#archimedes trajano

[dalandan-oranges]

MARCOS HITLER DIKTADOR TUTA

there is no justice at the expense of the filipino people

Martial Law Proclamation Summary from the MARTIAL LAW MUSEUM & LIBRARY / header of Proclamation No. 1081 / Dark Legacy: Human Rights Under the Marcos Regime, Alfred W. McCoy / On the Eve of Dictatorship and Revolution, Petronilo Bn. Daroy / Never Again, Raissa Robles / Gone too soon: 7 youth leaders killed under Martial Law, Katerina Francisco / #NeverForget the killing of Archimedes Trajano, Antonio Montalvan II / from a newspaper article with headline of President Marcos declaring Martial Law / On Repentance and Repair, Danya Ruttenberg

[kalakian]

Why it's hard to talk about Martial Law and the Marcos regime

The student who dared to question Imee Marcos.

Archimedes Trajano, a student of Mapua Institute of Technology who unfortunately met his end in the hands of Imee Marcos’ henchmen.

During an open forum at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, the then-21-year-old questioned Imee on her capability to lead the youth and told her that she only became the head of the Kabataang Barangay because she was the president’s daughter. He also questioned her on the human rights abuses being committed by her father.

On September 2, 1977, his crumpled body was strewn on the streets of Manila. The official explanation was that he had died in a frat rumble inside his dormitory. Witnesses, however, said that Imee’s security dragged him away from the open forum. Trajano’s family successfully sued Marcos for civil damages in a Hawaii court; however, the local Supreme Court overturned it in 2006 due to a technicality committed by a lower court in trying to implement the prior verdict.

CONGRESS PADLOCKED UNDER MARTIAL LAW, 1972-1986

Days before the scheduled reopening of the Senate and the House of Representatives under the 1935 Constitution, Marcos promulgated the 1973 Constitution, which effectively abolished Congress and replaced it with a unicameral legislature which would be formed three years after. Opposition legislators reported to the Legislative Building on January 22, 1973, but found the building padlocked and under an armed guard.

The 7th Congress had been set to open its second regular session on January 22. The photo depicts Senators Doy Laurel, Eva Estrada Kalaw, Ramon Mitra, and Jovito Salonga posing in front of the Senate session hall which had been padlocked, a stark symbol of power held by a single man.

Between 1972 and 1977, sixty thousand Filipinos were arrested for “political reasons.” A new word entered the Filipino vocabulary, “salvage.” The brutal verb described how the military would disappear individuals, torture and murder them, and then toss their corpses into vacant lots or drop them by the side of the road. Thousands were salvaged under Marcos’ reign of terror.

Photo shows the legs of Judy Taguiwalo, former Social Welfare secretary and member of the Samahan ng Demokratikong Kabataan, as policemen force her and her fellow activists to leap off a jeepney during a rally after the State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand Marcos in front of Manila's Congress on January 26, 1970. 

Two were killed and many were injured after a scrimmage at Manila’s Burgos Drive up to nearby golf link in Intramuros and Luneta Park. The injured were brought to the Philippine General Hospital on Taft Avenue.

Prior to the confrontation between students and policemen, Ed Jopson of Ateneo and the conservative National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP) chose radio commentator Arienda as a rally speaker over firebrand Gary Olivar of UP and SDK. It was dubbed as the “microphone battle” of the radical and conservative protesters in the 70s.

(1) FilipiKnow: 10 Lesser-Known Photos from Martial Law Years That Will Blow You Away

GMA: High court voids case vs Imee over 1977 killing of student

(2) FilipiKnow: 10 Lesser-Known Photos from Martial Law Years That Will Blow You Away

Official Gazette: The History of the Senate of the Philippines

(3) World Socialist Website: Forty-eight years since Marcos declared martial law in the Philippines

(4) ANC: The 7 deadly protests of the First Quarter Storm

[paperbackriot]

Let’s remember Martial Law for Imee Marcos

In a time where fiction is being turned into reality and we are being trained to forget our bloody past, remembering is an act of defiance.

When I think of Imee Marcos, I always remember the 21-year-old student-activist Archimedes Trajano. He was a student of Mapúa Institute of Technology.

Archimedes—or “Archie” as he was known to his classmates—is remembered by history as the student who questioned Imee’s appointment as director of the Kabataang Baranggay in a forum on August 31, 1977.

Hours later, Archie’s body was found lifeless- beaten black and blue along a street in Manila. His parents were told he got into a fight with dorm mates. But it was easy to connect the dots.

While Archie is just one of the thousands who disappeared, imprisoned, tortured, even killed under the Marcos dictatorship, his murder remains a gruesome reminder of what the dictator and his family—including Imee—are capable of doing.

I remember talking about Archie when I was asked to speak in a protest September 21 last year, the 45th anniversary of the declaration of martial law. But Archie was not the only one in my mind. I also remembered 17-year-old Kian Loyd Delos Santos, who was brutally murdered by the police just a month before.

Had Archie been killed today, it would be much easier for the government to make an excuse. His body would probably be found somewhere with the cardboard placard “pusher ako, ‘wag tularan” and no one would bat an eye.

One way or another, the events that marked martial law—rampant corruption, human rights violations, state violence—are making a comeback, and so are members of the Marcos family.

After she asked people to “move on” from the atrocities of her father’s dictatorship, our worst fears have been confirmed: Imee is running for the Senate in 2019. I am no longer shocked. With her “move on” statement, her brother’s electoral protest against Vice President Leni Robredo and the Kabataang Baranggay reunion at UP Diliman just days before Archie’s death anniversary, the Senate run announcement is just a blatant insult.

These are actions that spit on the memory of a young student who spoke against the Marcos dictatorship and whose bravery cost him his life. All this as the rest of us are already forgetting and repeating the same mistakes.

