𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐲𝐫𝐬

𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐲𝐫𝐬

It was when I was young that I found descriptions of specific people to remember them correctly. I found myself looking for a word for this exact behavior and came across the word associating. ‘Tis season of commemoration of martial law and fair enough, I have always associated marital law with the macros with pure instinct. A few words pop up when this is brought up: wars, press hunger, dictatorship, murder, and the absence of freedom — all against human rights.

On one ordinary night, September 23, 1972, the absence of light took over the lives of our dear nation as the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. spoke of words that would hunt the Filipinos for long — just over the radio, the declaration of Proclamation No. 1081 or Martial Law was said upon. A nightmare we refuse to wake up to. Is true democracy a wishful dream only?

A democratic country requires press freedom as it serves as surveillance to the Philippine government where even the ugliest of the government is put to transparency. Before democracy died, press freedom was first killed. To have control of the media is like a puppeteer’s show — manipulated and distorted by hidden hands. It brought life to lies and made them believable. The power used to silence the truth and conquer the downside of freedom — make privilege a lifestyle and have no one against it.

Handcuffs and duct tape rule over literally and figuratively. Truth became harmful to their power, thus, the shutdown of publications. But a fool can't deceive the meticulous. Honorable student journalists became martyrs for truth to prevail. Atrocity became the norm that heroes with pens can’t take it anymore.

The right of people to transparency happened in the so-called underground press that processed the truth-telling out of the government’s sight — the only rebels who deserved more than praise. They knew their life was on the line but they chose the truth to live.

Dead but is still alive.. only in memories. The people of that time who suffered from the violence of a selfish desire should never be forgotten nor the atrocities that made them suffer because those cuts and blood didn't heal, they died with it. This is a threat so alarming because the pain of the past is a lesson and the future should not be the slave of the past.

There is truly a light at the end of the tunnel and that light represents the press freedom we experience today. Despite all the shortcomings of the government, we are informed and in touch with the current happenings. Finally, the publication is granted a spotlight.

There I realized that If I wasn't there, who am I to speak about this? But what else could I do when all the angst and cries were finally out, the suppression for the period it was kept burst all at one, making it the loudest that the world can hear and generations can feel — wounds that are open still.

“Marcos Jr. has his father’s eyes and desires.” I won't ask when we will ever learn but I, along with the allies of a free Filipinas, demand for an awakening.