Human Rights Online Philippines

Activities to Commemorate the 90th Birth Anniversary and 25th Death Anniversary of Jose (Pepe) W. Diokno

Jose W. Diokno devoted his entire public and private life living as he thought was right and constantly pursuing justice and freedom for our people. Jose W. Diokno passed away 25 years ago, on 27 February 1987, one day after his birthday. He would have turned 90 on February 26, 2012, had he survived cancer.

Jose W. Diokno founded the Free Legal Assistance Group [FLAG] in October 1974, barely one month after his release from prison. In founding FLAG, Jose W. Diokno lamented: “And so law in the land died. I grieve for it but I do not despair over it. I know, with a certainty no argument can turn, no wind can shake, that from its dust will rise a new and better law: more just, more human and more humane. When that will happen, I know not. That it will happen, I know.”

On the occasion of Jose W. Diokno’s 90th birth anniversary and 25th death anniversary, FLAG announces the activities in commemoration of the life and death of its founder.

Friday, 24 February 2012:

9:30 – 12:00 noon The Philippine Political Science Association launches a book entitled Chasing the Wind: Assessing Philippine Democracy at the Philippine Social Science Center Auditorium, UP Diliman; Dr. Maria Serena I. Diokno will speak “On Justice, Freedom and Democracy: Remembering Ka Pepe Diokno”

10:30 – 12:00 noon FLAG holds a press conference at the Max Restaurant, Maria Orosa Street, Manila, in recognition of the contributions of its founder, Jose W. Diokno, to law and justice in the Philippines. It will focus on a few landmark cases handled by FLAG, two of which remain pending in the Supreme Court. Atty. Jose Manuel Diokno and Atty. Arno V. Sanidad will speak at the press conference

Sunday, 26 February 2012:

10:00 am The Family of Jose W. Diokno offer a Holy Mass at the De La Salle Greenhills Chapel; a short video on Jose W. Diokno will be shown after the Holy Mass

Monday, 27 February 2012:

9:00 – 11:30 am The Commission on Human Rights launches The Jose “Ka Pepe” W. Diokno Memorial Lecture at the CHR Multipurpose Hall; Atty. Jose Manuel I. Diokno, FLAG chair will speak on “Developmental Legal Advocacy and the Human Rights Approach to Equal Access to Justice”

2:00 – 5:30 pm The People Power Volunteers for Reforms CARAGA and the Father Saturnino Urios University (FSUU) Policy Center hold a Parangal for the late Senator Jose W. Diokno at the FSUU AVR 1, FSUU Main Campus, Butuan City; Speakers include Sister Letty Daral, MSM (former TFDP – Former Regional Head), Atty. Wilfred Asis (FLAG regional chairperson), Atty. Josefe Sorrera Ty (Dean of the College of Law of FSUU), Atty. Lawrence Fortun (Vice Mayor of Butuan) and Miss Athel Hijos (Gabriela party list)

Tuesday, 28 February 2012:

1:00 – 5:00 pm The Freedom from Debt Coalition in partnership with some campus organizations of UP-Diliman hold a youth forum Remembering Ka Pepe: The Unfinished Agenda of EDSA ’86: Economic Sovereignty, Human Rights and Peace at the Auditorium of the College of Mass Communications, UP Diliman; the forum will have two speakers and three reactors from youth organizations

Wednesday, 29 February 2012:

1:30 – 4:30 pm The De La Salle University (DLSU) College of Law and FLAG hold the 1st National Forum on Developmental Legal Advocacy at the Br. Andrew Gonzalez Hall, 20/f Multi-Purpose Hall, DLSU, 2269 Taft Avenue, Malate, Manila; former Dean Marvic F. Leonen will speak on “Developmental Legal Advocacy in the Context of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Environment” and Atty. Pablito V. Sanidad will speak on “Developmental Legal Advocacy: Problems and Prospects.”

5:00 – 7:00 pm The De La Salle University (DLSU) awards the Ka Pepe Human Rights Award at DLSU, 2269 Taft Avenue, Malate, Manila

Holy Masses have also been offered for Jose W. Diokno and his wife, Carmen I. Diokno, in churches around the country:

Wednesday, February 22, 2012:

6:45 pm St. Jude Catholic Church, Legazpi City

Saturday, February 25, 2012:

5:30 pm Redemptorist Church, Cebu City

Sunday, February 26, 2012:

6:00 am Our Lady of the Atonement Cathedral, Baguio City
7:00 am San Sebastian Cathedral, Bacolod City
7:00 am College Chapel, Ateneo de Davao, Davao City
7:30 am Saint Vincent Church, Baguio City
7:30 am Lourdes Church, Kisad Road, Baguio City
10:00 am Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Tahao Road, Legazpi City
10:30 am Baguio Cathedral, Baguio City
5:30 pm Parish of St. Raphael Arcangel, Legazpi Port, Legazpi City
5:30 pm St. Gregory the Great Cathedral Paris, Old Albay District, Legazpi City
5:30 pm Our Lady of the Gate Parish, Daraga, Albay
St. Joseph Cathedral, Butuan City
Immaculate Conception Parish, Butuan City
Sto. Nino Parish, Libertad , Butuan City

Monday, February 27, 2012:

12:00 noon College Chapel, Ateneo de Davao, Davao City
4:30 pm FSUU AVR 1, FSUU Main Campus, Butuan City
5:15 pm Chapel, University of Eastern Philippines, University Town, Catarman, Nothern Samar
6:00 pm San Sebastian Cathedral, Bacolod City
St. Joseph Cathedral, Butuan City
Immaculate Conception Parish, Butuan City
Sto. Nino Parish, Libertad , Butuan City

For further inquiries, please contact FLAG at Room 101, Alumni Center, UP Campus, Diliman, Quezon City, Telefax number (632) 920-5132, Email flag@flag.com.ph.

Quezon City, Philippines, 20 February 2012.

MARIA SOCORRO I. DIOKNO
Secretary General

Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG)