Was Marcos a Hero? Does every sacred grain of sand deserve to lay upon his rest at the Libingan ng mga Bayani?
From a conformist point of view who wanted this country to move on like me, I guess the Supreme Court's decision has finally put this into an end. Nobody is above the Law ... so be it and suck on it!
From an emotional and historical standpoint, I believe this HERO thing-y will remain a subject for debate for generations to come. A sad predicament that will continue to haunt our seemingly alienated and divided nation.
Let me tell you a story from my own perspective. It maybe a little bit long so please bear with me. A lot of people may not care ... but for me ... this is some sort of my inverted eulogy to the greatest and most intelligent Filipino man who has ever lived that has brought forth tons of misery, false hopes and unequalled corruption to the people of the Philippines.
I was born in 1965, same time Marcos was elected President. In his re-election of 1969, I was more captivated and mesmerize in the Apollo Moon Landing and catching spiders than Marcos' unprecedented feat.
Then Martial Law came in 1972, the Bagong Lipunan song stuck like glue in my head that I can even sing it while standing at the back of my best friend's carabao or even while swimming in the then clear rivers of our barrio. (May bagong silang ... may bago ng buhay ... bagong bansa, bagong galaw .... sa bagong lipunan) ... Yeah!!!
We came from a family of public servants and our house was always filled with people from all walks of life since I can remember. My father was our town's Liberal Party chairman at the time Martial Law was declared. During the next day's/months/years of iron hand rule, there were a lot of secret and not so secret meetings held in our house which has always brought tension and nervousness to my mother including my elder brother. Due to my very young age, it has somehow restricted my curiosity and inquisitiveness to ask my father on what the hell was going on! But what I really hate was the stench of tobacco during those brief and sometimes endless meetings.
Towards the end of 1977, it was a coming of age for me. General Teodulfo Bautista and his men were mercilessly massacred in Patikul, Sulu by the MNLF. I clearly still remember that gloomy day in October as we were all crying in the school lobby consoling our dear classmate Marlon, the general's son (AFP Chief of Staff Benjamin's brother). I then began to ask myself, why did our nation's leaders allow such dreadful things to happen? On the other end at other peaceful parts of the country, the military and the police specially the constabulary seemed to be feared and acted like they run a prison cell all over the cities and towns where people are treated like captive or slaves they own.
Later in college, I've learned that Marcos has so corrupted the military during his entire reign that only men loyal to him are promoted, terms extended and held key vital positions in government and big corporations after retirement. I can understand that to stay in power, Marcos needed to have and sustain power ... and the military can provide him with the strength he needs to remain in power. Thus, RAM or Reform the Arm Forces Movement was born! The beginning of the end I suppose.
On the consoling end, by watching Voltes V had somehow brought comfort and hope in my daily grinding exclusive-catholic-school-for- boys chores in my primary and secondary learning days. Then suddenly in 1978, the Great Apo Makoy cancelled the show! Now that's a lot of bull shit to take from this powerful man!
I had a number of tastes of first-time elections during Martial Law. From the time LABAN was formed in the 1978 Interim Batasang Pambansa elections (only Pusyon Bisaya of Hilario Davide won seats in Region VII), first Local Elections of 1980 (Nene Pimentel was the only opposition mayor elected), first Presidential Elections of 1981 (who the hell is Alejo Santos and Bartolome Cabangbang who went up against Marcos) and first Barangay Elections in 1982 (by the way Martial Law was lifted on paper in the beginning of 1981). Although I was a mere spectator during these block voting years where the opposition has no hope-no chance to win during elections; the speeches, the posters/leaflets, the chanting crowd and the catchy campaign jingles brought the sense of democracy to my inexperienced mind. I also received a lot of pay envelopes, free ride and free food just to attend KBL rallies and inaugurations. Talk about being corrupted at a very young age.
Oh, and I almost forgot, there was a referendum of 1973 ratifying the new constitution and asking everyone if you approve or disapprove of continuing martial law. Of course, the YES votes overwhelmingly won by 91% and sadly those national, local and barangay officials who failed to convincingly deliver the votes were replaced. These people who remained in power became the foundation of the Marcos Loyalists (plus the diehard North of course) ... national, local and barangay officials who have stayed in position without the fear of being replaced and without fear of abusing their powers to the end for a good number of years as long as you remain loyal to the Man. My God, I can even recite and memorize all department secretaries/ministers during those times because they were holding their post for so long. The Political Dynasties, Warlords and Clans were on the rise! If the Military was corrupt and abusive ... the national and local officials did not fall behind. Talk about how deep seated the Marcos Loyalist are!
