(Un)Distorting History
In an effort to cover the tracks of corruption and atrocities committed during a dark chapter in Philippine history, many have regarded this dictatorship as the “golden age” of the Philippines. Under what was deemed as the best of time, thousands of Filipinos suffered multiple human rights violations and injustices. This time of the year serves as a wake-up call and a reminder of what truly occurred during Marcos’ reign.
One of the most famous cases of historical revisionism in the Philippines is none other than the time when the country was under a one-man rule, an era built on many falsehoods as it is, like the official date of the proclamation of Martial Law: it is not on September 21, 1972, like most believe and celebrate; rather, it is actually on September 23, 1972. This false detail can almost be considered as trivial when comparing it to the modern historical distortions done on this past event.
Filipinos holding the belief that the Philippines was at its prime five decades ago may be disillusioned with the fact that the inflation in 1984 skyrocketed to 50.3 percent as a result of Marcos’ crony capitalism and his pursuit for growth built on mountains of debt. Furthermore, with about $5 -10 billion debt garnered by his family, the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) is still trying to recover the money stolen for Marcos’ ill-gotten wealth.
Also, let us not forget the 3240 lives that were stolen under the autocratic government. Not only were thousands of Filipinos killed as a result of his policies, but also around 34,000 underwent various torture methods usually done by the military. To tamper with the integrity of history is to erase the sufferings endured by the Filipinos during Marcos’ reign.
In efforts to combat misinformation and revisionism, a retelling of the past happens every year with the same narrative of “Never Forget, Never Again”. Attempts to rewrite, censor, and revise history were made; it is the responsibility of Filipinos, as means of protecting and molding the future of the succeeding generation, to remember what transpired 49 years ago.
Perfectly summed by Vice President Leni Gerona Robredo in a statement on September 21, 2021, via Youtube, “Kailangan nating ulit-ulitin, sa bawat pagkakataon, ang katotohanan: Sa ilalim ng rehimeng Marcos, nagdusa ang Pilipino — ninakawan, tinorture, at pinaslang; ginamit ang ngalan para ibaon ang bansa sa utang, at pagbabayaran ang utang na ito hanggang sa mga susunod pang henerasyon [We need to always repeat the truth every time: Under the Marcos’ reign, the Filipino suffered — robbed, tortured, and killed; used his name to bury the country with debt, lending the burden for recovery to the next generations].”
History tends to repeat itself, and it’s not a long shot that the events that took place 49 years ago will make a reappearance if the people continue to paint the Martial Law era as the “golden age” of the Philippines. Hopefully, the atrocities, crimes, and injustices committed during such dark chapter will remain as a memory as we continue to cry “Never Forget; Never Again.”
