Source: Change.org
By; Reymar Salinas
The Darkest Chapter of the Philippine History or the Golden Years of the Country’s History?
September 21, 1972, President Ferdinand Marcos placed Philippines under martial law, some refer it as “The Darkest Chapter of the Philippine History”. The declaration issued suspended the civil rights and imposed military authority within the country where he abolished Congress, controlled media establishments, and order arrest to those opposition parties and leaders where he defended the declaration for needing the extra power to quench the rising violence caused by the communists to eradicate the roots of rebellion. This brings fear and hopelessness to our brothers and sisters, during these times people knew that the gravity of disorder, social injustice, youth and student activism, many vigilantes and mysterious crimes are happening we don’t about the safety around us anymore.
But during this period, it is hailed also “The Golden Years of the Philippine History” wherein there are positive effects of martial law like in economy that according to World Bank Data (1980), the Philippines’s Gross Domestic Product quadruples. Also with the active of military during this time they are decrease in crime rates such as murder, stealing and other crimes are rarely done because of armies visible everywhere. And the whole country became extremely disciplined due to the curfew observed where those who won’t obey are given disciplinary actions.
Regardless of these, we Filipinos united and learned to fight for our rights to give back our voices, power and freedom. This became one of our famous acts within the history where democracy is used for those who imprison it, where we thirst for the sweetness and positivity of freedom.
There is positivity in every negative. Without this event, we Filipinos are continued to be under their powers unable to speak out but with courage and unity we regained our freedom and forever to be influenced by this event making us where we are now even with the traumatizing events that scars the history but also nurtures it which encourages us.