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Reflection Paper on Beyond the Political Dichotomy - Revisiting the Marcos Regime
and EDSA Revolution

College of Business Accountancy and Public Administration, Isabela State University

GEC 2: Readings in Philippine History

November 30, 2021

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Two of the most controversial parts of Philippine history from then until now were the
Martial Law Era and the EDSA Revolution. These two events in our past created a wound in
our society that does not still heal until now. It also divided the Filipino people into two sides
which should not be happened. Some Filipinos also believed that the Martial Law Era was a
Golden Era while the EDSA Revolution was a triumph of democracy, but the question is, are
all of these things true? Or just myths and deception.
President Ferdinand E. Marcos was the tenth President of the Republic of the
Philippines. He is also the most controversial President of the Republic of the Philippines
because of Martial Law, corruption, human rights violations, his ill-gotten wealth, and
dictatorship. In addition, Marcos first assumed his office as President on December 30, 1965.
He won reelection in 1969, declared Martial Law in 1972, changed the constitution in 1973,
“won” a six-year term in the 1981 elections, and was ousted and exiled in 1986.
In his first term, the dream to become great again was revived then his good deeds
followed it. He launched ambitious public works that enhanced the general quality of life and
strengthened the local economy and irrigation projects. Thus, making him be reelected in the
1969 elections. However, an incident took place four days after his fifth State of the Nation
Address, known as the First Quarter Storm, wherein; it was reported that two-person were
killed while 106 were injured.
On September 23, 1972, President Marcos declared Martial Law
through Proclamation 1081 for the reason of the growing number of Members of the
Communist Party of the Philippines, which pose a threat in overthrowing the government and
the incident on the night of September 22, 1972, which they have said that a group of
individuals attempted to kill the former Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile. From then, the
President assumes all powers vested on the three branches of the government
through General Order No. 1, making him dictator for that particular time.
It was also this time that President Marcos issued General Order 2-A that authorizes
the military to arrest a list of personalities deemed part of a “conspiracy” to seize power,
the Letter of Instruction No. 1, which permits the seizure and closure of private media, and
other measures that authorize the seizure and closure of some private companies and the
dismissal of some of the rights of the Filipino citizens.
In 1986, the opposition was unstoppable. People who support Cory Aquino protest the
snap election results in which they believe that Cory was the real winner. High-ranking
officials who were then allies of President Marcos shifted to the opposition. From there,
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million Filipinos marched through the streets, and there the bloodless revolution took place,
known as the EDSA Revolution, which ousted President Marcos into office.
Some Filipinos still believe today that the victory against President Marcos was a
political victory for Cory Aquino. It was an event in which rumors said that the Aquino’s had
led it. There being said, a revolutionary government was installed under the leadership of
President M.C. Aquino. With this, others believed that Cory was the image of Philippine
democracy.
Indeed, it is proven that politics can be dirty as dirty it is. The dream of this nation to
become great was put into a box that was kept locked up by those self-centered individuals.
The triumph of democracy that the Filipino people have fought for was just taken for granted
by these hypocritical politicians.

Politics is a powerful thing yet dangerous. If in the hands of good individuals, then the
Filipino can benefit from it. On the other side, it can harm our democracy, development, and
progress.

Education is the key to progress, as they have said, but why is it that educated people
are the ones corrupting our government system? Is this because we are afraid of condemning
them? Did we forget our duties and responsibilities to our motherland? Or is it because these
politicians have not just corrupted our government system but the minds of the Filipino
people too?

In politics, the act of those persons involved here is unidentifiable because we do not
know their true intent. We do not know if they are playing poker face. Though it is our
mandate to validate on our own and elect our leaders, it is beyond our control to know what
they are fighting. We do not know whether they are fighting for the national interest or their
own sake. This world is full of possibilities; what we can do is be wise about the things that
our environment poses upon us.
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References

Official Gazette. (n.d.). Third Republic. Official Gazette.

https://mirror.officialgazette.gov.ph/featured/third-republic/

The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. (24 September 2021). Ferdinand

Marcos. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ferdinand-E-
Marcos

Rachel A.G. Reyes and TMT. (22 February 2016). Marco’s Green Revolution. The Manila
Times. https://www.manilatimes.net/2016/02/22/featured-columns/columnists/marcos-green-
revolution/246377

Ver F. Pacete. (10 September 2020). Pacete: Remembering President Ferdinand E. Marcos
today. SunStar Bacolod.
https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1869797/Bacolod/Opinion/Pacete-Remembering-
President-Ferdinand-E-Marcos-today.

Official Gazette. (25 February 2014). EDSA, Elsewhere: The 1986 People Power Revolution.
Official Gazette. https://mirror.officialgazette.gov.ph/2014/02/25/edsa-elsewhere-the-1986-
people-power-revolution/