By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
Bulatlat.com
MANILA — As the Philippines commemorate the 39th year since former President Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law, youth and progressive artists ‘planked’ to denounce the continuing human rights violations despite the supposed restoration of so-called democracy in the country.
“As human rights violations continue to escalate, the Filipino people are falling all the more into extreme poverty,” Max Santiago of Sining Bugkos told Bulatlat.com, a few moments after he planked with other youth activists.
Planking is a worldwide internet craze where one is photographed lying face down, palms flat on the side and feet together, like a plank. Reports said it started when Gary Clarkson, then 15, and his friend Christian Langdon, 12, would plank in public places to amuse passersby. They called it “Lying Down Game.” Others, on the other hand, said that planking reminds them of how African slaves lied and endured the same position for months during the Middle Passage, where people from Africa were shipped to what was then known as the New World, to become slaves.
A member of youth group Anakbayan planks at Chino Roces monument (Photo by Janess Ann J. Ellao / bulatlat.com)
In the Philippines, meanwhile, activists who mostly come from the youth sector, would plank during protest actions, like in this case where they denounced the continuous and gross human rights violations 39 years since martial law was declared and 25 years since the so-called restoration of democracy happened after People Power 1.
“Martial law trampled on the people and on their rights. It was as if we were pushed to the ground, which the planking somehow symbolizes. And now, even after martial law has long been “lifted,” human rights violations continue,” Cris de Leon, a member of artist group Ugatlahi, said.
He added that it is their “light-hearted way” of tackling the issue. “It is an act of defiance because the normal thing to do would be to face the camera.”
Delmar Aguilom of Anakbayan, said that planking has helped them reach out to more people and communicate to them the issues confronting the country. Aside from commemorating the declaration of martial law, youth groups also planked in protest of the continuing oil price hikes and the government’s budget cut on state universities and colleges.
Aguilom and Santiago said that a ban on their planking during protest actions would curtail their freedom of expression and contribute to their political oppression. Both were referring to Rep. Winston “Winnie” Castelo’s bill known as Anti-Planking Act of 2011. The lawmaker said that planking, if repeatedly used in street rallies, would be dangerous.
“Life and limb are pretty much at risk here where unbelieving bus drivers or law enforcement authorities might just ram through these warm and living bodies rolled out on highways,” Castelo said.
He added in his explanatory note that parents and teachers have reasons to be alarmed as planking or what he termed as “warm and living bodies laid down across street highways” appear like “offerings to the gods.”
Andrew Zarate of Anakbayan said that there is no need to be alarmed about planking as a form of youth protest; they are “merely being creative so that the deaf government would heed our calls.”
“If the law prohibiting planking would be passed, the youth would find other means to protest their demands. We still have die-ins, flash dances, freeze mobs, or even fire breathing,” Zarate said in jest, “What our government needs to address is not the form of protest but what we are protesting about.”
He added that with the series of human rights violations in the country, even walking or marching during a protest action could already be equated to “risking our life and limbs.”
“Today, we planked to commemorate the declaration of martial law and the human rights violations committed against the people. We will continue to plank until justice is served,” Aguilom said. 
