True martial law histories

September always reminds me of martial law and the need to educate the new generation of Filipinos about the horrors of the Marcos martial law regime. There have been several books published about that dark period in Philippine history. Here are a few that I would highly recommend.

Marcos Martial Law: Never Again by Raissa Robles, published by Filipinos for a Better Philippines Inc., 2016.

This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to know about the horrors of martial law. The book has detailed stories of victims and torturers during the Marcos regime. In her Preface, Raissa Robles writes: “This book was very difficult for me to write. It was way beyond my comfort zone as a journalist. I was used to covering Muslim rebels and Islamic terrorism but not the Communist rebellion.

“But it had to be written because whenever I write about the Marcoses, I realized that many of my readers did not understand my context. This is the context of what I have been writing about – that Martial law was a despicable period masked by displays of Art, Culture and Infrastructure. This is merely a short and compact introduction to the atrocities and torture committed by the Martial law regime. It is not a detailed history of Martial law nor is it a biography of Ferdinand Marcos. Those elements are mentioned in order to put the atrocities in context. As far as I know, nobody has ever done a compact history like this with this context and detailed references. And it is needed now more than ever given the appalling amnesia and ignorance about the period.”

In the Foreword, former Senator Rene Saguisag writes: “Bongbong Marcos asks, what human rights violations during my parents’ watch?

This edifying volume answers the foolish question. Learn more about the terror of 1972-1986 from this magnum opus. Raissa, write on. Reader, read on, this excellent deposition for history.”

A Garrison State in the Making and Other Speeches by Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., Introductory Notes by Nick Joaquin, published by Benigno S. Aquino Jr. Foundation, 1985.

This is a selection of speeches by Ninoy Aquino in the Senate from 1968 to 1972. The first speech on Feb. 5, 1968 was titled : “A Garrison State in the Making.” In this speech, he said: “Our democratic political system is slowly but systematically being strangled by a creeping militarism. All indications point to a steady and determined militarization of our civilian set-up.” 

The last speech was given on Sept. 13, 1972, a week before martial law. The title of the speech was “Operation Sagittarius.” In this speech, Ninoy said: “I have just received information from confidential sources in the Armed Forces of the Philippines regarding a top secret military plan, ordered by President Marcos sometime ago, to put Greater Manila, twelve towns of Rizal, and the whole province of Bulacan under PC control – and as a prelude, maybe, to clamping martial law.” In the end he says: “Therefore, I should conclude that Operation Sagittarius is properly named because as the arrow and the dart, it may spearhead what we may actually find as the end of the Republic.”

Nick Joaquin wrote: “After the blow had fallen on the nation, Ninoy’s words would be recalled with a pang – no longer as delicious scandalmongering but as an oracle’s auguries that, alas, went unheeded.”

Martial Law In The Philippines: My Story by Aquilino Q. Pimentel Jr. published by Cacho Publishing, 2006.

 In this book, Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel writes primarily about the experience that he and his family underwent during the martial law regime that President Ferdinand E. Marcos had instituted in 1972 and implemented until he was forced to flee to the US in 1986.

He candidly posits the view that martial law was a gross criminal act that Marcos and his collaborators perpetrated upon the people. Also, he details how Marcos by means of cajolery, bribery and threats laid its foundation in the 1973 Constitution with the indispensable assistance of his lieutenants in the Constitutional Convention of 1971.

He recalls that soon after the declaration of martial law, he was jailed in Camp Crame and thrown into a cell for hardened criminals. That was the first of his four arrests during martial rule. He also describes how he and his fellow human rights activists like Sen. Lorenzo Tanada, Sen. Joker Arroyo, Sen. Soc Rodrigo, Fr. Archie Intengan. SJ, Tito Guingona, and Ernie Rondon were in the military camp in Bicutan for waging a demonstration against the farcical Interim Batasan Pambansa elections in 1978. 

Citing pertinent documents, he describes how some detainees in the martial law detention centers were tortured and who the torturers were. In 1980, he was elected mayor of Cagayan de Oro. But even after his election as mayor and later as a member of the regular Batasan Pambansa, the martial law harassments continued. Through it all, he retained his faith in the Almighty, who, he says worked through friends to see him through the martial law years.

Laban: His Story by Jose Cojuangco Jr. et al. Published by Jose Cojuangco & Sons Inc., 2011.

This is a 25-chapter book that gives firsthand accounts of the period that began with the proclamation of martial law to the four days at EDSA. Aside from Jose Cojuangco Jr. the different chapters were written by a bevy of writers: Marisse Reyes, Ninoy Aquino, Nick Joaquin, Corazon Aquino, Lupita Aquino, Maria Elena Aquino-Cruz, Dr. Rolando Solis, and Margarita Cojuangco.

Among the most interesting chapters are those about the 1978 Interim Batasan Pambansa elections when a group of oppositionists led by Ninoy Aquino dared to run against the Marcos forces. Though cheated in the elections, it marked the birth of the “Laban” slogan and a Metro Manila-wide noise barrage. It was a prelude to the snap elections and the EDSA People Power revolution. 

Creative writing classes for kids and teens

Young Writers’ Hangout on Sept. 15 (1:30 pm-3 pm; stand-alone sessions) fiction writing with Sarge Lacuesta on Sept. 22 (1:30-4:30 pm) at Fully Booked BGC. For details and registration, email [email protected].

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Email: [email protected]