Name: Diether Balmes Date: January 5 , 2021

Grade and Section: 11-St. James (STEM) READING AND REVOLUTION

What kinds of lives did our relatives have during martial law? During World War
II? During the Philippine Revolution?

- When I interviewed my relatives, they claimed that they had not lived through
martial law or World War II, but they told me about what my Lola had gone
through during those times. They said that life of my Lola during Martial Law was
difficult, even though they were not badly hurt, and she is thankful because she
was not harmed during those times and also said to me that what if she was
captured by the police during Martial Law. My Lola said that during martial law,
most people are afraid to go outside because they believe the police will kill them
if they do. However, even if you are inside your house, the police will raid your
house and force you to go with them without saying anything, and if you don't
follow their rules, they may injure or kill you. the majority of those who are tortured
are between the ages of 19 and 25. According to our ancestors, life during World
War II was extremely difficult, similar to Martial Law. They told me that it was
particularly difficult because they didn't have enough food to eat and had also
gone a day without eating, and that they would eat leftover food to satisfy their
hunger or "maitawid ang gutom,"i think. People who ventured outside their homes
were slain by the Japanese, who beat them to death. They also stated that if i
have given the opportunity to witness what occurred during World War II, they
said I would witness the ruthlessness of Japanese soldiers and how they
murdered Filipinos, particularly children. They also hid during World War II, the
reason for this is that they are afraid of being killed. The Philippines Revolution
occurred when Spain ruled the Philippines for over 300 years and helped the
Philippines develop by building economic islands, railroads, canals, and bridges.
This instilled in the Filipinos a proud sense of nationalism.

Was there anything important about what our family members did during that
time? What was it?
 - Yes, there is something important, and it is their responsibility to experience what
has happened in history and to learn from it so that it does not happen again in
the future. What my ancestors did at that period is essential. Because they have
the opportunity to learn about what happened through those hardships, and they
can share the knowledge to us so that the past might not become events of the
present without a knowledge of history.

What can you say about heroes and villains in Philippine history?

- The fact that they became the role model of having good values and showing love
to our country makes me happy, and we appreciate what they did not only to
Filipino heroes but also to soldiers who fought against the enemy just to save our
country, and I am happy with what they did to our country even though we did not
see it.

If you were able to find out how your relatives were during the Philippine
revolution, write it in a one page essay. If not, then imagine what the life of your
ancestor would have been like during the Philippine revolution and what his/her
life would have been like during that time.

- Using my imagination of what my ancestors' lives would have been like during the
Philippines Revolution and what their lives would have been like at the time, I
imagine my ancestor's life would have been good and complicated because
Spain assisted in the Philippines' development. My ancestor would experience
how satisfying it is to see his or her country develop into a better country, with its
own railroad, canals, bridges, and roads. He/She will have a better quality of life
and will be able to study at Spanish and European universities. It's also
problematic since the katipuneros fought the Spaniards, and a great number of
people were killed.