by Elliot Dimasuhid |
On September 21, 1972, the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos began a 14-year rule with the country under Martial Law—a brutal period in our history marked by hundreds of thousands of arrests, thousands of incidents of torture, and the deaths of human rights activists and defenders. We are reminded of the rule of Ferdinand Marcos, whose dictatorship left the economy in ruins, left the Philippines in billions of pesos in debt, and heavily suppressed freedom of speech and of the press. All of these atrocities were carried out on behalf of his imperialist superiors in the United States and the local ruling class of landowners and bourgeoise compradors.
Close to four decades have passed since the days of the Marcos dictatorship, and to many, the events are beyond recall, made hazier by those who hail the Martial Law years as the “Golden Years.” Posts would circulate on social media about how the Philippine economy had been in a much better place during the Marcos era, with some also citing how the citizenry was more “disciplined” back then. While the thriving economy under Marcos' administration is frequently cited in support of the former president's legacy, it is important to remember that this period was also marked by rising unemployment and massive debt accumulation due to government loans. Marcos put the country's future in jeopardy because of his family's greed, and we're still paying the price. However, people can be easily swayed by systematic and unintentional efforts to spread false information—whether they are completely false or simply lack further context—breeding beliefs that Marcos and his vicious actions could be redeemed in some way.
However, in present times, such ignorance is dangerous; we live in a world where all of these crimes are occurring and permeating real communities to this day. To ignore these cautions is to remain ignorant and unawakened to the fact that we are all present at a crime scene, regardless of where we are.
When Ferdinand Marcos was president, he brought with him a fiery ambition that was both his blessing and curse, as well as his downfall. Thousands of people lost their lives as a result of Marcos' abuses of human rights and corruption, which are still being deeply ingrained. There are compelling allegations that the Marcos family embezzled money from the Filipino people by systematically moving government funds into Swiss Bank accounts. Decades have passed with no justice being served, and the stolen wealth is still not being returned to the nation.
The horrors, however, continue to live on for those who were tortured and victimized under the regime, with families of those who disappeared taking it on their shoulders to carry the great warring fight for justice.
Despite the grueling period of thousands of human rights violations, with individuals going missing left and right, thrown into prison cells, torture rooms, or six feet under. There have been countless reports of horrendous forms of torture, including water cure, electric shocks, and sexual abuse, from people who were active critics of the Marcos regime such as educators, student activists, and journalists.
As it stands, these actions have no justification—it is wholly disturbing that some defend such callous maltreatment as if the people somehow deserved these brutal fates. But in reality, it wasn't disciplining bad behavior; it was instilling fear, accumulating wealth and power, and taking people's lives.
To regard Marcos as a hero is to support his methods, which included torture, exploitation, and cruelty. In the wake of the anniversary of a revolution that sparked phenomena of protesting sans senseless violence, let us always be reminded that we remain in control of our democracy—and any threat to which remains a threat to the Filipino people.
Now more than ever, it is more important for the youth to play a key role in enacting meaningful change in the current system. Stories of how the youth fought back during the Martial Law era are proof of how powerful collective action is. Truly, the current political climate in the Philippines highlights how criticisms coming from the youth are often used as a basis for classifying the government's opponents. As a result, public officials and their ardent supporters have been red-tagging students across the country with progressive views. We can turn to these stories and once again defend our rights from being hampered and taken away. It is pivotal for everyone to amplify each other’s voices and increase involvement among the youth in lieu of this pursuit.
We must not allow oppressive regimes to rob us of our rights and freedom. In the end, our basic liberties belong to us, not to the government.
Illustration by Mcenzie Han
Comments