Life ‘sense-tence’: Death

Every Filipino died in the year 1972—it was the year of the horrendous Martial Law

when humans existed, but did not ‘live’. It was a dark phase in our society’s history, for

everyone was deprived from their human senses which are considered to be the essentials to

living. To exist in the time of Martial Law was to be ‘deaf, mute, blind, and paralyzed’; to exist

in the year 1972 until 1981 was to be as good as dead from the concealed reality controlled by

Ferdinand Marcos—a fact that still horrifies me even if forty-seven long years have passed,

especially if I were to imagine to have experienced it myself.

Perhaps, everyone had gone ‘deaf’ when Marcos declared in his speech that he would

be controlling the media and other means of dissemination. It was a moment when the Filipino

people would only hear the beneficial side of Martial Law. I remember hearing stories of how

Marcos would control broadcasting stations and how he sequestered all those stories that were

against him. To exist in a time where the media is controlled is a time for a brainwash. If I were

to be present during these times, I would be easily convinced by Marcos that his proposed ‘New

Society’ is indeed beneficial because it is what I repeatedly hear. Thus, I have realized that

media is vital in one’s understanding; this is why Marcos wanted to control it. This is why the

people were deaf—Martial Law covered their ears from hearing the truth that the whole plan

would be a bloody mess.

As the bloody mess of lawless killings were occurring, the right of the Filipinos to

uphold their freedom of speech, press, and assembly ceased. Hence, the citizens became mute

at well. Evidently, there were no written news about the subversive civilians who were

imprisoned, raped, or tortured, all because it would reveal the atrocious image of the dictator

himself. Imagining myself to be Liliosa Hilao, the first detainee to be killed, is a terrifying

thought because as a student who expresses and learns through writing, it would be hard to be
a socially aware and concerned citizen if writing and all forms of expression were banned. This

is why the people were mute—Martial Law sealed their lips from speaking the truth that would

open the eyes of the public to the heinous acts of Proclamation No. 1081.

The heinous acts were not witnessed in public for a certain reason—every cruel act

happened behind bars. For this reason, the people were blind. Marcos’ ideological state

apparatus or his propositions on the ‘New Society’ aided him in making the people blind from

the actual harassment of his repressive state apparatus or the military intervention. Several

victims have shared their stories when Martial Law ended; every time I hear or read their stories,

I feel like making a move or a change since there was too much oppression to bear. Perhaps,

this is the same feeling that people felt back then. This is why people were blind—Martial Law

covered their eyes because upon seeing reality, they would be compelled to resist the

government together.

As citizens tried to resist, some were unfortunately captured and imprisoned. Those

who were captured were mercilessly tortured. Indeed, Marcos is a man of his words. He stated

in his speech, “If you offend the New Society, you shall be punished like the rest of the

offenders.” People die simply because they do not follow him. This is why people are

paralyzed—Martial Law kills people simply because it is for the President and not for the

people.

It was the year 1972—the horrendous year when living meant dying. It is a time when

truth, the very thing that brings us life, was once concealed and was eventually found once

again. True enough, it took literal blood, sweat, and tears to fight and defy Martial Law—this

will always be a reminder to be grateful for the freedom we have because once upon a time,

there was a dictator who allows people to get ‘killed’ and one of them could’ve been me.