Summary of the Speech

The speech entitled “ Encounter with Destiny” states all the accomplishments, reforms,
and implementations that Marcos have done during his term, including transformations in the
lives of every Filipinos during martial law and the impact it brought to them. Take a look back on
the evening of September 23, 1972 the military rule began in the country , which was imposed
by the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos. Under the declaration of this rule or commonly known
as Martial Law , the country was under a martial discipline which is needed in order to save the
republic. Due to the rampant corruption , rebellion , crisis and other forces that put our country
into a dilemma, the late president has to declare martial law where it puts all the power of
government in the hands of one man. The starting point where the unforgettable events during
the 70's in the midst of Marcos regime has truly shaped the history of our country.
In the beginning of Martial law, Marcos made many specific promises in order to achieve
his dream of the New Society in which every individual Filipino could be free to fulfill their
potential as human beings, such as no longer would Filipinos live in poverty, hunger, corruption,
mass deception, and violence. And this was what the Filipinos ever dream to achieve. But from
the past eight years,the consequences fell upon Marcos administration's social order in which
the privileges of the few were enjoyed over the degradation of the many that brought about the
destruction of the Republic of the Philippines—the death of a nation, through violent revolution.
That due to the selfishness of some conflict became evident to the many.
End Violence and Usher in Peace
History shows how societies are saved and regenerated in different ways. In the eight
short years of the New Society, they were able to disarm the criminal syndicates and
significantly defused the dangers of subversion, sedition, rebellion, and secession. By
confiscating all the firearms such as artillery, machine guns, and armored cars etc. or
surrendering it to the government in order to reduce the rebellion .The Armed Forces of the
Philippines and the intelligence agencies have succeeded in conceiving the leaders as well as
the members of the Partido Nagkaisang Sosyalistang Demokratiko ng Pilipinas, or SOCDEM.
Even some of the members and leaders belong to the rebellion like Assemblyman Luis Taruc
was there, to join them to strengthen their commitment to the republic.

End Hunger and Drive Development

Social reforms, including the nutrition program were implemented, the increasing number
of day care centers all over the land,which has been adopted by the United Nations—health
program, a family planning program . They also give way to the educational system it has been
reoriented to determine its needs, emphasizing vocational and technical skills. As well as the
colleges , science and engineering are emphasized too. They believed that they were able to
show their capacities and the economic status for their society for the last eight years.
End Poverty and Create Equality
In economic terms , it is known by some that the debts of the country ballooned during
Marcos regime, inefficient management is one of the reasons why our debts toward other
countries have been shifted in long-term which result in bad credit worthiness that could be
considered one of the downsides of His administration. But despite of that they are able to make
the standard of living of Filipinos, by increasing the salaries and wages of Filipino workers.
End Corruption and Enact Justice
The corruption before is truly rampant up until now in our current generation, but during
the time of Marcos administration many officials have been kicked out in the government, more
than 6,000 officers and employees , In the armed forces, more than 8,800 men over a period of
eight years were punished.
Also, along his speech He mentioned the crisis on energy has been met up, but they
come up to the solution by means of accelerating the energy program, which includes the
intensified search or prospecting for oil and gas and other hydrocarbons within our jurisdiction.
They have discovered and are beginning to exploit new coal deposits. In the entire island of
Semirara, they discovered coal deposits. In Cagayan Valley, in Bicol, Mindanao and Samar, they
have discovered geothermal sources. Making the Philippines has been next to the United States
when it comes to rural electrification.
In the latter part before Marcos disclosed His speech , he states that upon the request of
the residents therein, the two autonomous regions in Mindanao,shall continue the suspension of
the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus and in other places.

Marcos emphasizes that in the day He promised that when the time came when we
must end martial law—a time that could not be foreseen then—”I would be the first to move and
initiate the termination of martial law.” For him it was an emotional event, because failures are
often predicted by the many that only few were with him to plot and deliberate the steps in order
to take to have an efficient enforcement of martial law. He said “I pray now and I ask you to pray
with me, as I prayed eight years ago, that I am doing, that we are doing, the right thing by our
people; for the end of martial law does not mean the end of our efforts of our needed reforms, of
our struggles, of our sacrifices. The passing of the martial necessity does not carry with it the
passing of all the burdens especially the heavy ones. There will be more tests for our capacity,
for our resiliency, for our strength as a people.” As he proclaims the termination of Martial Law.
There have been a lot of criticisms thrown into his face , lack of support upon his
countrymen but the blame cannot be put on them, Marcos regime were clothed with different
controversies that are still hanging up in the air, Ferdinand E. Marcos can be considered as a
great President in the history but sadly the bad things outweighs all the good things He have
done in the country due to his selfish motive and changing all the constitutions according to his
want favoring His sake than many. That along with His projects and his contributions there is a
hidden agenda behind all of that.

