Again, the 1972 Martial Law anniversary is here and we likely have people attacking the so-called Marcos Myth. The late dictator Ferdinand Marcos is no war hero, there’s no secret gold that made him rich, etc. However, there’s still another part of the Marcos Myth that needs busting. One that would usually escape the Filipino’s simplistic mentality, and it would take a probably wide-ranging, far-reaching, preconceived notion-breaking mindset to understand.
The Myth that Everything Evil came from Marcos
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I saw a Facebook friend come to the conclusion that Filipinos started having survival mentality and became bad-habited during the Marcos Era. It was that impression that the Marcos Era was what made Filipinos bad. I wanted to reply, no, it’s been around longer than that, even before World War 2. That mentality made Emilio Aguinaldo have Antonio Luna and Andres Bonifacio killed. And more. However, I decided to put that thought here.
Here again is the more serious part of the Marcos Myth. It is saying everything “evil” in the Philippines came from Marcos, and Marcos alone. As if everything that was corrupt in the Philippines was suddenly introduced only once Marcos took power, and everything before it was good. So if everyone in the Marcos family (since the guy himself is dead) is put away, the country will magically be cleansed. That’s the real revisionism being spread around here.
It’s one of the classic scapegoating cases of our society. It’s what I defined as a thief publicly flogged or punished to satisfy the people while the other thieves are ignored. As another friend’s witty comment went, it’s putting away Ali Baba but forgetting the 40 thieves.
Again, I’ll quote Carl Bankston III, who said Marcos is a product of the bad culture of the Philippines that led to corruption, murders and all, and not its creator. As if back then, indigenous Filipinos weren’t killing each other back then as headhunters, enemies and such. As if, among our “heroes,” there were no squabbles leading to what Aguinaldo did to Bonifacio and Luna as I mentioned. As if during World War 2, guerillas and other Filipinos fighting the Japanese were not quarreling among themselves for many reasons, among them territorial ones. As if there have been no murders, killings, “salvages,” crimes of passion, rapes or other crimes that led to many deaths outside of government-caused ones, and even before Marcos. Whatever demons that divide us and turn us into monsters have been around for a long time.
Filipinos seem to be big fans of the scapegoat tradition. Perhaps they are just stubborn and refuse to accept more reasoned ways of looking at things. But such a thing, as I said before, is injustice. Yet that is likely what Filipinos want: injustice, having someone “punished” on basis of whim. Indeed, that can explain the violent culture of the Philippines, whether you mention death squads, riding-in-tandems, massacres whether by government or a crazed drunk person, or the likely unreported murders over selos (jealousy).
It is Revisionism?
Many staunch anti-Marcos advocates are worried about historical revisionism. But I doubt any revisionism is happening. What’s really happening is people are just sticking to the narratives they know. For example, people who have believed for decades that Armando Lite invented the M16 rifle will stick to it – even if Eugene Stoner came in front of them and told them he was the one who designed it. Same with those who believe the Code of Kalantiaw is not a fiction, that a Filipino invented the Lunar Rover, and more. In the same way, those who are pro-Marcos have always stuck to that.
Oh yes, about those who were once at Edsa and now support Marcos (or not) – “historical revisionism” and “fake news” aren’t to blame for that. It’s because the alternative to the Marcoses – the so-called anti-Marcos heroes, the “Yellows” – are themselves corrupt. The new bad guy made the old bad guy look good. Really, just look around. These people believe they’re not revising history, but replacing a false narrative with a true one. The false: the country was saved from a vicious dictator by heroes. The true: the country simply passed from one corrupt regime to another.
Another flaw in the Filipino mentality is believing we are naturally good, even if we do wrong, and it takes a “special” person like Marcos to be evil. That unfortunately makes them into arrogant, boastful asses that refuse to admit their own mistakes, and become murderous and selfish even on the road. The ego-based narrative of being a “special people” that our escapist culture propagates continues to hobble us.
Heroes and villains is a distinction that is clear-cut only in the movies and fiction. In real life, every one of us, and I speak about humanity as well as Filipinos, are, deep inside, secret villains waiting for our chance at letting it out and doing things with impunity. When faced with this jarring idea, we are influenced by our egos to deny it and instead deceive ourselves that we are “heroes.” In truth we are anything but that.
