Ang Kalatas Volume IV September 2014 Issue | Page 14

14 EDITORIAL & OPINION THE MESSAGE. BRINGING INTO FOCUS FILIPINO PRESENCE IN AUSTRALIA www.kalatas.com.au | Volume 4 Number 12 | September 2014 Martial Law, we shall never forget By Michael Henry Ll. Yusingco T his year will be the 42nd anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law (ML) in the Philippines. The 1970s was not really my time. I grew up during the Bagets and grunge eras so I can only relate a vicarious account of ML. My older brothers actually had both happy and tragic memories of ML. Curfew meant sleepovers in friends’ houses. University life in UP was stimulating yet tense having to witness regular encounters between student activists and the police. They too had stories of classmates just disappearing. One uncle was imprisoned while another went into exile in New Zealand, both for having politics different from the dictator. I do remember a cousin on my father side being labelled a Sparrow. It was funny when I heard it that time not knowing what it really meant. A couple of months ago, articles praising ML circulated in the web. Their main argument was that the country was actually better off during ML because of the discipline imposed on the people. They even claim that Mar- cos was the best President we I do not wish to add anything new under a dictatorship until he was ercise was an absolute farce not ever had because of his strong to the table but as a student of the forced out of office in 1986. Since only because of its inherent inanlaw, I feel obligated to share the that time, the Supreme Court has ity but more so because Marcos’ leadership. Filipino-Australians (par- case of Javellana vs. Executive Sec- had to live with the realisation guns and goons were outside ticularly my classmate in Mel- retary [See http://www.lawphil. that it became an accomplice to the halls where these assemblies bourne Law School, Rachel) net/judjuris/juri1973/mar1973/ the emasculation of Philippine were held. My cousin even told me that in some instances the acwould be the first ones to vehe- gr_36142_1973.html] to illustrate democracy.” The Supreme Court in this tual question asked was “Gusto mently object to such a char- how Machiavellian Marcos was acterisation of ML and Mar- and how ML actually became his case ruled that Marcos did in nyo ba ng bigas?”. Of course, the fact railroad the adoption of the crowd would all raise their hands cos. The truth is many from this main tool of oppression. In an article published in the proposed Constitution in 1973. and their picture doing so would group migrated to Australia bebe plastered in the cause of the oppresnewspapers the next sive rule of the dicday as confirmation tator and the un- THERE is clear evidence that Marcos of the overwhelming forgivable abuses manipulated democratic processes to support for the Marperpetuated during perpetuate himself in power. Subverting the cos constitution. ML. Obviously, any There is clear evaccount of ML con- democratic political order did not make Marcos idence that Marcos trary to the expe- a good leader. It revealed him to be a powermanipulated demrience of Filipinos hungry despot. ocratic processes to would be an absoperpetuate himself lute lie. Without a doubt, these recent Pacific Basin Law Journa