George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984 is the oft-used warning against the dangers of propaganda, forgetting and the manipulation of thought. Its continuing relevance speaks volumes about where we are heading as a society. It’s alarming: news reports mixed with disinformation and accusations of undue bias against legitimate media, all while the government leads the blatant effort to distort facts and revise history. The agenda is to make us forget how things were more than 40 years ago. So they can be reprised without scruples or hesitation.

We have a President who is a self-professed fanboy of the dictator. It was not a surprise that he gave Marcos a surprise hero’s burial and is even keen on following his footsteps.

We may not have been alive during that dark and turbulent period in our history, but thousands of families and activists who lived through it would tell you how they lost family members, friends, and comrades simply for upholding their principles and beliefs.

Many survived to tell the harrowing tales of torture and abuse but some, like Archie, returned to their families as corpses. Some remain missing even to this day. Imee could make up a lie about how millennials have seemingly moved on from the past (or that she was “too young” to know of her father’s abuses). But I was a witness to how students quickly took to the streets to protest Marcos’s burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani when the news broke out he was smuggled in.

Thousands also marched to Luneta a few days later to insist that “Marcos, hindi bayani!” and remind everyone why the Marcoses should not be allowed to return to power. Even in social media, users and artists used hashtags and artwork during Marcos’s 100th birthday to post reminders of the dictator’s atrocities. We have not moved on. We refuse to forget.

In a time where fiction is being turned into reality and we are being trained to forget our bloody past, remembering is an act of defiance. We may be young, but we remember the bravery of Archie, of Liliosa Hilao, of other young writers, students and activists who dared to defy tyranny and dictatorship. Their sacrifices should be examples for us to bravely fight the dictator rising in our midst.

Jose Rizal would say “Ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan,” but more than that, it is high time for us to stand and say: “Kabataang makabayan, ngayon ay lumalaban!” We fight. We refuse to forget. We would not let history repeat itself.

***

This essay appeared at Scout Magazine on August 30, 2018. Art by Lianne Fondevilla.

[somedaywithflyingcolors]

Tymee Thoughts Tuesday #1

February 25, 2020

1. EDSA Revolution and Imelda Marcos

Today, the Filipino people celebrates the 34th year  that we were able to overthrow a dictator, Ferdinand Marcos through collective action. And this was not a single dictatorship, it was conjugal. Ferdinand Marcos ruled hand in hand with her wife, Imelda Romualdez Marcos. The “beautiful” and extravagant Imelda.

Under the Marcos Regime, they were able to stay in power for as long as 21 years. They declared Martial Law which lasted a good eight years with the excuse of extinguishing rising communist threats (exaggerated to extend and increase their power). During the regime, 70,000 were jailed as political prisoners. 35,000 were tortured. Almost 3,000 were killed. Human rights were violated.

Luckily, this week, I have had the chance to watch two documentaries featuring the iconic First Lady. Ramona Diaz’ Imelda (2003) and Lauren Greenfield’s The Kingmaker (2019). 

While Ferdinand Marcos seems to be very predictable and lawyerly-like, Imelda, with her beauty, wits, and charm, is very spontaneous. The narcissistic woman and her edifice complex seems to make her appear someone not to be taken seriously. This was all part of the act. The 3,000 pairs of shoes, the lavish dresses, the terno, the hair, it was part of her brand. She wants to appear as someone laughable but she does that with the intent to manipulate us.

In the Ramona Diaz documentary, she goes on explaining her absurd theories of life from apple to apple and here obsession with beauty as part of the Circle of Life -- how beauty is love applied. It was funny at first and would make you believe that she needs psychological help (fun fact: in the kingmaker it was revealed that she was actually brought in a psychological hospital in New York where the doctor aid that she’s okay, she just could not take politics, so Ferdinand said that he will give up politics for her, which obviously didn’t happen, but after that incident, Imelda is a new person). Afterwards, it starts becoming horrifying.

This quote from the documentary reveals how out of touch Imelda was with the reality of the situation. Truly, the best villains in a story are those that think they're the hero.

Let’s now jump to the Kingmaker!!! This one talks more about the rise authoritarianism, how the Marcoses are going back power. It acknowledges that Imelda is an unreliable narrator but is a very instinctive and powerful political animal.

A great point that hits home is when a footage jumped on the kids in a high school asking what their thoughts were on martial law. All they said were positive (but untrue) accounts of the Marcos regime. The history was revised. The memory of tortured heroes, forgotten. The children had a Utopian view of the Martial Law Era, seeing it as a time of economic progress and discipline, when it fact it is very far from the truth.

That said, it show the importance of writing our histories, sharing them with the world, because with the rise of authoritarianism, the strong-man narrative of Rodrigo Duterte (our current president), one the only ways that we do not fall to the same mistakes of history is to study it, remember it, and learn from it. It is scary to imagine another Martial Law, but seeing the political climate now, the future is not very far. We need to educate more, be vigilant. Hold our line and contribute in our nation-building. Contribute in defending our freedom.

 Another feature of the film that I didn’t know before was how Imelda displaced 254 families, a community in Calauit, an inhabited island, just to house the animals coming from Kenya. Now, the safari and its animals, with no budget, no veterinarians, are suffering. The community in there were suffering as well. This is a metaphor for the Regime’s way of using their power as well as their priorities once in power.

Some key takeaways:

- The EDSA Revolution was not bloodless. The revolution began 14 years ago. Saying that it is peaceful and bloodless disregards the unsung heroes that were killed in the process.

- The Filipinos are very forgiving. What we Filipinos should learn is that while we can forgive, it is also important that we hold those that wronged us accountable. It is almost unthinkable how a family of someone that plundered an estimate of half a trillion peso can still return to power.

