We'll Always Remember

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Today marks the 50th anniversary of the official declaration of martial law in the Philippines. The public announcement came two days later, on September 23, 1972, to give time for the military to round up the oppositionists and the dissidents and put them in jail.

As you read this, please take a moment of silence to remember those who lost their lives or have been permanently scarred by martial law: the imprisoned, the tortured, the raped, the abused, the salvaged, the disappeared, the dispossessed, the harassed, the displaced, the impoverished, the war victims and those who suffered the brunt of plunder and bad policies (we particularly remember the children of Negros during the 1985 famine).

Let's also remember our allies, those who risked life and limb to help mitigate the harm of martial law: the Filipinos abroad who did their part in exposing and opposing the dictatorship, the nuns and priests, the activists, the journalists (particularly the women writers), the movie makers, the academics, the documentarists who kept records, the authors, the businessmen who secretly supported the anti-martial law forces, the international humanitarian groups, the young military officers who organized to oppose the regime. Most of all, let's remember the ordinary people who offered support to the hunted and oppressed, whether it was shelter for the night or sustenance for the days ahead.

We remember through our stories this week:

A general's recollection of opposing martial law in theory

A Mindanawan's recognition of his psychological scars

Two Tony's -- Hilario and Tagamolila -- the early martyrs

We remember through films: Vince Tañada's Katips, the recent blockbuster and awards sweeper, now showing internationally; and

Batas Militar, the 1997 documentary which you can watch through the link be;low until September 30.

Today and always, WE WILL NEVER FORGET. 

More This Week

[Cook It Again] The Happy Home Cook: Vegetable Lumpiang Shanghai by Chef Richgail Enriquez

[Video of the Week] Executive Class: The Henry Suites MiraNila

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Staff

This Month, We Remember

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When the First Quarter Storm erupted in the Philippines in January 1970, everyone who was living there knew that it would be an extraordinary, historic decade -- both in the good and bad sense. Unrest was widespread as manifested by increasingly large and frequent demonstrations against the government. Students, workers and peasants worked together to demand social justice and structural reforms. Many joined the revolutionary underground, providing a life force to the New People's Army. 

The buzzwords were plenty: Maoism, imperialism, bureaucrat capitalism, fascism, "Makibaka Huwag Matakot," "Marcos Papet Diktador Tuta" were the more popular ones. There were attempts at arms smuggling and bombings which culminated in history-changing events: the Plaza Miranda bombing of the Liberal Party miting de avance in 1971, the subsequent suspension of the writ of habeas corpus (a new term and concept we had to learn), and the declaration of martial law the year after.

Fifty years later, which is this month, martial law continues to inflame emotions and incite debates. Each Filipino remembers it in one's own way, each memory valid if recalled honestly. For the privileged who benefited from it, those were good times; for the victims of its atrocities, their stories must be retold as history lessons. For most of the population, it was a slow burn towards anger; after all, despite the dictatorial decrees and military heavy-handedness, it was still possible to live a simple, under-the-radar existence. Until it wasn't.

It took 14 years before "tama na, sobra na" was on most people's lips, but that's another story.

This month we remember. And do our part in making sure that no one will forget. 

Aside from our collection of stories, Positively Filipino is also sponsoring the two-week FREE showing of the acclaimed movie by Ramona Diaz, "Imelda." Watch it here: http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/ramona-diazs-imelda-2003

We also invite San Francisco Bay Area folks to watch a new and important documentary film, "11,103" on Saturday, September 17. See details below.

FREE! To RSVP please visit: https://bit.ly/11103BayAreaPremiere

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Staff

Unsettled and Unsettling

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We live in unsettled and unsettling times. In both the Philippines and the US, we can almost feel the ground shifting at our feet as we deal with the pandemic and await the coming of the political maelstrom.

For those who lived in the Philippines and were attuned to the national mood in 1972, there is a feeling of deja vu, because around this time 48 years ago, the ground beneath our feet was likewise unsteady. A week later, martial law was declared and the country's historical arc bent towards authoritarianism.

Lest we forget those years under the Marcos regime (14 more years of it, from 1972) and to add to the collection of narratives of that era, here are our stories: 

Ex-political detainee Ernesto M. Hilario writes of his prison experience in "Never Again to Martial Law"

In my column, I recall my personal stories of visiting prison in "Visiting YRC"

Read Again:
Martial Law Stories: House Arrest

Martial Law Stories: The “Torture” of Playing for Miss Universe 1974

For those who missed PF's webinar on the Anti-Terror Law, here's the recording:

[Webinar] The Anti-Terrorism Law And How It Will Affect You

Our Stories This Week

Martial Law Stories: Never Again To Martial Law By Ernesto M. Hilario

Nothing Fragile About Rocker Joanna Glass By Anthony Maddela

All The Presidents’ Man, Eddie Serrano By Dr. Floriño Francisco

Meeting Pierce Brosnan And The Dalai Lama By Mona Lisa Yuchengco

Martial Law Stories: Visiting YRC By Gemma Nemenzo

The Happy Home Cook: Sandy’s Fried Rice By Chef Sandy Daza

Video of the week: AAPI Vote’s Breadth of Community

In The Know

Asian Americans’ political preferences have flipped from red to blue
https://theconversation.com/asian-americans-political-preferences-have-flipped-from-red-to-blue-145577?fbclid=IwAR1HIk45p6ym7OUfEtr8qEs1-X7k03g6pJPgvsSeIkub8wW2UeBM_V2vUZ0

For Filipino migrant workers, coronavirus dashes their ticket to a better life
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/coronavirus-unemployment-philippines-migrant-workers/2020/09/09/37972290-e688-11ea-bf44-0d31c85838a5_story.html?hpid=hp_hp-top-table-main_virusphil-846pm%3Ahomepage%2Fstory-ans

WATCH: Hollywood’s Yellow Rose trailer speaks of Filipino immigrant spirit 
https://www.goodnewspilipinas.com/watch-hollywoods-yellow-rose-trailer-speaks-of-filipino-immigrant-spirit/?fbclid=IwAR1XVFGtNXB11fhHaArNlDr_YDuTFDvlVZ1HXPxmWIC5JQ1VJNCKNdsEqnw

Plant Thieves Scour Forests to Satisfy Foliage-Starved Filipinos
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/plant-thieves-scour-forests-satisfy-230000920.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=ma 

Healers grapple with mental health issues in Fil-Am community
https://usa.inquirer.net/58409/healers-grapple-with-mental-health-issues-in-fil-am-community?fbclid=IwAR1HIk45p6ym7OUfEtr8qEs1-X7k03g6pJPgvsSeIkub8wW2UeBM_V2vUZ0