Albert Jay M.

Macabacyao
BS Chemistry II
FPE101 8A-2

1. If you lived in the Martial Law era, how are you going to define peace, conflict and
violence according to the narrative given in the movie trailer?

What exactly is peace at a time of martial law, a word that has great meaning for all
people? In my opinion, there are two sides to peace during martial law: a positive peace
and a negative peace. When people share that kind of circumstance, their mental peace is
disrupted, and they are unable to regain it because of the trauma that has already
occurred. Positive peace is war free before imposes the Martial Law. Negative peace
includes situations where individuals are killed for no apparent cause, there is conflict,
and people are destroyed, leaving them devastated. They may be afraid that it may
happen again now that BBM has won the election. Their mental stability has not yet
recovered, or perhaps we should say that the martial law has traumatized them. It
destroys the morale and dehumanized every Filipino in that era, people are likely to
called it the Dark History of the Philippines, where all civilians are being torture leaving
them trauma and scars that will never be heal.

During the martial law, the phrase "conflict and violence" became ingrained in every
Filipino's mind. If there is dispute, there will be violence. According to what I saw in the
movie trailer, the way this victim spoke truly pained me. Each of them has experienced a
different trauma, but they all share a common phobia: they are scared of past and on what
the future holds since BBM is elected as President. Humanity is callous if it kills people
without knowing why, tortures them, and imprisons them. People consciously experience
trauma from this kind of strife and violence because they don't want it to happen again
and because it may happen if the Marcoses reclaim their reign. Structural violence
happens to them as they were enslaved, abuse and torture where they are powerless and
nothing can do.
 2. Do you think that peace really comes within ourselves, or is peace only accessible by
those who are in power? Why or why not?

Why do I think inner peace actually comes from within? Peace is something we all own
or has to do with us individually. Where there is equality within us and respect for
cultural diversity, there will be peace. You will never find serenity in your surroundings
or even within yourself, even if you are the superior and have the ability to manage them.
Because of your addiction to power and belief that you can do anything and be anybody
if you have power, you cannot simply describe peace; instead, when you read this line,
you may discover what peace truly means;

“Peace is the desire of every beating heart. Peace is the hope of every nation, the pulse of every
religious tradition, the goal of every prayer. Peace is the bold, courageous and ultimate
response to the notion that violence provides any viable solution for the conflicts of our world.
Where war destroys and tears apart, peace builds, strengthens and restores. At the same time
peace is personal, for each of us longs for security and tranquility in the face of the troubles,
anxiety and chaos that often touch our lives.”

Reference: (The Rev. Kent Winters-Hazelton, senior pastor, First Presbyterian Church, 2415
Clinton Parkway)

Without peace, our species will face an unending catastrophe. We are responsible for our
wrongdoings, and sometimes we cause conflicts that lead to violence over which we have
no control; it overrides our minds. May you find inner peace, because we are all
connected, not just to each other, but to all of life. Go out into the world and spread peace
and love to every Filipino.