- As much we can, we must also continue to speak of the people that were against this dictatorship as someone to emulate. One person from the panel said that for every time we are angry and mention the Marcoses name, we must spread the names of the people who toppled the dictatorship ten times so as to have someone to emulate and be known. People like Edgar Jopson, Archimedes Trajano, Primitivo Mijares, Pete Lacaba, Emmanuel Lacaba, Lorena Barros. They are the heroes that need to be broadcasted more in this narrative. Less of the narcissism of Imelda and more of the injustice and violations of democracies during that time.

-Duterte and Marcos are experts of the Filipino Psychology. While we academics tend to be very rational and logical, these politicians know how to tickle the minds of the Filipinos to allure them into believing that they are someone that they could trust. Now, they not only use the media. They also use weaponize the Internet in a way that would benefit their narrative. Their propaganda continues with all the lies and the fake news.

Sorry this was mostly me talking about Imelda and their injustices during their time in power. I still have so many words and I really can’t help but be outraged. It was just so outrageous to think that (1) they are slowly going back in power, (2) they have no remorse nor guilt over what they did, (3) they have single (double??)handedly affected the influenced major key factors of today’s time, mostly relating to the economic status of the country.

ANYWAY, here are some of the other thoughts that have passed through and plagued my mind through the week!!

2. Valentines Day Podcasts

Because it is still February, go on and check some of the cool podcasts about it!

Here’s Usapang Econ Podcast that discusses the economics of love and valentines!! (In Filipino, sorry international audience :( ) 

And this episode of Debatable by Nina and Kyle that discussed some debate motions about love and valentines. I really enjoyed their chaotic energy there. I ship the two too, so that’s a plus! (Seriously Kyle, why would you leave Nina hanging on your Valentines Dinner for a Bumble Date??)

3. You will be judged not by what you do but by what you did not do. Some musing on where best to spend my time.

I have been thinking about the organizations that I need to join and the things I need to do to be able to land a good job once I graduate. I want to do an internship. In the my course, an internship is voluntary. In the Philippines, unlike in the US or other Western Countries, becoming an Intern just because you want exposure on something is not the fad. Internships are a mandatory thing needed before you graduate. However, I don’t want to just go with the flow.  I want to gain real life experience on real things, especially on the work that I am most interested in. This was triggered by this Rappler Article regarding internship, wherein, apparently, aside from a CV, I also need to pin a portfolio of a work that I’ve done. I am beginning to become convinced that for me to land a good job someday, I need to begin looking for connections related to the job that I want to do. A thick CV won’t cut it. I want to maximize my skills and opportunities here in college while I still can.

Tomorrow, I will be awarded as one of the University Scholars of my University. It can be assumed that I am a good student, I get good grades, pass my work on time. But am I really limited just by the grades that I earned inside the classroom? Should I rush into looking for a workplace or should I just continue doing the things that I’m currently doing (because it seems to be working). Should I dare to be more than what I am now?

Because that entails sacrifice. It may mean less time for family, less sleep, less time for myself. God knows how much I value my time alone. But God also knows how much time I waste for resting and sanity breaks (a little bit too much break tbh). Another fear that I have is going against the harmonious relationship that I think I have now with my family. Saying that I want to do an Internship, which is not included in the curriculum, may raise some eyebrows from the people in my family. I think I need more courage to explain to them the value of doing such things. I remember a saying that I don’t know where I remember from (maybe in the Bible, but I can’t find it): You are judged not by the good that you do, but by the good that you choose not to do. What am I not doing? How can I be better? 

[readhissarchives]

Research Paper 1: Enrile: A Witness to History

Penelope Sablan

01/28/2022

READHIS-FODMA9

For the disclaimer: I am for no political parties on this one. All the negations, statements, or claims I’m stating in here are things that have been claimed by Juan Ponce Enrile regarding the events and situations that happened during the time of the Marcoses and Martial Law on the videos that were watched, and are going to be possibly disproved or have an additional feedback based on my understanding and what’s regurgitated from online. No hard feelings on this one.

So to start: while watching the first part of this mini- episode with BBM and JPE, the beginning seemed to go right as planned, nothing wrong was happening at all. Then, a few minutes after this video there was a claim (or question) that was brought up by BBM and Enrile quoted/claimed that during martial law, “They claimed that we killed a lot of people. I challenge her, name me one that we executed other than Lim Seng (during Martial Law).” - that statement is erroneous, and there are found evidence(s) to back it up:

During the Martial Law regime, it was found/proven that exactly 3,257 people were victims of extrajudicial killings (2,520+(?) were innocent, including 35,000 that were tortured, and 75,000 that were incarcerated.), and how they prove this is just by simple mathematics.- this was taken from the Manila Times, a journal and news source that I reliably always go to- that includes professors/academics who used cited resources and references that go back during that period. Alfred McCoy, an American historian involved in this journal study news, has written in his book that Philippine police forces engaged in human rights violations and has even cited books from authors who even write about Philippine oppression during Martial Law.  

In order to rebuke against the disputation that there were against the disputation that there is no evidence that 3,257 people were killed during this time, McCoy refers to a table that was written by Kessler which was entitled, “Human Rights Violations in the Philippines 1975-1988.” So McCoy uses this table as a guide and with simple math- adds up the numbers from 1975-1985, which in total is 737, including the extrajudicial killings that are totaled to be 2,437 including the 93 that was from the tally the previous author used to be added on and voila, there are exactly 3,257 extrajudicial killings with unknown disappearances. Some might claim that there are more that were murdered than this, however 3,257 is really chilling to the bone to say the least for a period of Martial Law, that most claim that it was safe. And there are a lot of notable people that were murdered not just Lim Seng- such as Fr. Zacharias Agetep, Lorena Barrios, Archimedes Trajano, and so forth.