I guess the Martial Law years were called the Golden Years (1972 to 1979 are the golden years) because it was peaceful and orderly. Peaceful because if you go up against or say something about the government, you either wind up dead or tortured or in prison. At that time, the government was not killing or torturing drug lords, pushers and users but rather political leaders, student activists, human rights advocates and marginalized sector leaders. You can say that those times were orderly because Marcos was the only one making laws through executive orders, decrees instructions with no congress, no senate, no elections, no rights to further lift his grip throughout the land.
The start of mass migration to western countries also started in the Golden Years. Before, only apple and pineapple (plus orange and grape) pickers were leaving for the U.S. but in the 70's and 80's, managers, engineers, doctors, nurses and other professionals started leaving the country just to escape Marcos. The Government has now succeeded getting rid of the middle class ... the Thinking Class! Talk about staying power and long-term solution to stay in power!
The Martial Law years were the Golden Years because a lot of infrastructures and lavish inaugurations of big events were made in the country (thank you Imelda) even at the time where there is an existing oil and global financial crisis. Huge amount of fresh loans from the World Bank, IMF and the U.S. came in times fold because of the birth and prospects of the New Society! This time .... let's all give a big welcome the Cronies ... monopolizing, plundering and squandering until the last drop of penny is taken. Behest loans, failed economic programs, ghost projects, you name it the Cronies did it!
In layman terms, it would be like borrowing from a loan shark and spending it on new shoes. The Golden Years are the times you got the loan, bought the shoes and wore it. The downfall was the time you need to pay the loan or the interests, but you realize you do not have the job or resources to pay it nor return the shoes because it is all worn out! Well at least you enjoyed the Golden Years (that is what the Loyalist are saying). I've seen a lot of these scenario with my fellow OFWs which makes me sad.
With no economy rising after the Golden Years, our blue-collar workers also now started looking for work in the Middle East and other countries. Talk about double kill ... not only brain drain but this time brawn drains. The Philippines has now become a money order economy relying on remittances of its global workers and citizens while the Oligarchs, the Cronies, The Political Dynasties Marcos has created during the so-called Golden Years remain with their political positions, big businesses and tremendous network that widened the gap between them the Elite Few and the rest of the Filipino people.
Then Ninoy was assassinated in 1983.... the rest is history. Maybe we need to rewrite history and stop celebrating EDSA.
Marcos was NEVER a hero, maybe on the arguments made by the Supreme Court he qualifies as a hero but with what he did to my country, my people and in my own perspective .... see you in Hell!!!
May you NOT rest in peace!!! Amen!!!
(So siyempre tulog na kayong lahat wala na babasa nito pinaghirapan ko pa naman 2 hours ko ginawa. Anyway ito yung pinaka may sense na address for me. I think alam ko na kung nasan yung pera. Haha.)
1. We are meeting for the Nth time mga kababayan, madami pa’to.
2. COVID lang paguusapan natin dito.
3. DSWD na sasagot ng mga tanong niyo. May presentation ang DSWD.
Turn over to Bautista.
4. Bautista: Magandang Hapon! (ay midnight napo)
5. Nung dumating yung P100Billion, 3-5 days, naibaba na yung ayuda. Walang problema kasi may credible list na tayo, every month na sila nakakatanggap.
6. Naibaba na sa LGU ang amelioration. Dito nagkaproblema. Kasi ang listahan, hindi available. Ang inexpect namin, alam ng LGU ang kanilang constituents, alam nila ang profile – names, work and other livelihood. Dahil hindi nila kabisado, dito na nagkaproblema. Pero walang perfect. Hopefully in due time, ma distribute na ang cash amelioration orderly.
7. Ang cash amelioration program ay intended sa pamilya so ibig sabihin, isang head of the family. 1 family – P5,000 to P8,000. Pag di na-validate ang isang pamilya, may duplication so mababawasan ang beneficiaries kung hindi nabantayan. 1 ayuda lang dapat.
8. Alam naman natin na may pagkakataon na mawawala ang pera kaya kailangan may taong sasagot kung sakaling hanapin ang pagkukulang na pera. (DUH. Kung sakali lang hanapin?)
