In 1970, in what was known as one of the dirtiest and most violent elections in Philippine history, Ferdinand Marcos was the first president re-elected but barred by the then Constitution to run for another term. Despite his 1965 battle cry, “This Nation Can Be Great Again”, graft and corruption mushroomed in the Marcos government while it was exacerbated by the alarming decline of the economy. These prompted Manila students to stage rampant rallies and protests often raucous and sometimes violent at Mendiola Bridge, a stone-throw away from the Presidential Palace and at Liwasang Bonifacio; not far from the Manila City Hall.
Voices of dissent in 1970 led by student activists, otherwise known as the “First Quarter Storm” sparked the eruption of massive protests against the Marcos regime. This era of political turbulence gave Mr. Marcos reasons to declare Martial Law in 1972 to “save the Republic and to build a New Society”.
The incident of the MV Karagatan fortified Mr. Marcos’ belief that the Philippines was in danger of Communist takeover although it is silly to believe that communist insurgents had the capability to defeat the Philippine Armed Forces. There were also bombings in Manila thoroughfares which the administration put the blame on Communists until one soldier in uniform from one of the armed services was caught detonating explosives. The icing of the cake was the foiled assassination of the Secretary of the National Defense which Sec. Juan Ponce Enrile after the Marcos downfall admitted that the attempt on his life was scripted by Malacañang.
During those times, furthermore, a lot of activists and intelligentsia disappeared, tortured and summarily executed by the military. By mere suspicion and without due process, Senators included, anyone could go to jail without much ado. This is happening again with the exception of Senators.
In February 1986 at the height of the People Power Revolution, I heard former Pres. Diosdado Macapagal, father of Pres. Arroyo, interviewed by Noli de Castro, now the Vice-President; pleading the nation that all parties concerned should cede their activities for the sake of the republic.
If the former president were alive today, he would have a change of heart urging Filipinos to be vigilant for dark clouds of possible political unrest hover and refuse to leave.
Manila papers these days say a lot about political parties, maneuvers, merges, trash talks and possible protagonists for the coming presidential elections.
Will there be one as such?
My personal understanding, based from what is cooking in the political wok, there will be no presidential elections in May 2010 because the incumbent refuses to leave office. Of course this is not explicitly expressed but sometimes, the truth can be found “in-between the lines”.
Marcos wanted to be a dictator for life. That is the reason why he manipulated the system in order to implement the so-called Marcos Constitution in 1973.
What is unfolding is a clear affirmation of the adage that history repeats itself.
It chills us to the spine to read that a Malacañang hand or its minions are perceived to be behind the push in amending the Constitution less than a year before elections. The Marcos Constitution through its notorious Amendment No. 6 gave Marcos a blanket authority to rule like Lenin, Stalin, Mao and Hitler combined under Martial Law and after its lifting. If they are successful in changing the Constitution, Mrs. Arroyo’s tenure is prolonged or be entitled to hold another powerful office such as Prime Minister. In this scenario, she will have all the leverage and time to plan what is next in her quest to stay in power longer if not forever.
The Jesuit Joaquin Bernas, dean emeritus of the Ateneo Law School warned “that it was a ‘fatal mistake’ on the part of the House of Representatives if it continued to push for Charter amendments without the Senate.” Last Tuesday, House Resolution 1109, calling for constituent assembly was passed without a Senate approval. Bernas could have prophetically said that “If ever the justices of the Supreme Court intended to operate in the gang rape of Constitution, the alternative might be another People Power like the 1986.”
Since then, various civic and even religious groups vowed to go to the streets for a gigantic protest opposing any Charter change and the possibility of another dictatorship.
Depending on the outcome of these protests, Mrs. Arroyo could result to a Marcosian tactic by sending saboteurs to sow chaos, violence if not anarchy within the ranks and files of the protesters and thereby gaining a hand in justifying the declaration of state of emergency as a prelude to the declaration of another Martial Law in the name of national security.
Who could stop her in saying that "because of Communist, terrorist threats and lawless elements", she has to parry these with a military rule? It does not matter if no one believes so.
The pivotal call of Jaime Cardinal Sin in urging the people to go to the streets to protect Sec. Enrile and Gen. Ramos paved the way to the famous EDSA Revolution in 1986. Today, there is no reason to believe that the Catholic Church plays a major political role as in toppling a regime. If and when there is another “EDSA”, I fear that it would be bloody and violent. Filipinos have a long history of possessing unbelievable capacity of endurance and patience. They suffered for 300 years under Spain. The Philippines was devastated during the Japanese Occupation and World War II. The country was raped and debased during Martial Law and during this administration, Filipinos have suffered a lot because of graft and corruption, apathy, self-interest and incompetence. In each of these epochs, when the blood boils in the vein, Filipinos always showed their determination and gallantry to be freed from the shackles of abuse and debasement without counting the cost.
What happened during the Marcos years whether we believe it or not are recycled or cloned right before our eyes. With lessons from history, things are done these days in a more subtle way. Yet, through all these years, we did not become dumber but wiser in loving this nation, its people and hope for the future.
George Bernard Shaw once said “We learn from history that we learn nothing from history.”
Indeed we did not learn anything from our history because we allowed things of the recent past to happen again. Hopefully, Filipinos have now learned their lesson the hard way.
