Contained in the exhibit is Golden Years: Weighing Philippine Martial Law 1972-1981, a photo collection curated by Victor Baranuevo Velasco.

The collection showcases 90 original vintage press photos that captured the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos Sr. from his rise to power in the mid-1960s to his ouster in the mid-1980s. Emphasis will be placed on the official period of martial law, 1972-1981. The photographs were taken by American and Filipino photojournalists, distributed by international agencies, and published in various U.S. newspapers. They were gathered from the archives of these papers through various auction sites. 

As early as the 1970s, Filipino Americans have protested in Kimball Park and other public places that reach and engage curious minds. To continue the legacy of Filipino resistance and support the struggle in the Philippines, San Diego’s working class Filipinos and youth continue to organize the local community to express their public outcry over corruption and the stifling of dissent through educational discussions, protests, and political and cultural art. 

The exhibition features photographs, media, and protest art from Martial Law in the Philippines and the burgeoning movement in the local diaspora (from then and now) to showcase the experiences, agitation, and resistance that culminated under the Marcos regime and how that struggle and legacy continues today.

The curation serves as an appreciation of the histories and stories that survive through photographic media arts, and as an inspiration from the ongoing movements of Filipino resistance.