In the first installment of our 15-part series ‘Road to Martial Law’: What was the Philippines like before the Marcos dictatorship?
Tag: Marcos
False Balance in Journalism
Can a journalist really create a false sense of balance in one’s work? This was one of the points of discussion during a journalism training I attended in Cambodia this month. UNESCO sponsored the workshop and selected fourteen journalists from the ASEAN region. The issue is interesting, relevant and somewhat controversial, as balance is a…
Bagani
Editor’s Note: This piece placed 1st in the Short Story Category of the 2016 Chronicle Literary Awards of Adamson University. While this is a work of fiction, some details are based on the experiences of a Martial law rape victim. Images used are from the film “Ang Mga Alingawngaw sa Panahon ng Pagpapasya” (Echoes in the…
The Butterfly Effect of the Surprise Marcos Burial
Co-written with Lian Buan Ten days after the Supreme Court voted to allow the interment of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, the hero’s burial proceeded a little after twelve noon Friday with full rites assisted by the police and the military, catching the entire nation by surprise. Malacañang…
Traydor
Umalingawngaw ang dalawampu’t isang putok ng baril pasado alas-dose ng tanghali kanina, hudyat ng parangal sa isang ililibing na bayani: bayaning diktador at huwad na beterano ng digmaan. Ang gun salute ng mga sundalo, animo’y paalala ng mga putok ng baril noong panahon ng Batas Militar na ngayo’y pilit at sadyang binubura sa isipan ng…
“Bury Caesar”
Editor’s Note: This is a direct reply to a recently published article of SubSelfie.com entitled A Hero’s Burial? Dear Alaysa, I read your article detailing the events of how your family ‘suffered’ under Martial Law. It would be preposterous if I say ‘I feel your pain’ and that whatever ‘injustice’ was done is too trivial. I…
A Hero’s Burial?
The incoming president, Rodrigo Duterte, tells us that for those who suffered abuses during Martial Law: “It’s just a matter of distributing the award. So anong problema? Patay na ‘yung tao.” (So what’s the problem? The person is dead.) Well you see, Mr. President-elect, my late granduncle Dr. Johnny Escandor died under the dictatorship — his…
