PROCLAMATION NO. 1081

pinoymostlike.blogspot.com

Today marks the 40th anniversary of the Martial Law declaration in the Philippines. Forty years ago when then President Ferdinand E. Marcos declared Martial Law which brought Philippines into the danger zone of undesirable international imaging and press relations which ended up to EDSA People Power Revolution in 1986. Proclamation No. 1081 on September 23, 1972 led to the gradual downfall of the dictator Marcos who ruled the country for twenty years making him one of the longest-serving presidents in the world. 

At first, Marcos won the hearts among Filipinos by his unique life story, charisma and oratorical skills. Studying Law and topping the Bar Examination behind bars, he successfully defended himself without an aid of a defense lawyer before the trial court after being accused of murder filed by his father's political rivals in the northern Ilocos Region.

equalizerpost.com

That remarkable chapter of his life made him the only Filipino who defended himself before the trial court. Likewise, his being articulate and persuasive projected him an image of a charismatic politician making him the 10th President of the Philippine Republic after a landslide victory. His administration focused on agriculture, public highways, infrastructure, among others. His emphasis on national road projects enabled to connect the entire archipelago from Appari to Jolo. Under his administration, the Philippines became one of the promising economies in Southeast Asia.

Despite such X Factors, his declaration of Martial Law remained to be the root of his downfall. Filipinos were under chaos of military abuse, black propaganda, political killings, media supremacy, human rights violations, among others. The assassination of former senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Sr. on August 21, 1983, seconds after stepping down from the plane in Manila International Airport (now Ninoy Aquino International Airport), sparked a unified crusade in Manila three years later. Many have thought that Marcos had Ninoy assassinated, but until today, the case remains to be unclosed. 

The historic 1986 snap election, thought to be one of the dirtiest elections in the Philippine history, declared Marcos the winner. But, allegations of massive election fraud and Marcos' dark political agenda took its tool when Filipinos refused to accept his manipulated victory sparking the world's first people power revolution in the country's capital, Manila. 

Since the Philippines was under political and military turmoil which resulted to the withdrawal of support of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to the Marcos administration, FM asked help to his major political ally, the United States of America. Marcos eventually fled to his self-exile in Hawaii, U.S.A. The 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution made Corazon Aquino the 1st Woman and the 11th President of the Republic. Under her administration, the country gradually restored its sought-after democracy. 

Martial Law left dim memories in Philippine history. For those who were involved, there's no way for them to forget it. For the young generation, there's no way for us to neglect such political milestone in the course of our history. After all, it is part of our being Filipinos. And, it remains to be a factor in explaining how and why the way we are.