“Okay lang naman ang buhay namin noong Martial Law” | Fact-Checking the ‘Golden Age’ of the Philippines
In recent years, many Filipinos have shown their support for the “Golden Age” of the Philippines, which coincided with Ferdinand Marcos Senior’s 20-year regime. This period is most notably linked to the martial law phase of his dictatorship, spanning from September 1972 to January 1981. This specific time in history, rumored to represent the peak of the country’s national power and influence, was remarkably effective in disseminating false information, relying on internet trolls with their exaggerated claims of patriotic greatness, economic prowess, industrial development, and military might.
“Pro-Marcos pages have long sought to portray Ferdinand Marcos’s dictatorship as a “golden age” of peace and prosperity, rather than a violent and corrupt regime that left the country impoverished. One claim that the Philippines was the second-richest country after Japan during the Marcos regime was posted in March 2020 on the Facebook page DU30 MEDIA Network, which pretends to be a legitimate media outlet.”
It was shared about 300 times.
Additionally, it’s worth noting that various government agencies, politicians, civil society organizations (CSOs), and political parties in the Philippines either personally conducted or hired private firms to carry out extensive digital manipulation campaigns, involving significant staff numbers and budgetary expenditures for psychological operations and information warfare (Samantha Bradshaw, Hannah Bailey & Philip N. Howard, 2021)
This article will scrutinize the major claims of greatness attributed to the Marcos regime, aiming to ascertain their authenticity, delve into the origins of their exaggeration, which appear to be exerting a similar influence on the Filipino populace as they did 51 years ago.
MYTH #1: “Mura ang mga bilihin noong Martial Law” (Commodities were affordable during Martial Law)
Currently, due to the recent inflation, commodities like gasoline have seen significant price increases since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Presently, local fuel product prices are set to increase for the 11th consecutive week. (Rivas, September, 2023).
Numerous social media trolls have utilized this avenue to reaffirm their assertions about the low and affordable cost of living during the Marcos Regime. Even the current incumbent, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., mentioned in his inaugural speech that “none but one [Marcos Sr.]” president had truly delivered in terms of food security. (Pasion, 2022).
FACT:
In reality, during martial law, prices soared due to inflation, reaching a staggering peak of 34% in 1974, which coincided with the global oil price shock and a series of devastating typhoons. This resulted in a severe decline in living standards as transportation fares and the prices of goods (especially rice) skyrocketed, causing widespread protests and demonstrations (S. de Dios, E., Socorro-Gochoco-Bautista, M., & Punongbayan, J. C. 2021).
Just recently this past August, Philippine rice inflation increased to 8.7%, while oil companies raised diesel prices by almost P10.00 and gasoline by almost P6.00 (Rivas, 2023). Now, imagine a similar scenario in the 1970s, where these hardships were threefold.
MYTH #2: “Ligtas at Mapayapa noong Martial Law” (It’s Safe and Peaceful during Martial Law)
Another claim often made by internet trolls is the supposed improvement in safety and security during martial law. This narrative is commonly put forth by individuals who strongly support the Marcoses and its direct appeal to force as an instrument in maintaining order. This involves notable politicians, both active and retired…
“They claimed that we killed a lot of people. That’s why when I was interviewed by someone some time ago, I challenged her: Name me one that we executed other than Lim Seng.” –Juan Ponce Enrile, 2018
While some members of the general public did not experience human rights violations firsthand, many others were not as fortunate and suffered tragic fates at the hands of the Marcos Sr. dictatorship. These includes journalists, religious workers, farmers, and others who fought against the Marcos dictatorship (The Manila Times Online, April, 2016)
Moreover, the rhetoric from the Red Scare era provided Apo Lakay with an opportunity to portray a huge “communist threat.” He did this both to court political support from the Johnson administration, given its Cold War policies, and to garner local support, as the Philippines was engulfed in the same Red Scare that had affected the United States (Kessler, 1989).