9. Dapat nakabantay tayo. DAPAT LUMAKAS ANG ATING MGA BOSES. Dahil ang Social Amelioration Program ay people’s money coming from the people’s tax hindi para sa mga taong iniisip lang ang kanilang sariling interes. (Cavite, holler!)
10. My advice – this is not the time for blame game (eh kakasisi mo lang sa mga LGU Secretary!)
11. Tulad ng sabi ng Presidente, this is an opportunity for us to show our people that we are worth a public servant (ha?) Yun lang. Ang DSWD tutulungan ang ating mga LGU para mapabilis ang ayuda.
Back to Duterts.
12. Duterte (now wearing a mask) – ok sa Department of Defense naman tayo. Pasok, Lorenzana.
Mag mask ka para lone ranger tayo. (LOL)
Mag mask ka para lone ranger tayo. (LOL)
Turnover to Lorenzana
13. Lorenzana: Ako po yung Chairman ng National Task Force ng CUVID-19.
14. Naayos napo natin ang supplies ngayon. Nakahabol napo ang ating PPEs na pinamili ng DOH mula Tsina. Halos araw-araw ang hakot. Kami rin nagdidistribute sa mga hospital sa Maynila at probinsya.
15. Naghahanap kami ng mga lugar na pwedeng isolation wards sa mga may CUVID. World Trade, PICC, etc. Handa na yan. Nagpunta kami sa Iglesia ni Cristo. Salamat Kapatid na Manalo. 2000 beds.
16. Wag kayo magalala, kami bahala sa mga gagawin sa lupa. (bakit may access ba sa langit?)
Back to Duterts.
17. Duterte: Galvez, pasok!
Turnover to Galvez.
18. Galvez: on track ang National Action Plan. Lumalakas na ngayon ang DOH. Ang testing ay tumataas na ngayon na 2400. 11 na ang accredited testing center, may walo pa nagaapply.
19. Napakaganda ng nagawa nating lockdown. Dahil napush ang curve ng 1 month delay. Napakagandang balita dahil may 11 recoveries tayo ngayon. Sa ibang bansa napakataas ng death rate. Sa atin hindi tumataas ng trenta.
20. Napakaganda ng ating preparasyon kumpara sa ibang bansa (sir yung bangko niyo po.) Ang Japan napakayaman, ang kanilang health services hindi maka-accommodate. Same sa Singapore, nakita natin na napakaganda ng desisyon ng ating mahal na Pangulo na tayo ang pinakauna na nagkaroon ng yung travel ban, our hard decision is paving the way for good results we are having now. Yun lang po.
Back to Duterts
21. Duterte: Duque naman.
Turn over to Duque.
22. Duque: Salamat sa suporta ng Pangulo kaya marami tayong tagumpay. Di ko na uulitin yung mga nasabi nila. Kilalanin natin ang healthcare workers, frontliners. Saludo kami lalo na sa na nagbuwis ng buhay. Ito lang masasabi ko, walang katumbas ang inyong kabayanihan at sakripisyo. Hindi kayo pababayaan ni Pangulo.
23. Ito lang ang masasabi ko, kung ihahambing natin ang bilang ng may impeksyon sa Pilipinas, ay isa tayo sa pinakamababa sa 3764. Kung ihahambing natin sa mayayamang bansa, ay di hamak malayong malayo po ang ating ranggo sa COVID World Tracker (ay contest ba ito?)
24. Ito ay nagsasalamin sa mga desisyon na ginawa ng ating mahal na pangulo. 2 napakamalakas na desisyon – yung travel restriction doon sa manggagaling ng bansang China noong Pebrero, at pangalawang napakalakas na desisyon ng Pangulo ay ang pag-lockdown. Yan ang dalawang dahilan kung bakit ang bilang ng COVID infection sa Pilipinas ay mababa talaga compared sa ibang banda.
Back to Duterts.
25. Duterte: Secretary Dominguez, you have said a lot but give a statement.
Turn over to Dominguez.
26. Dominguez – in terms of the economy, nung pumasok kayo nung 2016, ang order niyo ho sa akin is to manage the economy for the welfare of the people. Ibig sabihin lahat ng collection ng taxes should be collected efficiently at wag magwaldas ng pera. So ang resulta, maganda ang posisyong ng economy natin kaya kahit meron tayong bad luck sa COVID, very well-prepared tayo.
