READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

Kimberly Joy C. Talon July 27, 2022

BSRE 2-1 Prof. Edelyndon Enriquez
2020-12023-MN-0
MODULE NO.4: Supplementary Task

What makes the 1973 Constitution constitutional authoritarianism? Briefly discuss the

effects of Marcos’s authoritarian regime on Philippine society.

Noong taong 1965, umupo sa posisyon ng pagka-presidente si Ferdinand Marcos Sr. Siya

ang ika-sampung pangulo ng Pilipinas, at siya at kaniyang pamilya rin ang isa sa mga pinaka

kontrobersyal na personalidad sa ating bansa. Noong 1967, ang konggreso ng ating bansa ay

nagpasa ng resolusyon na kumbensyong konstitusyonal upang baguhin ang 1935 Constitution.

Ang bagong konstitusyon na nais ipatupad noon ay ang 1973 Constitution, na siyang naging

dahilan upang manatili si Ferdinand Marcos Sr. sa kaniyang posisyon bilang presidente ng

Pilipinas. Ang konstitusyong ito ay naglalayong ipakilala ang parlyamentaryong estilo ng

gobyerno sa ilalim ng martial law kung saan, ang dating apat na taong termino bilang isang

Presidente ay napalitan ng anim na taon.

Ang 1973 Constitution ay tinawag na “Constitutional Authoritarianism” dahil ang dating

pangulo na si Ferdinand Marcos Sr. ay nagdikta ng mga probisyon sa konstitusyon noong

Martial Law. Minanipula niya ang mga dokumento upang patuloy siyang manatili sa posisyon

bilang presidente ng Pilipinas. Bukod pa roon, nagkaroon ng plebisito na siyang magiging daan

upang maaprubahan o di maaprubahan ang iminungkahing konstitusyon. Ngunit, ang plebisitong

ito ay ipinag-paliban dahil kinatakutan ni Marcos Sr. ang maaaring pag boto ng publiko laban sa

konstitusyon. Ang lahat nang ito ay naganap bago pa matapos ang kumbensyon. Sa madaling

salita, naging daan ang bagong konstitusyon upang makapag patupad ng Martial Law at mas
palakasin ang pasismo sa ating bansa. Ayon kay Tony La Vina, kaya binansagang

“authoritarian” ang konstitusyon dahil sa hindi tamang pag proseso nito. Nagpatupad din si

Marcos Sr. ng mga baranggay citizen assemblies at naglabas ng Presidential Decree No.86, na

naglalayong isuspinde ang reperendum. Bukod pa roon, nagkaroon din ng kakulangan sa maayos

na pag sasalaysay sa mga mamamayan sa mga tala ng bagong konstitusyon. Ang rehimen ng

dating pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Sr. ay puno ng karahasan, korapsyon, at pang aabuso sa

kapangyarihan gayundin sa mga mamamayan ng ating bansa. Dahil sa 1973 Constitution,

nabigyan si Marcos Sr. ng kapangyarihang mamuno sa pamamagitan ng pag-atas noong 1978

nang ang 1935 constitution ay napalitan ng parlyamentaryong estilo. Sa ilalim rin ng

konstitusyong ito, malayang sinugpo ng dating presidente ang mga demokratikong institusyon at

paghihigpit sa mga kalayaang sibil. Bukod pa rito, sino mang tumaliwas sa kaniya o di kaya’y

maging kritiko niya at kaniyang pamilya ay sumasailalim sa iba’t ibang uri ng pang-aabuso.

Ayon kay Mccoy (2001, p.131), noong martial law, mahigit 3,275 ang naitalang pinatay; ang

mga sumailalim naman sa torture ay mahigit 25,000; ang mga ikinulong naman ay tinatayang

70,000; at 77 pursyento ng mga biktimang ito ay isinalvage. Sa dami ng mga biktima at mga

nasawi noong Martial Law, opisyal na idineklara ni Marcos Sr. ang pagtatapos ng martial law

noong January 17, 1981. Ngunit sa kabila nito, nagpatuloy pa rin ang mga pang-aargabyado sa

mga mamamayan na siyang nagbigay daan upang magkaroon ng EDSA Revolution.

