Sr. Mariani Dimaranan: Filipina Champion of Social Justice and Human Rights

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Sr. Mariani Cuevas Dimaranan, SFIC was a professed religious of the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception.  She was an activist nun who fought the dictatorship of the late strong man, Ferdinand E. Marcos during Martial Law.

Early Life

Born on February 1, 1925, in Lubang, Occidental Mindoro to well-off parents Mariano and Maria Dimaranan, Sr. Mariani was baptized Marcela.  She felt a profound calling to serve the marginalized from a young age.  After completing her college education at De La Salle University, she made the resolute decision to join the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (SFIC) despite her father's objections, who even filed a legal case to dissuade her.  Undeterred, Mariani pursued her vocation, embodying the Franciscan spirit of humility, service and unwavering commitment to the poor.

The Martial Law Years

The declaration of Martial Law by President Ferdinand Marcos in 1972 marked a dark chapter in the history of the Philippines, characterized by widespread human rights abuses, including arbitrary arrests, torture, and enforced disappearances.  In response, the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines (AMRSP) established the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP) in 1974 to document these human rights violations and provide support to the victims and their families.

Sr. Mariani, herself a former political detainee accused of communist affiliations, was appointed chairperson of TFDP.  Under her leadership, the organization became a formidable force in the fight against oppression embodying the Church's commitment to social justice and the defense of human dignity.

Leadership in Task Force Detainee

For over two decades, Sr. Mariani steered TFDP with courage and compassion.  She established 65 local offices nationwide, ensuring the political detainees and their families received legal assistance, medical care and moral support.  Her efforts extended beyond national borders as she built international networks to raise awareness about the plight of political prisoners in the Philippines.

Sr. Mariani's approach was deeply personal; she visited over 100 detention centers, bringing not only supplies but also hope to those unjustly imprisoned. 

She tirelessly advocated for the release of political detainees, even at risk of drawing the ire of the Marcos regime.  According to TFDP records, the number of detainees, which once stood at 2,000 dropped significantly to just 200 during the period when Sr. Mariani actively assisted in processing their release - travelling from one military camp to another and enlisting the support of lawyers to represent them.  

Championing Social Justice

Sister Mariani's work was a living testament to the social teachings of the Church, which emphasize its role in addressing systematic injustices and aligning with the poor and the oppressed.  She believed that serving the poor went beyond charity; it required standing in solidarity with them in their struggles for justice.  Her activism was not merely political but deeply rooted in her faith and commitment to the Gospel's call for compassion and justice.

Legacy and Recognition


Sr. Mariani's unwavering dedication did not go unnoticed.  She was honored by having her name inscribed on the Wall of Remembrance at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani; a monument recognizing those who fought against the Marcos dictatorship.  

Even after suffering a debilitating stroke, she continued to inspire through her resilience and commitment to the cause.  Sr. Mariani passed away on December 17, 2005, at the age of 80, leaving behind a legacy of courage, faith, and unwavering commitment to human rights.

On February 27, 2006, Sr. Mariani was posthumously honored by her alma mater, De La Salle University, with the Second Ka Pepe Diokno Award which recognizes her as a champion of human rights. The award’s citation reads: "...for her selfless dedication in serving the Catholic Church and the poor, and for valiantly risking her life in order to set the victims of human rights violation free. During the dark days of Martial Law, she bravely confronted the powers-that-be and brought hope to countless Filipino detainees, whose lives and dignity were trampled by tyranny and injustice.  She became a symbol of collective courage and through her leadership, the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines became the voice of the oppressed and freedom fighters.  A true daughter of the Church, Sr. Mariani shall remain in the hearts and minds of Filipinos as a woman who showed the nation the true essence of justice."

Sr. Mariani Dimaranan lived a life of radical fidelity to the Gospel, embodying the Church's call to walk with the poor, the persecuted, and the forgotten.  Her unwavering defense of human dignity and relentless pursuit of justice for political detainees during the darkest years of Martial Law not only testified to her personal courage but also exemplified the Church's prophetic role in times of tyranny.

What makes Sr. Mariani's legacy even more compelling today is how her life prefigures the vision Pope Francis has consistently articulated for the Church.  She was, in every sense, a missionary to the "peripheries" - those literal and figurative margins where the broken, voiceless, and oppressed cry out for help.  She did not wait for the suffering to come to her; she went to them, sat with them, fought for them, and loved them in their brokenness.  

In doing so she fulfilled Pope Francis' challenge to all Christians to "smell like the sheep", to take on the scent, struggles and sorrows of the people they serve.  Sr. Mariani's hands bore the grime of prison bars, her eyes witnessed torture scars and her heart absorbed the anguish of the tortured.  but in all this, she radiated the light of Christ - a shepherdess deeply immersed in the life of her flock.



Her legacy challenges the Church today: to remain fearless in the face of injustice, to never forget the marginalized, and to proclaim Christ not only with words but with deeds.  Sr. Mariani's life is a call to all - religious and lay alike - to live a faith that is not afraid to be uncomfortable, a faith that dares to go to the very edges of society, and a faith that continues to defend, accompany, and love - no matter the cost.  

May her memory remain a guiding star for all who dream of a Church that is truly with and for the people.  



References:

"Mariani Dimaranan."  Accessed April 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariani_Dimaranan.

Martial Law Files.  "Sr. Mariani Dimaranan" Accessed April 2025. https://martiallawfiles.wordpress.com/2012/12/01/sr-mariani-dimaranan/

PhilStar Global.  Sr. Mariani: A woman of Courage and Conviction. Accessed April 2025. https://www.philstar.com/other-sections/newsmakers/2006/04/04/329779/sister-mariani-woman-courage-and-conviction

Photos: Not mine. CTTO.

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