27. 6.4% growth tayo from 2016. Yung koleksyon natin ng income ng government is the highest in 22 years. Ang utang natin has gone down to the lowest it has been in terms of percentage to GDP. Bumaba na inflation natin.
28. Itong COVID natin, ang GDP growth natin will be 0 or -1 %. Ang temporary unemployment will be 1.2Million workers. But this is in comparison to the lowest unemployment rate ever achieved in the Philippines.
29. We will be spending more than we are collecting. But we are spending more to save the people.
30. We have a program to borrow more money to support the economy and fight against this COVID. Right now tina-tap natin ang mga kaibigan sa ADB saka sa World Bank and we will probably be borrowing 5.6Billion USD. Kung kulang pa, sa commercial market. BB+ ang credit rating natin, the highest ever.
31. We have the financial capability to bridge the problem that COVID brought us. We want to assure the citizens that we have the money. Pero hindi endless ang pera.
32. So Mr President, you have created an economy that can stand a hard hit and I think the Filipino people should thank you.
Back to Durterts.
33. Duterte: Before we end, ako na mag-recap kung ano mga pinagdadaldal namin dito. (mas mahaba pa yung recap sa lahat ng sinabi)
34. Maraming report sa akin na yung mga nagungupahan sa bahay ay being pressured to pay. Alam mo lahat tayo nawalan ng income. So I’d like to ask the owners, wag muna hingin kasi wala talaga.
35. Gusto ko niyo maintindihan, yung pinagdadaldal ng Kongresman na ulol, torpe, na may 300Billion na binigay ang kongreso, hangin ho lahat yan. Wala pa yang pera na yan dito.
36. Yung 300Billion yan yung buffer na pera bago tayo umalis sa gobyernong ito. Yung ang totoo jan.
37. Yung pera na sinasabi nitong ulol, pagkatorpe. I think your brain is melting. San ka nagaral ewan ko.
38. Yung budget na nakahanda, magbabago na yon. Magastos itong putanginang kalaban na ito.
39. Yung mga nagbibiro sa akin sa Facebook, yung mga pinapaalis ako wala kasi akong solusyon, oh sige tama, ikaw na ang Presidente.
40. Tangina. We are trying our best.
41. Yung 300Billion, kokolektahin pa yan kasi wala pa. Wag mo sabihin saan ang pera na 300Billion? Ewan ko kung kaninong bayag mo yan makuha.
42. Magkokolekta pa ako. Ngayon masusunod ba koleksyon mo? Hinde. Kasi wala na ang ekonomiya. Patay ang negosyo, walang nagbayad.
43. Ang gobyerno hindi nagiimprenta ng pera yan, ang gobyerno mo gagastos lang according to the economy.
44. Makinig kayo wag kayo makinig sa idiots because we are not only trying to save the economy, but also the country.
45. If you decide to listen to the insane, eh di doon kayo.
46. Nakikita ko na noon pa, itong COVID sinusundan ko talaga. Ako ang pinakaunang lahat nag lockdown kasi nasusundan ko na ang istorya. Nagbabasa ako ng different sources of knowledge – Facebook, everything.
47. Kaya mga nagpaparenta, wag kayo magmadali. You’re not even sure if you’ll be around to collect the money. Pag sinara niyo yung bahay, sasabihin ko buksan niyo uli yung bahay, papasok uli yung pamilya.
48. Hindi ko gusto ng anarchy pero this time makialam ako sa lahat ng opisina. Kapag inevict mo yang tao, magsasalubong tayo. Pupunta talaga ako sasabihin ko ibalik mo yung tao. Kung hindi mo gusto tumulong sa mga tao, sunugin na lang natin mga apartment mo tutal may bumbero.
49. Ayoko magsalita na parang holdupper ako. But if you interpret it that way, holdupper talaga ako.
50. Nahihirapan ako magsalita kasi ang sikip. Lahat sila nakamaskara. Nahihiya naman ako kasi ako nagorder wag kayo lumabas walang maskara tapos ako lang hindi so binigyan ako ng mga sundalo pero binigay nila yung para sa mataas na ilong, eh putangina kaya nahulog kasi wala akong ilong. (laughter in the plenary)
51. May pumapasok naman sa butas leche baka labas pasok COVID sa mukha ko.
52. Nagmamakaawa ako, wag niyo pilitin ang mga tao magbayad ng renta, kasi mageengkwentro tayo. Hindi talaga ako papayag.