While the “dark clouds” refuse to clear the sky, Juan must reinforce his "bahay kubo"; prepares for the worst but hopes for the best and constantly prays for God’s help and mercy that the Philippines will be truly called “a home sweet home” for Filipinos at home and in diaspora when the sun shines brightly again after the tempest.
Dum vita est spes est --- while there's life, there's hope. -30-
Voices of dissent in 1970 led by student activists, otherwise known as the “First Quarter Storm” sparked the eruption of massive protests against the Marcos regime. This era of political turbulence gave Mr. Marcos reasons to declare Martial Law in 1972 to “save the Republic and to build a New Society”.
The incident of the MV Karagatan fortified Mr. Marcos’ belief that the Philippines was in danger of Communist takeover although it is silly to believe that communist insurgents had the capability to defeat the Philippine Armed Forces. There were also bombings in Manila thoroughfares which the administration put the blame on Communists until one soldier in uniform from one of the armed services was caught detonating explosives. The icing of the cake was the foiled assassination of the Secretary of the National Defense which Sec. Juan Ponce Enrile after the Marcos downfall admitted that the attempt on his life was scripted by Malacañang.
During those times, furthermore, a lot of activists and intelligentsia disappeared, tortured and summarily executed by the military. By mere suspicion and without due process, Senators included, anyone could go to jail without much ado. This is happening again with the exception of Senators.
In February 1986 at the height of the People Power Revolution, I heard former Pres. Diosdado Macapagal, father of Pres. Arroyo, interviewed by Noli de Castro, now the Vice-President; pleading the nation that all parties concerned should cede their activities for the sake of the republic.
If the former president were alive today, he would have a change of heart urging Filipinos to be vigilant for dark clouds of possible political unrest hover and refuse to leave.
Manila papers these days say a lot about political parties, maneuvers, merges, trash talks and possible protagonists for the coming presidential elections.
Will there be one as such?
My personal understanding, based from what is cooking in the political wok, there will be no presidential elections in May 2010 because the incumbent refuses to leave office. Of course this is not explicitly expressed but sometimes, the truth can be found “in-between the lines”.
Marcos wanted to be a dictator for life. That is the reason why he manipulated the system in order to implement the so-called Marcos Constitution in 1973.
What is unfolding is a clear affirmation of the adage that history repeats itself.
It chills us to the spine to read that a Malacañang hand or its minions are perceived to be behind the push in amending the Constitution less than a year before elections. The Marcos Constitution through its notorious Amendment No. 6 gave Marcos a blanket authority to rule like Lenin, Stalin, Mao and Hitler combined under Martial Law and after its lifting. If they are successful in changing the Constitution, Mrs. Arroyo’s tenure is prolonged or be entitled to hold another powerful office such as Prime Minister. In this scenario, she will have all the leverage and time to plan what is next in her quest to stay in power longer if not forever.
The Jesuit Joaquin Bernas, dean emeritus of the Ateneo Law School warned “that it was a ‘fatal mistake’ on the part of the House of Representatives if it continued to push for Charter amendments without the Senate.” Last Tuesday, House Resolution 1109, calling for constituent assembly was passed without a Senate approval. Bernas could have prophetically said that “If ever the justices of the Supreme Court intended to operate in the gang rape of Constitution, the alternative might be another People Power like the 1986.”
Since then, various civic and even religious groups vowed to go to the streets for a gigantic protest opposing any Charter change and the possibility of another dictatorship.
Depending on the outcome of these protests, Mrs. Arroyo could result to a Marcosian tactic by sending saboteurs to sow chaos, violence if not anarchy within the ranks and files of the protesters and thereby gaining a hand in justifying the declaration of state of emergency as a prelude to the declaration of another Martial Law in the name of national security.
Who could stop her in saying that "because of Communist, terrorist threats and lawless elements", she has to parry these with a military rule? It does not matter if no one believes so.
The pivotal call of Jaime Cardinal Sin in urging the people to go to the streets to protect Sec. Enrile and Gen. Ramos paved the way to the famous EDSA Revolution in 1986. Today, there is no reason to believe that the Catholic Church plays a major political role as in toppling a regime. If and when there is another “EDSA”, I fear that it would be bloody and violent. Filipinos have a long history of possessing unbelievable capacity of endurance and patience. They suffered for 300 years under Spain. The Philippines was devastated during the Japanese Occupation and World War II. The country was raped and debased during Martial Law and during this administration, Filipinos have suffered a lot because of graft and corruption, apathy, self-interest and incompetence. In each of these epochs, when the blood boils in the vein, Filipinos always showed their determination and gallantry to be freed from the shackles of abuse and debasement without counting the cost.
What happened during the Marcos years whether we believe it or not are recycled or cloned right before our eyes. With lessons from history, things are done these days in a more subtle way. Yet, through all these years, we did not become dumber but wiser in loving this nation, its people and hope for the future.
George Bernard Shaw once said “We learn from history that we learn nothing from history.”
Indeed we did not learn anything from our history because we allowed things of the recent past to happen again. Hopefully, Filipinos have now learned their lesson the hard way.
While the “dark clouds” refuse to clear the sky, Juan must reinforce his "bahay kubo"; prepares for the worst but hopes for the best and constantly prays for God’s help and mercy that the Philippines will be truly called “a home sweet home” for Filipinos at home and in diaspora when the sun shines brightly again after the tempest.
Dum vita est spes est --- while there's life, there's hope. -30-
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