Aside from the extrajudicial killings and salvages (or if you refer to it as executions) to add on, there were indeed human rights violations. There are victims that have come out and said stuff orally from videos on Youtube (which I believe is more credible than written sources) about the tortures that they experienced while being incarcerated. One victim said that they were blindfolded and tied around a chair while having electric currents wrapped around their fingers. This person had nothing to do with the Communist Party that was uprising within the government or was a rebel, however if they didn’t give a definite answer, the voltage would be raised higher. They would be also forced to do sexual acts, such as the guards putting their private parts (too much information) into the victims mouth as part of the torture. Many victims, including this one, say that the beatings and physical scars have healed, yet the emotional, mental, and psychological traumas stay over time and could never be forgotten. (this is also taken from academia.edu)

The human rights violations that were prominent during this time included demolition, stampedes by military/police forces (as you can see in documentaries from videos) attacking regular innocent civilians, harassment, people being forced to surrender themselves into camps, salvaging, violent dispersals, disappearances with people who will eventually never come home, and other inhumane actions done by the government into the people. Former President Marcos denied in 1977 at a summit that there really were human rights abuses going on in the country, but had admitted that “there have been, to our lasting regret, a number of violations of the rights of detainees”.- in which its proven that there was torture in these jail sites from academia.edu (and also according to this detainee), from getting their windows covered with no insulation and air, being forced the water treatment or cure; which includes an additional beating, electric shock, being pinned to thumb tacks, sexual intercourse with the people who implement this, a Russian Roulette session, beatings, kicks, or karate blows of any kind, and overall just animal treatment- where they are caged like pets at a zoo, forced to eat and like dogs, and if they don’t obey their commands, they would be electrocuted or slapped and the torture goes on.

And there you have it. To end this lengthy research paper, I would like to conclude and especially reiterate that Enrile’s statement that no one else was assassinated besided Lim Seng- or had any human rights violations during that time is very erroneous- because there are eyewitnesses and evidence that have been left behind and are supported by citations, stories, and research from other sources from records that were recorded. I would like to continue more about the Marcoses’ and martial law, including their alleged ill-gotten wealth, but that could be for another chapter and another time. 

While many people who have been born before or after Martial Law was declared say that it was a time of discipline, safety, cleanliness, respect, lots of opportunities, buildings, and a rising tiger economy, you will just never enjoy if you were a “communista” or “rebelde” against the government- that’s great that you’ve been in those times, because what we’re experiencing right now is very dire (poverty, corruption, lack of discipline, ignorance, not enough educational resources, suffering soldiers, and so on that I can list), everyone has been affected from the times of the previous presidencies (including 1986-present) that have been let down because of greed and power. However, that does not let go of the fact that this Martial Law regime was definitely imperfect and us as the youth, must learn of these brutalities that occurred during this time because of course while there may have been Communists and rebels rising against the country and government that have to be punished, there were innocent people included in these dark moments and abuses against themselves, to have knowledge, to secure our own futures, and teach our generations passed down so it may never happen again. Never again to this! We also need to practice self-dignity and respect for ourselves in choosing who would lead us as rightful and respectful citizens for a better future in the Philippines. Not just favoring rich politicians. Look what’s also happening right now- and also with Martial Law. Never again once more! Those are just my 2 cents and thoughts. I want to continue, but it’s probably too much for a 700-1000+ essay. Thank you so much!

sources/citations:

Department of Public Information. 1975, 1988. 

Chua, Michael Charleston, 2012, TORTYUR: Human Rights Violations During The Marcos Regime

https://www.academia.edu/7968581/TORTYUR_Human_Rights_Violations_During_The_Marcos_Regime

Reyes, Rachel A.G, 2016, 3,257: Fact checking the Marcos killings, 1975-1985

https://www.manilatimes.net/2016/04/12/featured-columns/columnists/3257-fact-checking-the-marcos-killings-1975-1985/255735

Riglao, Tigoberto, 2021, The truth behind the 'human rights' abuses

https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/09/24/opinion/columns/the-truth-behind-the-human-rights-abuses/1815890

[jeuzwrld]

Huy hindi puro NPA mga tinorture at pinatay sa panahon ni Marcos. May mga studyante, guro, even construction workers na nahulog sa cement sa gusaling gustong ipatayo ni Imelda. May isang bata, si Archimedes Trajano, nagtanong lang kung ano capability ni Imee Marcos na maging lider, pinatay na. Imee Marcos even once told the US courts, "Yes Archimedes Trajano was tortured and killed but it's none of your business."

You are very free to fact check me on that.

Aside from that, nabuo yung NPA sa panahon ni Marcos. Oo siguro nga it's the military's duty to protect the state from rebels. Pero bago mo i-2 sides ang mga tinorture. Sana alam mo na nabuo lang ang NPA dahil gusto nilang labanan ang kabulukan ni Marcos. The NPA had the best interests of the state in mind. Kung walang Marcos, walang NPA.

Naiintindihan ko and thank you sa infos open naman ako and aware diyan sa mga yan. Pwede ka rin naman malapitan about diyan sa mga sources na meron ka diba? If yes salamat kasi alam ko mas may alam ka sa legality ng mga bagay-bagay kay sa sakin dahil Law ang field mo tama ba? Sa pagkakaalala ko @yummerz kain tayo breakfastttt

[neverforget365]

January 1: Never Again

Let’s get something out of the way right now: this is not a pro-Marcos essay series.  If you came here expecting a nostalgia trip about the days of Apo Lakay, well, you’re in the wrong place.  Not that there aren’t good things to remember about the Philippines of the late 60s, 70s, and early 80s. But that isn’t the purpose of this series. It’s a collection of stories about why the phrase “never again” is especially associated with the Marcos administration.  Too many present-day Filipinos know the story of the 21 years of the Marcos administration only from the wide-angle lens of history, and there are far too few storytellers still around to depict the era on a more human scale - that of a particular place, of a particular event, or a particular person; that of an emotion, a conviction or a realization.