53. Ito ang totoo. Hanggang walang vaccine, COVID stays. Kung wala pa vaccine sa Christmas, sabay sabay na tayo sa holdupper. Pareho na lahat. Tangina naiinis ako eh.
54. Sabi ni Sonny maraming pera. Maraming nagpapautang satin. Siya naman sasagot diyan eh. Pero classmate ko yan. Since kindergarten.
55. What is the end game – mauubos talaga ang pera. Ipagbili ko lahat ng lupa ng gobyerno. Yang cultural center, yang PICC, totoo. Pag wala na ako makuha, I will sell all the assets of government tapos itulong ko sa tao.
56. Importante maintinidhan niyo yan eh. Kesa sa mga text saan na yung 300Billion? Hangin yan.
57. Ako magbigay sa inyo ng hope. Habang nandito ako, ibibigay ko sa inyo yan. Do not worry about the money.
58. May leksyon talaga ang buhay. Ang pinagdadasal ko number one, lahat ng nasa ospital ngayon.
59. Ang COVID, hindi yan nana, hindi yan sugat. Hangin yan.
60. Matanda, bata, babae, lalake, pag nagsurvive ka ng COVID yung anti-bodies mo sa veerus, nasa iyong katawan, hindi antibiotics, hindi biogesic. Katawan mo mismo ang magproduce ng mga sundalo kakalaban sa COVID.
61. Kaming matatanda ang vulnerable.
62. So ano ang solusyon, Duterte? Mayor? Bakuna! Kagaya ng kagat ng aso. Pag nakagat ka ng buang na aso. Pag di ka nainjectionan ng anti-rabies, you will die. Sigurado yan. Yung sa COVID, hindi siya rabies. Yung mga tao may resistance, yung matatag. Yun yung mga tao na nanjan sa daan. Hindi ko kayo iniintriga ha. Nahigop na siguro lahat na ‘yan kaya matatag sila.
63. Yung iba genetics. In the meantime, let’s help each other. You can keep criticizing pero alam ng Pilipino ano itong COVID at ano ang hakbang ng gobyerno kung saan yung pera.
64. Hoy ugok. Wala pa yan. Kokolektahin pa yan.
65. Yung ginagamit yung sinabi ko kay Secretary Dominguez, magipon ka for the rainy days. Dumating nga talaga sa buhay natin. Hindi rain, bagyo.
66. Yung mga nagmamarunong, they can come here and I can turnover, sila ang magpatakbo.
67. Maraming salamat po Pilipino. Ako po ay inyong utusan. Lahat kami dito.
***Ok sa kaka-summarize ko ng speeches, mejo naiintindihan ko na si P.Duts, haha. Expert level na pagka gets ko sa kanya. Kailangan lang mejo lasing ka rin habang nanonood. In fair nasagot yung mga matagal ko na tanong. Yung mahigit isang oras na pajuliet juliet, kaya ko i-summarize in 5 salient points. (sana di ako napuyat diba, ako na lang nagedit, nag segment producer naman ako dati)
- Yung pera na P275 Billion, para sa amelioration saka sa pagkain. The money is yet to be collected in the coming quarters through taxes and income from government assets. So ang pera na pinamimigay ngayon is from the budget prepared last year and the savings of the Department of Finance from projects that didn’t push through because hindi matatapos within his term.
- Kung maubos yon, maraming mauutangan kasi B+ ang credit score natin. $5.6Billion USD ang uutuangin natin. If magtagal pa rin ang COVID, ibebenta na niya mga property ng gobyerno. Yung opposition ang papanego niya.
- Yung COVID, vaccine lang ang solusyon. Makukuha yon sa mga antibodies ng mga gumaling na sa COVID. And usually, kung hindi siya genetics, yung mga mahihirap na sanay na sa kalye ang may very strong antibodies kaya wala mashadong tinatamaan na mahihirap ng COVID kasi sanay ang pangangatawan nila sa impeksyon.
- Tas paulit ulit na sinasabi niya. Wag palayasin yung mga hindi makabayad ng renta kasi this is not the time para isipin mo kumita. Kailangan magtulungan kasi pare pareho tayong walang pera.
- And finally, may Facebook si P.Dutz. May time siya magbasa. So baka nababasa niya ites.
Gitri San Diego