Kung iisipin natin, matindi talaga ang nagagawa ng pagiging gahaman sa kapangyarihan

sa isang tao. Dahil sa paghahangad ni Marcos Sr. na manatili sa posisyon bilang presidente ng

Pilipinas, maraming Pilipino ang naapektuhan. Bukod pa roon, matapos ang kaniyang rehimen,

nabaon sa matinding utang ang ating bansa dahil sa korapsyon na ginawa nila ng kaniyang

asawang si Imelda, upang mapanatili ang kanilang marangyang buhay. Nakakalungkot isipin na
kahit matindi ang ginawa nila sa mga Pilipino, marami pa ring mamamayang ang patuloy na

sumusuporta at nagmamahal sa kanilang pamilya.

CITATIONS:

Viña, T. L., & byAFP. (-1, November 30). The travesty of the 1973 constitution. Manila
Standard. Retrieved July 27, 2022, from https://manilastandard.net/opinion/columns/eagle-
eyes-by-tony-la-vina/216640/the-travesty-of-the-1973-constitution.html

Constitutional Commission of 1986. (n.d.). 1973 constitution of the Republic of the Philippines:
Govph. Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved July 27, 2022, from
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/constitutions/1973-constitution-of-the-republic-of-the-
philippines-2/
FINAL EXAM:

Briefly explain the importance of interacting with history through historical shrines and

museums. How do you prepare yourself for a visit to a museum or shrine?

It is important to look back to the past events that happened in our country. It’s because

we’ll have the opportunity to learn about our culture, traditions, and we will be able to find out

the reason why certain things in the present have been established and how it came to that point.

Because of these, there are establishments that give us the opportunity to explore and see the

artifacts from the past and the story behind them. Those establishments are what we call shrines

and museums.

Personally, interacting with history through shrines and museums is very important. It’s

because there’s a lot to learn in those places, and by interacting with history through those

places, you’ll get to see personally the objects that came from the past. Most of these artifacts are

owned by national artists like the “Spolarium” of Juan Luna, together with his other paintings

and sketches. You can also see taxidermies and dissected animals, historical records, artifacts

from different ethnic group, and other objects that were from the time when a certain historical

event happened. Learning about history through those places is very essential for a student like

me because I’ll have an opportunity to dig deeply about our culture and traditions as Filipino

citizens. Aside from that, I also enjoyed learning about the historical events face to face because

I can easily imagine how it happened. In addition to that, I can also imagine the past better by

seeing it than just reading it on books and images. When preparing for a visit on a museum, I

always wear something casual and I usually wear rubber shoes because I really love to explore

the whole area so I could see all the exhibits. When I’m inside a museum, we are often

welcomed by tour guides and they give us instructions, they also have a storage area where you
can put your bags and other possessions so you could explore the museum freely and to also

avoid robbery. Also, it is important to bring a tiny notebook so you could take notes about the

artifacts and the stories behind them. When you want to take photos inside a museum, flash is

prohibited because it might cause damages to the artifacts. Also, you must not touch the artifacts

in the museum unless; you are allowed to do so. It’s because, historical artifacts are very fragile

and they need extra care especially when handling them. Moreover, you must observe silence

when you’re inside a museum because you might disturb other guests and it’s extremely rude to

be loud inside a place full of historical artifact, and other people might not get a full experience

of the historical feel or ambiance of the museum. In addition to being loud, acting aggressively

like running or jumping inside a museum is also prohibited because you may knock some things

out, and you might inflict damage to the historical artifacts.

As a person who loves to venture museums and shrines, it is very important for me to

learn about history in those places because aside from having the complete experience of the

historical ambiance, I also get to gain deep information’s about the historical events that took

place in our country or a certain area. I also love learning the truth or stories behind the

possessions of our heroes and our national artists. Also, you can see the evolution of our planet,

the evolutions of animals, what events caused their extinction and etc. In simple terms, I can

learn so many things inside a museum and it also thought me to become more appreciative to our

history, tradition and culture. I hope the Filipino youth will love those places as much as I do.