Today, September 21st, marks the 48th year of the declaration of Martial Law in the Philippines by tyrant Ferdinand Marcos.
As the years go by, remembering the dark period that our country was under for 14 gruesome and horrible years has become an optional act for the people of this generation. The past put into small paragraphs in the pages of our history books are made even hazier by brainwashed fanatics of the period who attempt to paint it in a good way.
The ghastly facts of the period still continue to follow the victims still vying for justice though, as recent happenings push for the denial of their suffering in the form of burying the late dictator in the Heroes’ Cemetery and the declaration of his birthday as a holiday— all made possible by the current president who is starting to mirror the deceased dictator.
But this article is not about the people who made this dark chapter in Philippine history possible. This is about remembering the people whose lives have gone too soon, lives who gave way for the rights we have, and are enjoying now.
Liliosa Hilao
Affectionately known by her friends and family as Lili, the consistent honor student, she was otherwise known by the nation as the first victim of martial law. As a Communication Arts student at Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, she served as the editor-in-chief of the university’s publication, “Hasik”, where she wrote and published pieces that are in direct opposition to the government.
This caused her to be arrested by the military and being subjected to rape and torture, done in front of her sister, after being killed and having her remains brutally mutilated.
Boyet Mijares
Boyet Mijares, was the son of Primitivo “Tibo” Mijares, a journalist known to have had close ties with the then president who was abducted after releasing a tell-all book that chronicled the abuses of power of the Marcos dictatorship and the excess in luxury the family enjoyed at the expense of the Filipinos.
After Tibo’s disappearance, Boyet was lured into looking for his missing father after receiving a call that he was still alive. Boyet was then tortured—his fingernails pulled out and was stabbed to death. Urban legends even circulated that he was thrown out of the military’s helicopter and plunged to his death.
Archimedes Trajano
A victim whose death was probably the pettiest of them all, Archimedes was a student activist who was at a student open forum where Imee Marcos was a speaker. Archimedes questioned the presidential daughter’s appointment as the director of the Kabataang Barangay, pointing out that she would not have been appointed had she not been the president’s daughter.
Archimedes was then dragged out of the venue where he was last seen alive, beaten, and tortured to death, all at the expense of the ego of the presidential daughter.
The Philippines
Despite the tales of the Philippines enjoying the martial law years as the “golden age” in terms of economy, a number of reports actually shoot this idea down to its core— a big fat lie.
Data shows that the period has actually done the worst for the country. The leadership borrowed too much money, debt that Filipinos and their offsprings are still paying for up until now.
Unemployment was on the rise and the Philippines was dubbed as the “Sick Man of Asia”, severely lacking behind its East Asian counterparts. The Marcos family is also found to have plundered over 10 billion dollars, assets not included.
The people listed here are just the tip of the iceberg. In an effort of statistical data, 70,000 Filipinos were put to jail, 35,000 brutally tortured in macabre ways (so numerous Wikipedia literally has a seperate page for its entire list) and 3,257 killed.
These numbers may look like a small part of the whole of the population when looked at from afar but as Filipinos of the current generation, it is our job to make sure that these sufferings are not forgotten and remembered for future generations to come.
And so, collectively as proud and patriotic Filipinos who love their fellowmen, we should all shout #NeverAgain.
Comments