As long as Filipinos feel “perfect,” are unwilling to accept their own faults and believe that they can never be “evil,” they will continue to deny the existence of problems and their egos will be huge roadblocks to meaningful change.
An apt closing is this line from the TV series Law and Order: Special Victims Unit:
“We blame all kinds of people for creating monsters, why not ourselves?” – Olivia Benson
I believe, as my cohorts here do, that what Filipinos embrace as their culture is what actually pulls the country down. And those who seem to be anti-dictators, who may also believe themselves to be “heroes,” are the real dictators.
As I has written in my previous blog: “Anybody who enlisted and fought the Japanese Imperialists during World War II is a True Filipino Hero”…
“Anyone who collaborated with the Japanese Imperialists, during World War II, is a Filipino Traitor”…
It is as simple as that, who can be counted as Filipino hero, or Filipino traitor.
As with the late Pres. Marcos’ Martial Law. If it was full of victims , murders, killings or not.
Juan Ponce Enrile, then the Secretary of Defense, managed the Marcos’ Martial Law. Fidel Ramos, the Philippine Constabulary Chief, was the Jailer or the “Torturer” of the subversives or people against the Marcos’ Martial Law.
It is easy the File cases of Crimes against Humanity on, Enrile and Ramos. If there were really : murders, killings and tortures; during Marcos’ Martial Law. These two political opportunists are still alive and kicking. Why are they not jailed or hanged as Criminals ?
Of course, it is easier to claim and cling to Fake Histories in textbooks. Project yourself as Hero or Saint. Because of your heroism and sainthood, during Marcos’ Martial Law; you are the savior of the Filipino people. Just like Jesus Christ saved us from our sins.
We claim a lot of accomplishments, but we have none…if we have none: we invent accomplishments. Claim the accomplishments of other people.
In our mindsets, we have to find the evil on other people, to justify our own evilness. Or we are less evil than that evil person. We must have an “Escape Goat” from our own evilness.
We find that “Escape Goat” on the late Pres. Marcos Sr. and his Martial Law…
There were : 2016 Election Cheating; Andres “Si Latigo” Bautista multiple bank accounts; DAP; PDAF; Pork Barrel Bribery; Hacienda Luisita massacre; Mendiola massacre; Typhoon Yolanda Fund disappearance; Mamapasano massacre; dismissal of Andres “si Latigo” Bautista case of impeachment; etc…these are the True Evils in our times…
However, these must be, the late Pres. Marcos Sr.’s fault, and his Martial Law ! Stupid Yellowtard Filipinos !
If the former President Marcos was as bad as they paint him out to be, then why build so many schools that further improved people’s literacy ? Why bother developing the country’s infrastructure that would enhance the economy? With an independent and highly functioning society, the gov’t wouldn’t need to impose Martial Law. And Dictatorship would certainly be resisted. If somebody were a true dictator and as corrupt to the core, he would create conditions that debilitate the country and incapacitate the very people he wants to rule over and steal from– through an unending cycle of poverty, miseducation, dumbing down of the culture through corporate media and depriving them of elevated culture.
Is this being a pro-Marcos? It’s just a perspective. No need for labelling and putting things into boxes that only bring discussions to a dead-end. Who knows, maybe the truth might be too complex that even the scholars and historians aren’t ready for it.
>> If somebody were a true dictator and as corrupt to the core, he would create conditions that debilitate the country and incapacitate the very people he wants to rule over and steal from– through an unending cycle of poverty, miseducation, dumbing down of the culture through corporate media and depriving them of elevated culture.
Well, yes. And that’s exactly what every president has done since … oh, well before I was born.
I did say before that people can have achievements, yet still be corrupt. You can hail their achievements, but at the same time have them jailed for the corruption. Just give them their due.
I agree. Of course it’s possible for people to achieve both good things and bad things. Filipinos seem unable to see shades of grey in any picture. I think it was Ilda wrote an article a while ago about the prevalence of Narcissistic Personality Disorder, or “Cluster B” disorders in general terms. One feature of that type of illness (Borderline Personality Disorder in particular) is a tendency to see everything in black and white: those afflicted will view everyone as either the devil incarnate, or a saint, and might flip from one view to the other depending on his mood.
