REQUINA, CHAYNE ALTHEA M.

FEBRUARY 7, 2023
BSMLS-A2

GEN004: Readings in the Philippine History

Student Activity Sheet #26

Activity 1: Pretest

Let’s assume you are now living in 1972. In one paragraph (5-10 sentences) describe the
changes you can see in your society right after Marcos declared Martial Law.

➢ The society after Marcos declared Martial law is dull, risky, and lifeless. Everything we
see might have hues of green, yellow, and red but the truth is, the community is coated
with black and white. Rallies are not allowed, a lot of freedoms are suppressed, doors
are locked, and many more. The military presence is increased and the media is
restricted. Additionally, economic policies changed, resulting in an increase in foreign
investment, greater prices, and unemployment. Overall, the implementation of martial
rule had a substantial impact on people's daily lives, making society dysfunctional, and
not worth it to live in, resulting in a decrease in civil liberties and an increase in the size
of the government.

Activity 2: Hook Activity

Freedoms Suppressed by Martial Law
➢ Freedom of speech
➢ Right to join and form assembles
➢ Freedom of the press
➢ Freedom of assembly
➢ Right to privacy
➢ Right to due process

Activity 4: Practice Exercise

1. Why was the health of President Marcos a factor in his downfall?

➢ When Marcos' health started to deteriorate in 1983, there was growing discontent with
his government. By the middle of November 1984, Marcos' health had gotten worse. On
December 3, 1984, Blas Ople, Marcos' labor minister, disclosed the circumstance for the
first time in history, stating that Marcos was "in power but cannot take substantial moves
at this moment." Marcos mishandled the economy as a consequence. Having lost the
ability to administer correctly, he assigned
his "cronies" to run the country economically. The economic impact of its outcome was
terrible because most of the cronies put their own objectives ahead of the country's
economy.
REQUINA, CHAYNE ALTHEA M. FEBRUARY 7, 2023
BSMLS-A2

2. How did the collapse of the Philippines economy bolster the revolutionary
opposition?

➢ The impoverishment of the economy led to the loss of support of the middle class and
the small-time landowners and farmers in the regions of the Marcos administration.
Poverty, aside from human rights violations by the military, also became a means for
rebel groups to recruit citizens to their cause. By stoking public resentment and outrage
and bolstering opposition movements, the downfall of the Philippine economy supported
the revolutionary opposition. The People Power Revolution, which eventually toppled the
Marcos government and ushered in democracy in the Philippines, was significantly
influenced by the financial crisis.

3. How did the assassination of Ninoy Aquino affect Marcos?

4. When the news of Ninoy’s death spread, approximately seven million came to his funeral
procession on August 31, the biggest and longest in Philippine history. This singular
event further eroded the people’s support of the Marcos regime. The assassination
demonstrated the Marcos government's growing ineptitude because Ferdinand was
gravely ill at the time of the crime and his allies governed the nation while he was away.
In short, Ninoy Aquino's death was a watershed moment in Philippine history because it
sparked a People Power Revolution that ultimately toppled the Marcos government and
served to galvanize resistance to it.

Activity 5: Windshield Check

1. TRUE
2. FALSE
3. TRUE
4. TRUE
5. TRUE

Activity 6: 3-2-1 Chart

What are the three things you have learned in this lesson? Explain.

➢ The three things that I have learned in this lesson are the three paramount types of
opposition during martial law: reformist opposition, revolutionary opposition, and
religious opposition. Secondly, Marcos’ health and the issue of succession and how
his disease was kept a secret at first. Thirdly, the collapse of the Philippine economy.
REQUINA, CHAYNE ALTHEA M. FEBRUARY 7, 2023
BSMLS-A2

What are 2 things you found interesting in this lesson? Why did you find them
interesting?

➢ The two things that I found interesting in this lesson are, firstly, the incurable disease
that Marcos had. It fascinates me because it’s like the heavens have heard the
people’s sobs to end his term but it seems like the heavens wanted to end his life.
Secondly, the assassination of Aquino. I couldn’t believe that such brutality would
happen in that period. I only grasp those kinds of things in movies and fictional books.

What is 1 question you still have? What will you do to find the answer to this question?

➢ The 1 question I still have is, “What would have been the alternative factors if the
factors presented in this lesson were different?” To find answers to this question, I
must read articles, books, journals regarding this topic and formulate answers of my
own and ask for other people’s opinions.