4. Joel Lamangan
Film Director

Lamangan is best known for his movies The Flor Contemplacion Story, Sidhi, and Mano Po, among others. He was also an actor in the 1990s.

Lamangan was also a student activist during the Martial Law years. He was arrested in 1977 and endured physical and emotional torture for four years.

3. Pete Lacaba
Poet, Editor, Journalist

Not many know that Lacaba is the executive director of Yes! Magazine. His dark past belies the cheerful, showbiz nature of his magazine. During Martial rule, Lacaba wrote about the atrocities of the Marcos regime.

In 1974 he was taken to Camp Crame, where he was repeatedly tortured and humiliated. He recalls without humor that oddly enough, there would be a lunch break in the middle of 8-hour tortures.

2. Jo Ann Maglipon
Editor of PEP

Just like Lacaba, Maglipon’s current endeavor belie her dark past. She is currently the editor of Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP), regarded as the foremost site for Philippine entertainment news.

At 23 years of age, just a few days before her 24th birthday, Maglipon was arrested. She celebrated her birthday with inmates who would all later die in the hands of their tormentors.

1. Ricky Lee
Writer, Author

Lee was a shy and quiet writer from the province. Sickly and gangly, Lee was imprisoned and tortured in 1974, alongside Maglipon and Lacaba. Lee endured physical and emotional torture. His ordeal was so traumatic that he tried to commit suicide by slashing his wrist. He laughingly recalls that while in detention, he caught Marcos on the television announcing that the government was not holding any political prisoners.

Today Lee is regarded as one of the best writers in the country. He also serves as mentor to those looking to enrich their craft.

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