This, therefore, is an attempt to break the grand, monolithic narrative of the Marcos era into human-sized chunks, without losing sight of the whole.  

It is far from the only undertaking along those lines, of course. Many books along these lines have been published, and there are memorials aplenty that tell these stories.  The Bantayog ng Bayani in Quezon City, for example, memorializes the stories of 316 individuals (as of 2020) who fought the regime in one way or the other. But I submit that at the rate we Filipinos are forgetting the sins of this era, every storyteller’s voice is important. And since I’ve collected quite a few of these stories over the years, I feel it’s important to share them - both for the edification of the reader, and because as a writer it is what I am compelled to write about.

***

The proposed structure for this collection is simple: one story a day for a year, in bite-sized chunks; some commemorating events and people associated with a date, but most of them relatively random - from memories of Nutribun to Imelda’s destruction of Mount Sungay to the brutal murder of Archimedes Trajano. I propose to start most entries with a discussion of historical fact, and then move on to a reflection on the meanings and human impact of each memory.

And with all of that out of the way, the most obvious question remaining is why I am doing this, and why on earth you should listen to me.  Questions to which the answers may not be very satisfying.

I am not anybody special; while I have met and befriended many of the individuals who fought against Marcos, I was born in the late 1970s - too young then to have joined the fight myself. And if we’re being honest, I probably wouldn’t have been part of the fight even if I were a bit older; I come from a family which tried to keep its head down and mind its own business during those days.  Which is something I honestly feel a bit of shame about. But I do not want to turn this series into an exercise in navelgazing. So I shall stop there.

What I am, instead, is a scholar, a writer, and a student of history - one who lived through enough of the Marcos era to know that it changed the course of Phillippine life profoundly, and one who lived through enough of the Marcos era to know why Macoy and Meldy remain controversial to this day.

***

The phrase “Never Again, Never Forget” has become a big part of my life since 2015, when Bongbong Marcos ran for Vice President of the Philippines (and lost to Leni Robredo, let’s not forget); and since November 2016, when the Duterte administration facilitated the burial of Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig.

“Never Again, Never Forget” stopped being an agreeable political catchphrase, and became a matter of urgency.  First because it was obvious how much we Filipinos have forgotten, and second because we are well on our way to repeating the history of the Marcos era, willingly following self-declared authoritarians towards the false promise of so-called progress through highly centralized order.

Since then, I have been trying to gather details of what happened during that era, and why people allowed things to happen that way.  This series is one of the outlets I have chosen as an outlet for all that studying.

And if you’re still reading, then I suppose I should thank you for choosing to read my work as a lens for reviewing the history of that era. It is my hope that these stories will produce more than remembrance - that somehow they will make real in our world the imprimatur of those two injunctions: Never again. And never forget.

[putingpluma]

Bata, bata... Paano ka ginawa? Bata, bata... Bakit ka nawala?

"Hustisya!" ito ang sigaw ng masa.

Apat na pu't walong na taon na ang nakaraan simula noong talamak ang abuso sa kalayaan nating mga Pilipino. Sa kabila nito, patuloy pa rin tayong binibisita ng multo ng ating nakaraan���lalo na ang mga inabuso at biktima ng karahasan pati na rin ang mga pamilyang naiwan. Hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin natatanggal ang bigat sa dibdib ng mga pamilyang naulila sa kanilang mga mahal sa buhay. Umaalingawngaw pa rin ang ungol ng isang inang walang humapay na naghahanap ng katarungan sa kanyang anak. Isa itong pagtalaga sa walang kapaguran na paglalakbay sa landas na patuloy hinahanap—ang landas na tila'y hindi na muli matatamaan ng sinag ng araw. 

Noong idineklara ng dating presidenteng Marcos ang Batas Militar noong ika- 29 ng Septyembre taong 1972, laganap ang mga 'desaparacidos' o ang mga taong biglaang nawawala nang hindi alam ang dahilan[1]. Kung tutuusin, ang mga karaniwang nawawala ay ang mga tumututol sa pamamahala ng Batas Militar tulad ng mga estudyanteng aktibista. Maging ang pangkaraniwang mamamayan na walang kalaban-laban ay walang awang inaapi ng isang diktador. 

Noong ika-20 Marso 1986, nagsampa ng kaso si Agapita Trajano sa United States District Court for the District of Hawaii[2] Isa lamang si Archimedes Trajano sa mga biktimang patuloy na tinatago sa ilalim ng baul. Bukod pa rito, nakaukit din sa kasaysayan ang mga pangalan n Ishmael Quimpo at ng kanyang pamilya, Liliosa Hilao, Boni Ilagan, Judy Taguiwalo, atbp. Iilan lamang 'yan sa mga biktima ng mapangahas at mapangabusong pamamalakad ni Marcos— paano pa kaya ang mga namatay nang walang kalaban laban? O kaya naman ang mga humingi ng tulong nang walang nakarinig? Ayon sa Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD), 2,000 ang bilang ng kaso ng 'desaparacidos' noong rehimen ng mga Marcos[3]. Malaki ang posibilidad na marami pang katawan ang patuloy pa ring hinahanap hanggang ngayon, at ang iba dito ay maaring hindi pa kasama sa bilang ng dokumentadong nawawala; marahil ay ang mga inaamag na katawan ng mga naulila ay nakalibing lamang sa tinutulugan ng iba. 

Walang nakakaalam. Walang makapagsasabi.

Patuloy tayong tinatanggalan boses at hinuhubarad ng karapatan. Ito ang siyang ating dapat nating kaakibat habang pinagyayaman natin ang ating kamalayan patungkol sa lipunan; bagamat isa sa dapat nating isabuhay ang kasabihan na: 

“Mahirap na muling pumikit matapos mamulat sa totoong kinalalagyan ng ating bansa.” 

