Revelo 1

Kisha Revelo

Judith R. McCann

English 1301-129

07 October 2022

Ensuing Martial Law: Restoration of Faith in the Philippines

In the Pearl of the Orient Seas, the nation wherein the

people exercised their intangible right to voice their opinions,

only to be met with unimaginable consequences. Proclamation

No. 1081 was passed in the Philippines on September 21, 1972

by former President Ferdinand E. Marcos, placing the entirety

of the country under Martial Law. Marcos and his military held

total power over the government and the people, the lives of

many individuals, who merely opposed his agenda, to be

threatened. It heightened the matter of life or death, placing

civilians in the face of human rights abuse, and the acts held no such limit or exemption. Tens of

thousands were detained, tortured, and even killed, but a distinct number of lives lost remains a

mystery today. Although Ferdinand E. Marcos’ Martial Law regime came to an end in 1986, it

seemingly served as a catalyst for succeeding presidents and their comparable actions as different

instances of Martial Law continued to be enforced in the Philippines. Filipinos took a stand to

combat against former President Rodrigo Duterte declaring Martial Law in Mindanao, the

southern region of the country, causing widespread protests to erupt throughout the Philippines.

In this Martial Law Poster, Kim Yutuc implements placement and size, profound symbolism, and
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striking sayings to raise awareness on the detrimental actions of presidents that have enforced

Martial Law in the Philippines.

With much emphasis, the placement and size of the aspects in the poster develop an

overall context, alluding to a deeper message on the comparison between the two figures and the

group of individuals who are seemingly protesting. As if emerging from the darkness, the

distinctive figures of former presidents Ferdinand E. Marcos and Rodrigo Duterte carry the

ability to immediately capture the attention of the audience. With their placement above the

people, it implies the immeasurable power they held on the people. These presidents and the

government within their terms were seen as highly superior, and the ensuing outcome of the

enforcement of Martial Law were reflected heavily upon the people who were directly affected

by their actions. The size of the presidents’ figures is significantly greater in comparison to the

Lumads, human rights groups, and other activists who are placed below them. Along with the

particular placement of both aspects, the following insinuates how no matter how vast the group

of protesters may be, it cannot trump their level in society, draining the effectiveness of their

fight against Martial Law in the Philippines. In addition to the central image of the poster, the

#NeverAgain is presented with a larger text size compared to the caption. In the history of

protests against the Martial Law regime, dating back from Marcos to Duterte’s own agenda

targeted towards certain groups in Mindanao, the slogan #NeverAgain is continuously chanted in

the protests against the inhumane acts that promote the rise of a dictatorship in the Philippines.

With these elements implemented together in the poster, the harmful aftermath of Martial Law

being imposed in the country is successfully presented, along with a substantial reasoning as to

how it creates the foundation for the poster as a whole.

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The focal point of the poster is evidently the unique details that are involved in the central

image, which each entails profound symbolism that contribute to the general message. Almost

instantly, the audience is drawn to the two former presidents, whose figures reserve the most

space in the poster. Both pairs of eyes are crossed out in white, which can possibly represent how

they turned a blind eye on the consequences of their actions. To this day, the reality of the

Martial Law regime of Marcos and Duterte remains inconceivable, with much of it being

underestimated and diminished by these presidents, similarly as to how they held immense

control over what information could circulate within the press. As they were presented as the

highest figures in the nation, the white shading that surrounds them from their shoulders can be

seen as clouds. Stemming from this idea, former presidents Marcos and Duterte are further

proven to be placed on the pedestal that implies the decisions they are making are for the

betterment of the Philippines and its people. Shifting the focus onto the groups of people beneath

the figures, the use of red flags undoubtedly captures the attention of the audience. The term

“red-tagging” continues to hold an unfortunate contingency today, as it became a practice that

was implemented by the government to combat against human rights groups and activists who so

much oppose Duterte’s regime. The outcome of this practice reaches to the extent of being

tortured and killed, only increasing on the count of people’s lives sacrificed to fight against

Martial Law in the Philippines.

Within the poster, text is implemented to create a clearer context, and it provides specifics

on who was directly affected by the enforcement of Martial Law. In the native tongue of the

Philippines, the saying “Biguin ang panunumbalik ng diktadurya!” directly translates to “Stop

the return of dictatorship!”, but with the saying presented in the national language Tagalog, the

message is strengthened and comes across with a deeper sense of authenticity. Two particular
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groups of people who were targeted by the former presidents, each of them respectively, are

shown with signs on hand that exclaim “DON’T BOMB LUMAD SCHOOLS” and “STOP THE

KILLINGS”. In the presidency term of Ferdinand E. Marcos, human rights violations swept the

country, leading individuals to protest for the deaths of many youth activists, journalists, and

anyone who so much as opposed Marcos’ agenda when he was in office. In the case of former

president Rodrigo Duterte, he imposed Martial Law in Mindanao, targeting the Lumads. The

indigenous community was on the other end of Duterte’s “counterinsurgency”, which involved

him publicly claiming he will have Lumad schools bombed. The texts grasp a striking impact on

the overall poster, conveying the reality of what these groups had to overcome through the times

of Martial Law in the Philippines.

Overall, the state of the Philippines during these periods of Martial Law left an influence

on both the government and the nation’s people, and it encouraged more individuals to fight for

their human rights. The artist, Kim Yutuc, raised awareness on the actions of former presidents

that have imposed Martial Law in the Philippines through the use of placement and size,

profound symbolism, and striking sayings. Ideally, Martial Law should only be imposed in times

of where a normal functioning democratic society and government is greatly threatened, and the

security and safety of the nation and its people are at stake. With this Martial Law poster, more

individuals in the Philippines and worldwide possess a deeper understanding of the reality of

how Martial Law was implemented and the devastating outcome that remains engraved on the

country’s history.