FILIPINO academicians and researchers will be gathering at a virtual conference at the end of the month to discuss Philippine history, specifically the Marcos period.

The topic, “Toward a Nuanced History of the Marcos Era: Approaches, Evidence, and Contestations,” will take place on February 28 and March 1, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. via Zoom.

“This conference is neither pro-Marcos nor anti-Marcos; it is pro-Philippines. Much more important than the political interests of the pro- and anti-Marcos groups is the welfare of the nation,” explained the event’s disclaimer on the Facebook page of the Philippine Historical Association (PHA) on Monday.

“As contentious memories of the Marcos era continue to haunt us and weigh down heavily on our efforts to move forward as a nation, there is a need to take an unflinching look at the pains, joys, and fantasies of this era. Only by staring at the devil in the eye, we can hope to extinguish our fear and regain our freedom to chart our future, “it said.

Ateneo de Manila University professor Dr. Filomeno Aguilar Jr. will be the keynote speaker of this event.

In addition, there will be a special session involving Prof. Vicente Rafael of the University of Washington on the nature of history and memory wars, as well as a “mutual interview” between The Manila Times columnist and UP Los Baños professor Dr. Antonio Contreras and convenor Dr. Rommel Curaming from the Universiti Brunei Darussalam on how to come to terms with Marcos-era memories.

Co-covenor is Karl Patrick Mendoza from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand and the University of Santo Tomas.

“History is naturally complex and openended. Efforts to foreclose debates and reduce things to soundbites and slogans are counterproductive. This conference is a step toward keeping history open and potentially empowering everyone, not just the pro- and anti-Marcos groups,” the PHA description read.

Partners and supporters include the De La Salle University Southeast Asia Research Center and Hub, Tala: An Online Journal of History, Adhika ng Pilipinas, and the Philippine National Historical Society.

Interested parties may register at https://bit. ly/NuancingMartialLawHistory.