Nararapat lamang na ating panatilihin ang masidhing pagliyab ng apoy ng paninindigan, kasabay ng malawak na paglakbay sa mundong walang kawalan ng pag-asa. Iukit natin ang pangalan ng mga bayaning bitbit ang watawat sa kanang kamay at puso sa kabila sa lapida ng mapaminsalang sistema. Unti-unti, mababalik natin ang asul sa kalangitan— ang simbolo ng kapayapaan. Hanggang ngayon, ang ating kasaysayan ay patuloy pa ring sinusulat; gamitan man ito ng pluma na laging binubura ng iba, patuloy pa ring mananaig ang katotohan at pagdating ng araw, isisigaw natin ito hangga't marinig ito ng buong bayan.

Sanggunian: [1] Bantayog ng mga bayani. "The torture and death of Archimedes Trajano" http://www.bantayog.org/the-torture-and-death-of- archimedes-trajano/

[2] Cepeda, Cody. "44 years too long: The martial-law victims, ‘desaparecidos’ and the families left behind". https://businessmirror.com.ph/2016/09/16/44-years- too-long-the-martial-law-victims-desaparecidos-and-the- families-left-behind/

[3] ABS-CBN News. "1,993 'desaparecidos' since Marcos: human rights federation". https://news.abs- cbn.com/news/05/27/18/1993-desaparecidos-since-marcos- human-rights-federation Photo source (1): Leanne Jazul from Rappler  Photo source (2): Bullit Marquez from Philstar

[the-martial-law-thingy]

Do you have anything related to the media or press during Martial Law?

I have a few, it’s a little scattered, but it should help. Here’s a list (anything inside a [ ] is a link to a post or article):

Prometheus Unbound (a poem that had a hidden message) - [X] [X]

Radio - [Radio Veritas] [Radyo Bandido]

TV - [Voltes V]

Primitivo Mijares - he wrote a book that criticized the Marcos regime and was killed for it (his son as well) - [X]

Archimedes Trajano - during an open forum, he asked Imee Marcos a question (he asked if it was right to have the president’s daughter as the head of the Kabataang Barangay). He was kidnapped and tortured to death - [X]

An infographic that shows how many media outlets were shutdown on the first day of martial law - [X]

“Newspaper”, a short animated video - gives the general idea and feeling of what media was like during that time - [X]

If you want news articles in general, I have several posted here. It’s tagged under [news archive].

Sorry it took so long to reply, I hope this helped!

[micahrimando]

Hubad na “Katotohanan”

Narito si Imee Marcos, ipinangangalandakan ang pagkapanalo sa posisyon sa senado at ang patuloy na paghawak ng angkan ng mga Marcos sa probinsya ng Ilocos.

Sa kabila ng lahat nito, umaalingasaw ang kinatatayuan ni Imee Marcos, isinisiwalat ang patung-patong na katotohanan ng mga nawala, tinapakan, at nilapastanganang buhay. Sa panahong tigmak ang katotohanan at katarungan, nararapat lang na magkaisa’t labanan ang pambubusabos sa ating kasaysayan. Huwag nating kalimutan na bukod sa pagtanggi sa ginawang paglabag sa karapatang-pantao ng kaniyang mga magulang at mga kasabwat nito, mayroon din siyang kinalaman sa pagpatay at pagtortyur kay Archimedes Trajano— at tikom ang kaniyang bibig sa mga kasalanan ng kaniyang mga kadugo.

Noong Agosto 31, taong 1977, dumalo sa isang open forum ang 21-anyos na aktibistang-mag-aaral na si Trajano, at kasama rito si Imee Marcos. Inilagay si Imee sa puwesto ng kaniyang ama, at itinalagang National Chairman ng Kabataang Baranggay, isang organisasyon ng mga kabataan. Nang kinuwestiyon ni Trajano ang kaniyang pagkakaupo, nagulantang at nairita si Imee. Dinakip si Trajano ng mga militar na bodyguards ni Imee at kinaladkad papalayo. Makalipas ang ilang oras, nadatnan ang labi ni Trajano na bugbog-sarado at puno ng bakas ng tortyur. Malabong mahatulan ang anak ng diktador noong panahon ng Batas Militar, sapagkat nasa ilalim ng matinding takot at karahasan ang mga tao.

Samakatuwid, inabot ng siyam na taon bago nakapagsampa ng kaso ang nanay ni Trajano laban kay Imee Marcos at General Fabian Ver. Nahatulan ang mga Marcos para sa apat na kaso sa korte: ang kaso sa Switzerland na mayroong kinalaman sa kanilang ilegal na foundations at mga Swiss accounts na nagpapatunay ng pandarambong; ang pangunahing kaso sa Manila na pabor sa gobyerno ng Pilipinas at nagpapawalang-bisa sa kanilang Swiss money at iba pang assets na ninakaw; ang class action suit sa Hawaii na inihain ng mga biktima bilang pagdemanda sa mga Marcos para sa pagkitil ng mga karapatang-pantao; at ang hiwalay na tort case na isinampa ni Agapito Trajano laban sa pagdakip, pagtortyur, at pagpatay kay Archimedes, na isa lamang sa libo-libong pinatay ng mga Marcos.

Huwag nating kalimutan na hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin napagbabayaran ng mga Marcos ang sandamakmak na pera at yamang kinulimbat sa kaban ng bayan. Huwag nating kalimutan na hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin nakukulong si Imelda Marcos at ang mga kasapakat nito para sa pandarahas sa bansa. Huwag nating kalimutan na patuloy na kinokonsinte ng pamahalaan at bulok na sistemang kinabibilangan nito ang mga kriminal na kagaya nina Marcos at Revilla. Huwag nating kalimutan na hanggang ngayon, patuloy ang pagnanakaw ng mga Marcos, kagaya na lang ng napatunayan na Tobacco Excise Funds Scandal ni Imee noong 2017.

