Opinion

From August to September

BREAKTHROUGH - Elfren S. Cruz - The Philippine Star

September 1, 2016 | 12:00am

August and September may be two months linked together in the calendar; but, when I think of these two months, within the context of Philippine history I always have this feeling that these are two very contrasting months. August is the month the Philippines honors its heroes during National Heroes Day. September is the month we recall the declaration of the Marcos martial law.

Fortunately, the online Kahimyang Project has given us the significant events, in Philippine history of those two months.

August: Month of heroes

August 1, 2009 , Corazon Aquino died of colon cancer. She was the widow of the martyr, Ninoy Aquino, who led the People Power Revolution in 1986 that restored democracy after toppling the Marcos dictatorship in 1986. She has been called as the “icon of democracy” and as the “saint of democracy” because of her strong spiritual beliefs and her adherence to non-violence.

Aug. 2, 1799 is the birthday of Father Mariano Gomez, one of the three Filipino priests – Gomez, Burgos, Zamora – who were executed on charges of subversion. The real reason was that they fought for the rights of Filipino priests against abuses by the Spanish friars who ordered them arrested and executed. Their death was one of the inspirations for the Philippine Revolution.

On Aug. 14, 1835, Jacinto Zamora, the second of the triumvirate of Filipino priest martyrs, was born in Pandacan, Manila. He was also a leader in the fight for equal rights among priests.

A little known historical fact is that on Aug. 8, 1897, the Prime Minister of Spain-Canovas del Castillo- was shot and killed by an Italian anarchist –Michele Angine Colli- who later confessed that he killed Canovas to avenge the death of the Barcelona Anarchists and Jose Rizal. It seems that, at one time, the Barcelona Anarchists and Jose Rizal were held captive at Montjuich, a fortress in Barcelona. Today, there is a “Sala Jose Rizal” room at Monjuich in honor of our national hero.

On Aug. 10, 1898, Lorenzo Tañada was born in Gumaca, Quezon. He was one of the giants of Philippine politics and was best known for running with Claro Recto on a platform of nationalism. He was also one of the heroic icons of the struggle for democracy during the dark days of martial law. Jose Diokno and Lorenzo Tañada remain as the two most honored political figures among La Sallian alumni.

Another Filipino hero, Manuel Quezon was born Aug. 19, 1878. In 1899 he joined General Aguinaldo’s guerrilla war against the Americans and was eventually jailed. In 1935, Quezon became the first nationally elected Philippine president under the Commonwealth.

There were many historical events in the month of August that helped shape Philippine history. On Aug. 23, 1896, the Katipuneros led by Andres Bonifacio gathered in Balintawak and tore their “cedulas” which marks the beginning of the Philippine Revolution against Spain. The following day, Aug. 24,1896, the Katipuneros took refuge in the house of Melchora Aquino, popularly known as Tandang Sora because she was already 84 years old. Her house became a safe house for sick and wounded revolutionary soldiers.

On Aug. 21, 1983, Ninoy Aquino came back to the Philippines to resume the struggle for Philippine democracy. Upon his return, he was assassinated; and, his martyrdom helped trigger the People Power Revolution.

The martyrdom of Gomez, Burgos, Zamora, Rizal and Aquino during the month of August, has always reinforced for me the image of August as the month of heroes – that the sacrifices of all our martyrs should never be forgotten.

September: Martial Law

It is probably unfair to the month of September that it will always be equated with martial law and the Marcoses. But there are three dates that, by accident or by destiny, all happened during this same month.

On Sept. 11, 1917, Ferdinand Edralin Marcos was born in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte. He was president of the Philippines for 20 years, from 1966 to 1986. When he became president, the Philippines was the second richest country in Asia – second only to Japan. When he was forced into exile in 1986, the Philippines had become the “sick man of Asia.”

On Sept. 21, 1972 Ferdinand E. Marcos declared martial law which was formally announced on TV and radio on Sept. 23. It was a day that people would remember just as Americans remember Pearl Harbor or some other national calamity. The images of Marcos, followed by Tatad reading the proclamation, will always be embedded in the Filipino psyche.

Political opposition leaders, journalists, student activists and many citizens whose sole crime was voicing opposition to martial law were detained or simply “disappeared.” Media were closed unless they were subservient to the Marcos regime. The Marcos dictatorship finally ended with the People Power Revolution.

On Sept. 28, 1989 Ferdinand Marcos died in Honolulu, Hawaii.

August to September

For some reason, when I think of these two months, I always remember the memorable lines from Charles Dickens” A Tale of Two Cities” and, with some tweaking, it seems so descriptive. With apologies to Dickens’ fans, here is my own interpretation of those lines.

For the Filipino people, August symbolized the best of times, the age of heroism and wisdom, the epoch of belief, the season of Light and the spring of hope. Everything was before us and we were all going direct to Heaven.

September symbolized the worst of times, the age of oppression, the epoch of incredulity, the season of Darkness. Nothing was before us and we were all going to Hell.

Septembers will always follow Augusts; but, after a period of time another August will come because the Filipino people will always find heroes and martyrs during the months of darkness.