One wonders if the recent appearance of Bongbong and Imee Marcos, children of Pres. Marcos, on the wake of Cory Aquino is the opening salvo for the Marcoses and Aquinos to reconcile.
The feud between these two families is deeply rooted in politics. Before the imposition of Martial Law, Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr, one of the most outstanding senators in his time was a vocal critic of Mr. Marcos although they were fraternity brothers. Ninoy, on the Senate floor divulged the Oplan Sagittarius, a top secret plan for the imposition of Martial Law. I doubt if the people then really believed that a military rule would be imposed in a country thriving under an American form of democracy.
The unthinkable happened. On September 21. 1972, Mr. Marcos dropped a bomb in the Philippines by proclaiming Martial Law. That was the end of democracy, liberty, freedom and the beginning of a fascist dictatorship that brought death, suffering, abuse, neglect, alienation and bastardization of Filipinos.
Immediately, opposition senators, press people, student leaders, and anyone who opposed Martial Law were incarcerated without due process. Some disappeared --- later to be found in shallow graves or never found at all. Some were tortured beyond recognition. The Congress and media outlets were padlocked for good. Martial Law was the evil lurking in the country before a terrified citizenry.
Ninoy was perceived as a possible successor of Marcos in the event of an elections and he was brave in facing the powers that were. For this reason, he was given the cruelest punishment in order for his spirit and mind to be destroyed.
Aquino took all the punishments and he survived.
Fast forward . . .
When Ninoy came home in 1983, he was gunned down in the tarmac despite hundreds if not thousands of security details in the area. The Aquinos point their finger at Malacañang for his brutal assassination as most Filipinos believed so. Cory, his widow, picked up the torch of freedom from her fallen husband and continued to fight for the emancipation of the Filipino people from a brutal regime. That torch became brighter when through the help of Filipinos literally facing tanks, machine guns, helicopters, Armalites, Uzis, Ghalils, and Bazookas kicked out an unwanted president from office.
Cory resurrected democracy and freedom.
In brief that is the summary of the families’ feud.
Reconciliation is a Christian act. I am in favor that the Aquinos and Marcoses settle whatever differences they have. One should not wait death to curtail such opportunity.
Nonetheless, as conditions for such reconciliation if ever it takes place, I agree with Sen. Aquilino Pimentel that the Marcoses must repent and apologize to the Filipino nation for all of their sins while they were in power. The mastermind of the brutal assassination of Ninoy must be known. They must return to the government everything they allegedly stole.
The catch-word is “repent and apologize”. I mean a sincere repentance just like what Mary Magdalene did in essence to Jesus that she cried a lot of tears in remorse wiping His feet with her hair. And I mean an apology stemming from a 360-degree conversion like that of the apostle Paul..
If the Marcoses can do these sincerely in the true spirit of reconciliation vis-à-vis the Aquinos and between them and the Filipino people, I think that the Aquino orphans and Filipinos are not stone-hearted people not to accept repentance, reconciliation and a new relationship.
The Aquinos and Marcoses should not only be looking for reconciliation but all warring factions and elements in the country. It is time that the country has to move forward and catch up with our neighbos in their success.
"To conquer an enemy is to make friends with him."-30-
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