Huwag nating kalimutan na patuloy ang Batas Militar sa Mindanao, patuloy ang extrajudicial killings, at patuloy ang patayan buhat ng War on Drugs ni Duterte. Huwag nating kalimutan na pinapaboran ng mga resulta ng eleksyon ang interes nina Duterte at ng mga naghaharing-uri upang isulong ang Cha-Cha at Pederalismo, ang pagpapatuloy ng Batas Militar sa Mindanao, at ang pagpapakatuta sa mga banyaga. Huwag nating kalimutan na mayroong de facto Martial Law at awtoritaryanismo. Higit sa lahat, huwag nating kalimutan na katulad ng napagpunyagi ng mga bayaning lumaban noong panahon ng Batas Militar ni Marcos, mayroong patutunguhan ang lahat ng ating pakikibaka at mayroong pag-asa. 

Hubad na “Katotohanan”. 2nd Version. Photo Manipulation at Digital Painting. Hango sa eskultura ni Perucchetti (babaeng salin ng likhang David ni Michelangelo). May 18, 2019.

Sanggunian:

Cepeda, M. (2019, January 16). WATCH: Imee Marcos silent on 'benefiting' from illegal foundations. Retrieved from https://www.rappler.com/…/221112-video-imee-marcos-silent-f…

Mendoza, Meynardo. "Is Closure Still Possible for the Marcos Human Rights Victims?" Social Transformations: Journal of the Global South 1, no. 1 (2013): 127. doi:10.13185/st2013.01106.

Patag, K. (2019, May 14). Marcoses retain grip on Ilocos Norte bailiwick. Retrieved from https://www.philstar.com/…/marcoses-retain-grip-ilocos-nort…

Robles, R. E., & Robles, A. (2016). Marcos martial law: Never again. Quezon City: Published and exclusively distributed by Filipinos for A Better Philippines.

Robles, R. (2016, November 16). OPINION: Imee Marcos told US court – yes, Archimedes Trajano was tortured and killed but it's none of your business. Retrieved from https://news.abs-cbn.com/…/opinion-imee-marcos-told-us-cour…

[ataraxia-solace]

Participating for the better: A preparation for the future leaders

Voting is one of the primary rights granted to citizens of the country. It is as well regarded as a privilege; as ones who are able to do so, are required to comply with the preconditions to be a verified voter. The right to vote has been established in our young minds during our first years of education. As such, the youth needs to learn the implication of their choices early on, most importantly if choosing the right leaders. Likewise, it is as important as exposing them to the importance of leadership and good governance. Thus, the creation of Sangguniang Kabataan, an organization aiming to act as the voice of the youth for each barangay led by young aspiring leaders.

Sangguniang Kabataan, or simply SK, targets to create programs specifically aimed at the involvement of individuals under 21. While the goals of SK are great, others are quite skeptical about the future of these leaders-in-training and the political body in general. This is due to the preconception of its predecessor, Kabataang Barangay, which was made under dishonest motives.

During the 1970s, then-President Ferdinand Marcos established Kabataang Barangay (KB) to provide the youth opportunities for a clear, definite role. Despite holding elections for the youth council, Marcos appointed her daughter, Imee Marcos, to be the first head of KB. Which, indeed, left a bad taste to the masses. The ones who questioned it became one of the many victims of the Marcoses: just as the faith of Archimedes Trajano whose corpse was found fatally battered after being vocal about his dissent.

That being said, the organization became infamous for its questionable system and authoritarian rule. Ironically, the youth grew distant from the said council, contrary to its intention. Kabataang Barangay had its power slowly dissipated as soon as the Marcoses were toppled out.

Replacing the New Society’s Kabataang Barangay, Sangguniang Kabataan has its similarities regarding local projects however differs now in the political setting and requirements to be in office. Albeit the differences, do the controversies ever stop; if not, tone down? How much do our Kabataan today know about their local youth representatives?

As one might assume, whenever Sangguniang Kabataan is mentioned, it is easy to correlate them to be involved in barangay beauty pageants and basketball tournaments. These projects are getting old as time goes by. Despite promoting integrity, do these activities honor the voice of our youth? Is this the best shot the youth of today can do? If not so, then it is time to change the course of a lost ship drifting aimlessly for a long time.

The young ones of today would be the ones controlling the country next. It is crucial for teens and young adults alike to be aware of happenings, particularly in their community. Much more if nothing ever happens at all. Effective youth leaders would take notice of the sparseness of camaraderie within the community; the opposite would not care at all or worse; blame it on the lack of cooperation of the inhabitants. Would the successor, Sangguniang Kabataan, be able to ever genuinely change how the population views the youth-governed political body or was it just established to avoid the previous reputation of its forerunner?

It is time for us to decide how we should be led. As part of the younger generation, we are tired of repeating history. We should now learn to make every vote count for leaders deserving of the title. We should prove our generation to be capable of change. And change requires our movement, by making our votes matter. We, young dreamers, should be encouraged to be eligible voters for the Sangguniang Kabataan. Not only does it practice to be keen in choosing among the candidates, but it is also convenient. Once an eligible voter for Sangguniang Kabataan, they become a registered voter instantly when legal age comes.

The youth should take pride in our right to vote even with the political bodies in our community. Not everyone is capable of this right, hence also called a privilege. Are you registered to vote for the Sangguniang Kabataan yet?

Written by: Kaela Gabrielle P. Ilagan

Photo by Ryoji Iwata on Unsplash

[pusakalye]

anyone else cry when they see a marcos on the senatorial list.

