Source: Esquiremag.ph
By: Angelica Gutierrez
The good, the bad, and the ugly.
Everyone knows 1972 as the year President Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law over the land. But he was a busy guy, and while his legacy will forever be tainted by the bloody era that followed, Marcos was responsible for a lot of other things that continue to live on. Here are the other things he was responsible for that year:
The Establishment of the National Artist Award
When Marcos came up with the National Artist Award, the selection process was pretty much arbitrary, and the prize was given to whomever the President pleased. However, this changed when the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) was created in under the Aquino administration in 1992. Among the NCCA’s duties was the creation of a more impartial selection process for the National Artist Awards. Today, while it is still the President who chooses National Artists, he or she selects them from a list of nominees created by the NCCA and Cultural Center of the Philippines.
The Creation of National Parks.
Two areas were declared national parks that year: Balbalasang-Balbalan (try saying that 10 times, fast) under Republic Act 6463, and Guadalupe Mainit-Mabugnao Hot Spring under Republic Act 6429. The former was named after Mt. Balbalasang, and is also known as “the green heart of the Cordillera.” It’s the habitat of 39 species of birds that are endemic to the country, as well as the Philippine warty pig. On the other hand, Guadalupe Mainit-Mabugnao, as its name suggests, is known for its hot springs and caves. It’s located in Carcar, Cebu.
The Founding of the University of Makati
As it turns out, the University of Makati was established in 1972. Back then, it was known as Makati Polytechnic Community College, and was founded through Municipal Resolution No. 242, Ordinance No. 64. It was renamed Makati College in 1987, and became a full-fledged university in 1990.
The Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972
Duterte’s idol hated drugs as well. RA 6425 was passed into law on April 4, and the Dangerous Drugs Board was created on November 14. The following year, Marcos ordered the execution of notorious drug lord Lim Seng. The Chinese businessman’s sentence was carried out by a firing squad on January 15, 1973 in Fort Bonifacio.
The Shutdown of the Media
After the declaration of Martial Law, stations like ABC-5, ABS-CBN, GMA, RPN, and MBC were immediately closed down. Publications like the Manila Times, Daily Mirror, Manila Chronicle, Manila Daily Bulletin, Philippines Herald, Philippine Free Press, Graphic and the Nation were forced to cease operations as well. Several publishers and journalists were imprisoned, including Teodoro Locsin, Sr., Chino Roces, Amando Doronila, Luis Beltran, Maximo Soliven, Juan Mercado, and Luis Mauricio. The only media outlets left were those belonging to Marcos’s cronies, such as Philippine Daily Express and the Kanlaon Broadcasting System.