More Costs Under Marcos

written by Jenny Rose Capri

the present began in the past…

Five decades and a year have passed since the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. signed Proclamation No. 1081, marking the beginning of one of the darkest periods in the history of the Philippines under Martial Law. The order was primarily a response to the perceived presence of civil unrest and communist insurgencies. However, the absolute power to control the country, as well as the suspension of civil liberties, and the silencing of opposition, led to many atrocities and violations that continue to haunt today’s bearings.

More costs diminished the causes of the declaration.

While there are many nuances among the episodes of events, these do not undermine the truth grounded in the experiences of the victims. During the regime, there were a total of more than thousands of people who were detained, tortured, and killed, of whom many other abuses went unrecorded. There was no age limit or gender specification that was overlooked; they were merciless. It's a history that will instantly make your blood boil and make you grit your teeth. Yet despite the obvious truth, it is ironic how victims are still peace-deprived because of the justice system that remains obsolete, and how oppressors remain uncharged and continue to deny their horrendous actions. 

Beyond conflicts of interest and the violence towards the citizens, what must not also be forgotten is the immense graft and corruption practices by the Marcos family and their cronies. While it is noteworthy that a peaceful revolution led to the fall of the Marcos regime, the remnants of socio-economic damage, such as the billion-dollar debt inheritance that affected the preceding administrations, remain unpaid fully up to this day. Indeed, martial law has stolen the democratic rights and privileges of Filipinos. From prohibiting freedom of speech to a lack of accountability mechanisms; the immense pain and trauma under the dictatorship should be mainstreamed not only on this day but at all times possible. 

The first half of the century is supposed to be a golden celebration where stories of victory against historical distortion should be prominent. Relatively, what the Philippines has received is another Marcos breed sitting in the highest position who has promised a golden age that remains to be realized literally on the high prices of goods and services and never on the side of grounded and significant projects that aim to provide quality life and the overall betterment of the country. They are back again to fatten their bank accounts while almost half of the population hangs below the poverty threshold. They are back to clear their dirty names, just as how they are utilizing the DepEd to rebrand the “Diktadurang Marcos” to just simply plain “Diktadura”. This bold move is alarming and must be halted or else the heroes who fought for the country’s freedom may be left unforgotten and a new era of Marcos dictatorship may rise again.

Nonetheless, a trend among citizens, especially youth, continues to debunk revisionist statements as they raise awareness of the importance of never forgetting the atrocities during the dictatorship. A Martial Law museum is also on its way to take a further stand for truth and probably fuel the consciences of those perpetrators, while the next generation will be able to witness how evil works and learn lessons to never let any kind of them take advantage of the Philippine’s vulnerabilities and destiny again. Though it is funny that their trick worked just fine, as long as there is a voice that speaks, there will be ears that listen.

The golden era is a myth. Their incompetency and greed undermine the essence of a true leader who respects rights and provides for the demands of society while maintaining peace and order. The martial law was never a happy ride; it was only chaos and blood – full of lies while many sacrificed their lives. Today is the time to take pride in fighting for justice so the future will be filled with honor and pride. The costs were immense, and so never again and never forget!