IMEE MARCOS, YOU AND YOUR FAMILY HAVE THE BLOOD OF THE FILIPINOS ON YOUR HAND. WE WILL NOT FORGET ARCHIMEDES TRAJANO. WE WILL NEVER FORGET THE 70S. WE WILL NEVER FORGET WHAT YOUR FAMILY DID.

MARCOS. HITLER. DIKTADOR. TUTA.

[manofhopesinlife-blog]

SUGAT NG KAHAPON, NAGDURUGO PA RIN NGAYON

Isa sa mga pinakamaiinit na isyu ngayon sa ating lipunan ay ang pagpapalibing kay dating Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos sa libingan ng mga bayani. Samu’t saring opinyon ang mga nagsisilabasan ukol sa nasabing isyu. May mga ilan na sang ayon sa pagpapalibing sa dating Pangulo sa libingan ng mga bayani, ngunit ang ilan naman ay tila hindi pa nakakalimutan ang mga sugat ng nakaraan.

Bilang pagbabalik tanaw sa nakaraan, taong 1972 nang nagsimulang mamuno si dating Pangulong Marcos sa Pilipinas. Aminin man natin o hindi, may mga malalaki din syang naiambag sa ating lipunan na hanggang ngayon ay ating napapakinabangan. Ilan dito ay ang cultural center of the Philippines at iba pa. Ngunit sa kabila ng mga ito ay triple naman ang pagdaralita na dinanas at hinarap ng mga Pilipino noon sa kanyang palad. Una sa lahat ay nawalan ng kalayaan ang mga Pilipino na ipahayag ang kanilang mga nararamdaman, nabaon sa utang ang Pilipinas at ang sandaliang pag-angat nito ay unti-unti ding bumagsak. Maraming Pilipino ang nawalan ng oportunidad na mabuhay pa na ang gusto lamang ay para sa kapayapaan at kabutihan ng Pilipinas. Dahil dito, nasa 3,257 ang namatay, samantalang nasa 40,000 naman ang tinorture at 60,000 ang ikinulong sa ilalim ng Marcos regime. Isang halimbawa ay si Archimedes Trajano na isang estudyante noon sa MAPUA. Ayon sa ilang mga pananaliksik, nagsasalita noon si Imee Marcos bilang lider ng Kabataang Barangay dahil siya ang pinakamakapangyarihang kabataan ng panahong iyon. Dahil dito, kwinestyon ni Archimedes ang kakayahan niyang mamuno ng mga kabataan at ang mga akusasyon laban sa kanyang ama. Dahil dito ay sapilitan siyang pinalabas sa nasabing forum at kinalaunan ay nakitang binawian ng buhay.

Makatapos ang tatlumpung taon sa pagkakaroon ng panibagong administrasyon ay nagkaroon ng mainit na diskusyon ang senado at korte suprema ukol sa nasabing isyu. Hanggang nitong Nobyembre ay tuluyan na ngang iprinoklama ang pagpapalibing kay Pangulong Marcos sa libingan ng bayani. Bilang isang millennial na umaasa sa isang mas maunlad at mapayapang lipunan, tila ang pangyayaring ito ay nagging sanhi lamang ng pagkakagulo ng mga Pilipino. Sang ayon ako na hindi makatarungan ang pagpapalibing kay Pangulong Marcos sa libingan ng bayani sapagkat ang kahit sinuman ay walang karapatang magdesisyon kung mabubuhay pa ang isang tao o hindi.  Kahit umikot ikot man ang mundo, hindi mabubura sa puso’t isipan ng ilang Pilipino ang masamang tatak na kanyang iminarka sa kanilang puso. Ang pagpapalibing sa kanya sa libingan ng mga bayani ay hudyat ng pagbabalik ng lahat ng mga sugat ng nakaraan, pagkakawala ng kalayaan at katarungan na hanggang ngayon ay isinisigaw pa din ng karamihan.

Hindi ko ito isinusulat dahil lamang hindi ako sang ayon sa desisyon na ito. Isinulat ko ito upang mamulat ang ilang Pilipino na may katarungan pang hindi naabot, may mga puso pang hanggang ngayon ay umiiyak at may mga boses pang dapat pakinggan ng lipunan. Ang opinyon na ito ay hindi naglalahad ng paglalabas ng sama ng loob, bagkus ito ay sumisimbolo sa pag-asa. Pag-asa na ang katarungan at katotohanan ay syang mananaig, pag-asang ang kalayaang ipinaglaban ay hindi masasayang at pag-asa na tayo bilang mamamayan, ay magkakaisa tungo sa mas sentralisadong lipunan.

[fieldnotesandsuch]

Tweeted

Eh sila Emman Lacaba, Boyet Mijares, Archimedes Trajano, tinago niyo lang rin? http://pic.twitter.com/sRGkyLzR7b

— Gang Capati (@gangbadoy) August 30, 2017

[zfiledh]

About the insightful tweets from Mara Wilson...I would like to add another perspective.

The earliest political jokes that resonated with me were jokes about the Marcoses. Mostly about Imelda's shoe hoard. To give some perspective here, Ferdinand Marcos instituted martial law in the Philippines, extending his Presidential term to nearly 21 years. People who don't toe the line or even criticize the government then have a tendency to disappear or be found dead. Case in point: Archimedes Trajano was found killed a day after he questioned Imee Marcos about her qualifications to lead the Kabataang Barangay (Youth Federation). Trajano insinuated that she only got the position because she's the daughter of the dictator.

(The current debate on whether Marcos' term was a good chapter in Philippine history in terms of peace and order is a topic for another day.)

Filipinos also make fun of our Presidents (basically, anyone in public office). But asking the population to stop making fun of them? Sounds dictatorial to me (not to mention immature).