Ateneo de Manila University is turning to virtual reality to help young Filipinos learn about Martial Law. The school’s Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality (VAMR) Lab worked with the Ateneo Martial Law Museum and Library to build Heritage Hero: Secrets of the “Golden Era”, a VR escape room aimed at students and young adults.
The game drops players inside an abandoned mansion linked to the Marcos regime. Each room tells a different story. The living room shows propaganda art and regime symbols. The kitchen recalls the Nutribun program, a government food project.
The bedroom highlights infrastructure plans and contracts that raised questions during the era. Finally, a printing press room represents underground resistance and the fight for press freedom.
Players solve puzzles and interact with objects to move forward. Sessions run 30 to 60 minutes, making it short enough for classes but long enough to spark reflection.
According to Ateneo, its students showed strong interest. Even those new to VR found the experience engaging. Many said they wanted to learn more about Martial Law after playing.
Researchers shared results at the International Conference on Computers in Education in December 2025, presenting the project as both a tech experiment and a teaching tool.
Using immersive play, Ateneo hopes to make Martial Law lessons stick with today’s generation. It’s not about replacing textbooks, but about adding a new way to connect with the past.
