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Reflection on Martial Law's Impact

Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law in the Philippines on September 21, 1972. The declaration gave Marcos authoritarian control and led to widespread human rights abuses. Statistics show the economy suffered during this time with rising poverty and inflation. Survivors of martial law recount stories of torture and human rights violations under the Marcos regime. While some view the period as economically prosperous, the facts show the country struggled and many lives were lost under Marcos's oppressive rule. Marcos exercised power through manipulation and violence rather than true leadership.

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16 views2 pages

Reflection on Martial Law's Impact

Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law in the Philippines on September 21, 1972. The declaration gave Marcos authoritarian control and led to widespread human rights abuses. Statistics show the economy suffered during this time with rising poverty and inflation. Survivors of martial law recount stories of torture and human rights violations under the Marcos regime. While some view the period as economically prosperous, the facts show the country struggled and many lives were lost under Marcos's oppressive rule. Marcos exercised power through manipulation and violence rather than true leadership.

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sam
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A REFLECTION PAPER ON MARTIAL LAW

The Martial Law was established way back on the 21st of September in the year 1972 and
formally declared on television two days after. Being part of the generation where hearsay is the strongest
influencing factor on all things political, it has been a rollercoaster ride of information and beliefs, which
led me to forage for sufficiently backed up facts and sculpt a perspective of my own.

The Marcos regime left a colossal impact in the history of our country, regardless of whether they
were pro or against. Histories were never meant to be forgotten, but this specific era in the past is just a
period that could not, even if we tried, ever be left behind. The divide between perspectives regarding the
Marcos dictatorship is undoubtedly caused by the distinction of status during the Marcos regime. Had
they not opposed the law—which in that time was the dictator’s word—they would have had nothing to
agonize about. However, it was not a matter of choosing to follow or disobey, because the majority had
no choice from the start. On one side it was the “Golden Age” for the country, on the other, it was plain
downfall—of both the economy and the society. The numerical data presented by the Martial Law
Museum on Martial Law in Data contradicts the claims of Marcos apologists, of which the country was
prosperous during the said years. Families were poor, the agriculture sector took a hit, and prices
fluctuated. These numbers do not represent the stories, but they represent the facts. However, these do not
come close to the rage that constitutes the beliefs of rightfully critical citizens. The numbers that
demonstrated the lives that were lost. This loss was not limited to death (which a great deal of were
inhumane) because those who have “survived” the era died a long time ago. Hearing the narratives of ML
survivors—how they managed and how their families didn’t—together with news articles that depicted
the lives of the oppressed left me both in shock and unspeakable rage. An article written by Rappler’s
Don Kevin Hapal on the torture methods used during the time rendered me speechless—and wondering
why I still keep getting surprised.

Ferdinand Marcos exercised power in such a way that true leaders would not. Right from the very
start, it seems. Enter former Justice Secretary and Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile, whose ambush
was made reason to justify the Martial Law. Spoiler alert, it was then revealed to be staged. Manipulation
was one, but the violence was the cherry on top. Marcos had the intelligence, but never the heart. He
successfully managed to bend everything to his will, never minding who got snapped in the process. In
fact, he did the snapping himself, more often than not (or ordered someone to). The country was rich?
Most of them were ill-gotten. The people were disciplined? They were scared, they were silenced.
Ferdinand Marcos was a leader? He was a dictator. We should ‘forget it and move on’? We won’t.
Declaration of Martial Law: GOVPH. (n.d.). Retrieved October 01, 2020, from
[Link]

Gavilan, J. (2016, August 15). Martial Law 101: Things you should know. Retrieved October 01, 2020,
from [Link]

Hofileña, C. F. (2012, October 02). Enrile's tale: Hypocrisy and contradictions. Retrieved October 01,
2020, from [Link]

Martial Law in Data. (n.d.). Martial Law Museum. Retrieved October 01, 2020, from
[Link]

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