Context of the Document

Analysis
The Termination of Martial law speech by Former President Marcos on January 17, 1981 is a
document subsequent to the Martial law Declaration since September 21, 1972. Martial law is
known for having caused terror, suppression and deception to the Filipino people at that time.
Meanwhile, the Marcos Administration says that Martial Law was a response to various leftist
and rightist plans against the Administration, is a means of saving the republic and to reform
society. This statement discusses the great quest to New Society Movement, or Bagong
Lipunan vision by the former president Ferdinand E. Marcos, up to its end or termination. In
reading his statement one has to keep in mind that Marcos is a politician, and under an
authoritarian dictatorship. It should also consider the state of the nation/people that time, their
claims. In his statement, he persuades us to look deeper and see the fruits of the said
movement. He professes how his implementation of martial law for 8 years has reduced
communists, rebels, subversion, sedition and secession, by the help of the Armed Forces of the
Philippines. He said that the martial law is a part of discipline of every individual man that
eventually transforms a nation. All through, he proudly states the political, economic and social
transformations. These claims are thought by the Filipinos as a deception at that time, because
they see the vision as a bait from a corruptible government who aims for self-benefit. Moreover,
it is persuasive to hear that many ‘trusts’ his governance but actually with what happened on
EDSA people power revolution is an absolute opposite. Marcos’ reign is a big part of the history
specially on his ability to control economic stands, though it is inevitable for a politician to
undergo corruption Marcos has its different case. We can see it as a win-win principle, by a
theory about short-term governance vs. a long term governance or roving bandits vs. stationary
bandits accordingly. Mancur Olson was a great economist who came up with a very useful
analogy to help explain the behavior of many governments. He pointed out that a “roving bandit”
has an incentive to maximize short-run plunder by stealing everything from victims (i.e. a 100
percent tax rate), whereas a “stationary bandit” has an incentive to maximize long-run plunder
by stealing just a portion of what victims produce every year (i.e., the revenue-maximizing tax
rate).

Background of its Author

The author of the speech is no other than His Excellency Ferdinand E. Marcos
former President of the Philippines, Marcos attended school in Manila and studied law in the
late 1930s at the University of the Philippines, near that city. He was a member of the Philippine
House of Representatives (1949-1959) and Senate (1959-1965) before winning the presidential
election. Marcos held onto the presidency until 1986, when his people rose against his
dictatorial rule and he was forced to flee.
Facts about the author :
* Known For: Philippines dictator
* Born: September 11, 1917 in Sarrat, Philippine
* Parents: Mariano Marcos, Josefa Edralin
* Died: September 28, 1989 in Honolulu, Hawaii
* Education: University of the Philippines, College of Law
* Awards and Honors: Distinguished Service Cross, Medal of Honor
* Spouse: Imelda Marcos(m. 1954–1989)
* Children: Imee,Bongbong,Irene, Aimee (adopted)
* Notable Quote: "I often wonder what I will be remembered in history for. Scholar?
Military hero? Builder?"

Importance of the Text

* It let us know what life was before when this law was declared in the country and also on what
happened to the Filipino before under Marcos regime, it gave us a preview to know what their
sufferings and situation during that time.
* Makes every Filipino united especially during the termination of Martial Law and during the
Edsa people power 1&2 millions of people gather to fight for our total independence under the
dictatorship of Pres. Marcos.
* It builds our moral and behavioral actions concrete because of how President Marcos mold our
fellow Filipinos under his dictatorship, especially the teenager boys who undergo ROTC. It
makes them well disciplined and act in a very good manner.
* To remember the sacrifices of those people who stood up for our today’s freedom, to serve as
the basis of government for the future generation that will lead the country.

Text Contribution to Understanding Philippine History

Through reading the speech it laid out what accomplishments the Marcos regime have
done in the country. Being subjective may it sound , it did not mention the cruelty that goes
along with his plans that brought great impacts to Filipinos today. In this speech , it serves as
one of the passages to know more deeply the real situation and sufferings of our fellow Filipinos
during the Martial Law. Including the effects that this law has brought , such as tremendous
crime, corruption, iniquities, inhumane treatment and fear to the hearts of the Filipino people.
That up until now the shadow of the past has brought significant effects to us like corruption in
our politics today, it is still rampant in the government as well as the greediness of some person
who is in the position, who aspires more wealth and power while they are elected, the corrupt
government system in the country is still evident . And the trauma that Filipinos obtained during
martial law has its effect, still in their hearts, that is why they become very passive today.
Filipinos are very talented , smart , and innovative. They have different potentials but they are
not really confident to show it,because they brought the attitude before that whatever told them
by the authority there is no left choice for them but to follow. Because those few who tried to
oppose those in the government are getting maltreated and some who tried to speak out their
mind gets a threats from the other party that is why justice in our country could be bail out
through money and power.

Encounter with Destiny

Speech
of
His Excellency Ferdinand E. Marcos
President of the Philippines
During the termination of Martial Law

Arcilla, Hazel Joy

Aranton, Valerie Joy\
Velarde, Altavanille Faye