FACT:
Victims were subjected to raids and arrests in their own homes without warrants, (Rappler, June, 2018) and they were unlawfully detained without charges or clear information about the status of their cases (ABS-CBN News, 2018). Once apprehended, they were labeled as “political detainees” rather than “political prisoners,” with the vague technical definitions of the former allowing the Marcos Sr. administration to continue detaining them without filing charges (GMA News Online, 2021).
Throughout its duration, Martial Law claimed 2,326 lives, with an additional 2,104 individuals falling victim to various forms of torture, including psychological, physical, and sexual abuse such as rape, mutilation, and assault. Moreover, 3,355 people were detained for varying periods, ranging from 36 hours to more than six months. Conversely, 3,318 individuals were forced into involuntary exile, with some of them sustaining physical injuries during their expulsion from the country. (Human Rights Violations Victims’ Memorial Commission, August 2023 | INSTITUTE OF HUMAN RIGHTS — UP LAW CENTER, 2020)
MYTH #3: “Malakas ang Hukbong Sandatahan ng Pilipinas noong Martial Law” (The Philippine Armed Forces was strong during Martial Law)
Old footage that has recently surfaced on the web showcases the Philippine Armed Forces in their full glory. These clips, mostly dating from the 1950s and late 1960s, depict the military marching with heavy tanks and executing impressive flight formations with high-end fighter jets. One notable highlight is the Blue Diamond National Aerobatic Squadron of the PAF, which was disbanded in the late 1970s due to fuel shortages but later reactivated in 1986, with their last known activity recorded in 2005.
Moreover, most fanatics also keep themselves into the nostalgia of Project Santa Barbara & the Bongbong Rocket in 1972, the very own secret missile experiment of the Philippines (Limos, April, 2021). The rocket, which absolutely was NOT a superweapon, was aptly named “Bongbong” per orders of Marcos Sr. It is a liquid-propellant missile that was discontinued for unknown reasons after tests in the West Philippine Sea (Astronautics and Aeronautics,, 1972: Chronology of Science, Technology, and Policy (PDF). National Aeronautics and Space Administration. 1974. Retrieved September, 2021).
FACT:
During the early Cold War period, spanning the 1950s and 1960s, the Philippines did boasted fair and competitive military equipment, but it was heavily dependent on Western assistance, particularly from the United States. The trade between the US and the Philippines reached a total value of $650 Million around that time (Merrill, 1993).
However, as the United States faced numerous setbacks in Vietnam, along with the public dissent back home over the acts of war attritions, its influence in the region began to wane, and consequently, the crucial aid to the countries such as the Philippines dwindled significantly. It was reduced to just $300 million by 1975 (Butwell, 1979). This lowering aid, along with economic hardships led to the Philippine Armed Forces to lag behind in terms of arms and defense capabilities in contrast to its neighbors (e.g., Indonesia, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand).
CONCLUSION:
With the presentation of these facts, it is now clear that Martial Law have created an illusion of security and prosperity, hence we must not forget that the truth was deliberately concealed from the people. As media outlets get closed down, Filipinos were shielded from the grim reality of Marcos Sr.’s authoritarian rule, and instead, they were presented with the illusion of grand infrastructure projects and superhighways, all under the banner of a “New Society” secretly built on violence, oppression, bloodshed, corruption, and greed.
The regime’s strength and credibility were primarily sustained through its connections with wealthy, influential entities, notably the United States. However, as the political landscape evolved and interests shifted, these powerful connections pretty much abandoned the Marcos regime. This abandonment left them vulnerable to the wrath of outraged Filipinos and the dire economic issues that the dictator himself had caused.
The hospitals and theaters scattered across the country were the result of a “Debt-Driven Growth” strategy. These towering structures that the Marcos administration proudly flexed (and continues to do so today) were constructed using massive amounts of borrowed funds that the country never had to begin with. The corrupt regime of the Marcoses never repaid these debts, leaving the Filipino people to foot the bill in the end, forcing them to cough up the sums.
