ngibat in Tinglayan, Kalinga. He grew up in the Cordillera hinterlands, where he had little formal education, but was steeped in the customs and traditions of his people. He was a farmer who was committed to his community. Many indigenous peoples do not have access to the same opportunities that are easily accessible to many Filipinos. Without a formal education, how do you think he was seen or treated by the corporations he
    was fighting against?
Connecting to the current context
  • As a person who once used drugs, what dangers would Marciano face if he were
    alive to fight injustice today?
  • Do you think Lumbaya’s struggles from his time are no longer experienced by
    the indigenous people of today?
  • In your daily life, do you observe or know of any communities or special populations that face prejudice?
Exploring Themes
  • Would you consider yourself a “judgy” person? What impresses you about
    people? What makes you think less of them?
  • Have you ever changed your first impression of someone?
  • Has anyone ever surprised you when you learned something new about them that

Activities
Group Work
  • Create your own rap, song or musical number that brings to light an act of
    prejudice that you are aware of, or better yet, have seen with your own eyes.Perform you number for class.
Individual Assignment
  • Find a picture of your favorite place in the country. Research & write down on the picture all the things that threaten that place. Ex., plastic pollution, illegal logging, etc..Post what you learned on your social
    media account, or share with class.

 

Watch

Watch the videos together as a class, or shared for the students’ individual viewing.

 


Coronacion

Learn more about Coronacion

 


People Power


Habilin


Discuss

No need to go through all questions & feel free to make your own

Seeing the context of the characters
  • Coronacion or Commander Waling-waling is a legend of sorts in Iloilo, a unique, brave and outspoken woman, fully committed to her cause. Student activists who once met her tell fond stories of her warmth and her bravado. Detained during martial law, she boosted the morale of her fellow prisoners by regaling them with stories about her life as a guerilla fighter. She also spoke at rallies
    attended by thousands, railing against poverty, military abuse, exploitation of workers, etc.. She was so popular she received speaking invitations even for fiestas and village dances. Can you imagine what Coronacion must have been like as a person to draw so many people to her? Who would you cast as her in a Commander Waling-waling movie?
  • Have you heard stories from your family or community about the 1986 People Power revolution?
  • Do you know anyone who was there at that time?
  • What do you know of, or have heard about Martial Law & why there was a need for a People Power movement to overthrow Marcos in 1986?
Connecting to the current context
  • These days, would one need to have the star power of a Commander
    Waling-waling to speak to thousands?
  • What for you, does it mean to have a Little Light inside you?
  • What actions would show off a Little Light inside someone you know?
  • In these times when there is a lot of fear in the world and our country, do you see Little Lights in the world today? Who are they? What do they do?
Exploring Themes
  • Do you check if something is true before sharing it on social media?
  • What do you usually do when you see someone on your feed posting negative or
    damaging things?
  • How do you feel about the state of the country today? Are you hopeful for a good
    future for the Philippines?
  • Do you feel you & your friends CAN do something to make the positive changes you want in the country happen? Do you think other young people feel this way too?

Activities
Group Work
  • Create your own rap, song or musical number that brings to light an act of
    prejudice that you are aware of, or better yet, have seen with your own eyes.Perform you number for class.
Individual Assignment
  • Find a picture of your favorite place in the country. Research & write down on the picture all the things that threaten that place. Ex., plastic pollution, illegal logging, etc..Post what you learned on your social
    media account, or share with class.