Having said that, Marcos himself clearly achieved very little considering the amount of money that was spent. Ground-level positives were achieved either by American businessmen or by enterprising Filipinos. All that happened (at least during the early years of the Marcos administration) is that he simply let people get on with their lives and run businesses, which is what any normal government is supposed to do. It’s only worthy of remark because the Philippines before and since has been a classic Fascist system: the government IS the economy. Nobody is allowed to move left or right unless they either serve or are part of The Firm.
Marcos built schools and hospitals during the time when they were needed. Good job! But thats the job of every government and every president. The early 70s was a a time of active changes and progress in the world, prompted by Americans’ lunar landing towards tge end of the 60s. Marcos was simply riding tge demands of time. Why would he be specially creditedf for jobs and duties he simply was obliged to do. The UN and US provided him with much help to modernize the country. Now, the problem was he borrowed so much money for his “build build buid programs” and pocketed a big chunk of the funds..thrn he tried to educate or brainwash the peiple to feel indebted to him while hiding the fact that he stole (he and Sukarno were the biggest thieves in Asia). He systematically controlled the media and the 3 branches of government to get away with his lies…and he had to jail or kill oppositions or anyone theatening to expose his manipulations..or anyone theatening to rebel against his rule thus he used Martial Law for control..and extension of his term.
And now, we have Duterte repeating.
Unfortunately, there are flaws in your statement:
So you fully agree that his successors did terrible because there are little to no schools and hospitals as well, right? Of course, it is.
Seems you failed to realize that after Marcos left, it’s the Yellows that brainwashed the people on telling them ‘everything is okay’ thanks to the massive whoring of the media and “there are plunderers left and right, and if you count how much they stole for over 30 years, this so-called biggest thief in Asia turns out to be an amateur. You complain about Marcos controlling the media and controlling 3 branches of the government yet failed to realize that after Marcos left, “the media men, who lost their jobs, are back with a vengeance. Yes, there is freedom of speech. But they make sure that the Yellows have the loudest speech. Why should we bother about freedom of speech when yours is gonna get drowned out anyway?
And you also failed to mention that there is one incompetent nutjob is trying to control all 3 branches of the government to get what he wants. And you call it ‘democracy’?
What’s wrong with this statement is you focus only on one man and not to focus on the people who did it. It’s also a half-truth because Marcos even allowed Ninoy Aquino to go to the US. Everything else is an exaggeration. Martial law is lifted in ’81 and in the mid-80s before EDSA I, he’s looking for a successor since he’s falling ill.
And your last statement is a strawman. Take your YELLOW shitposting to somewhere else.
This is such a powerful article.
For me, personally, I always use reality-check when it comes to these kind of discussions. I always say that Filipinos should learn more about objective history. When they blindly say the Marcos Years were all bad and give nothing constructive about it but rejoice the 1987 Constitution and Cory’s efforts like it was a breath of fresh air, its like the same idiots who thought the Spanish finally leaving was a time of grace for the country. Yes only for the likes of Cojuangcos, Aquinos and such to take over and install their political dynasties for centuries on end. Because Filipinos are so caught up on extraneous details and forget the proper context in mind of the important events that happened.
Thank you. I’ll also plug here an answer I put in Quora about what was it like to be an adult in the Marcos Years. It’s long and has a lot of opinion as well as description, but I feel it provides some good context.
Another good article ChinoF.
Whatever Marcos was, he was a product of what Filipinos are, in the grand tradition of “The people get the government they deserve” (as is Duterte, for that matter). Politics was dirty in those days, same as it is now, and one did not get to become president without being steeped in filth.
I notice all the commenters are taking your article to mean: “See? Marcos wasn’t all bad, it’s just like we were saying all along”. I guess they only read the title.
For what it’s worth, I suspect Marcos may have started out with some good intentions, and then realized that Filipinos are so hell-bent on self-destruction, he just thought, well, I might as well just give them what they want.
Oh, and incidentally, I suspect the issues like escapism that you mention (and that every visitor notices) is just an extreme manifestation of a well-documented psychological phenomenon. It goes like this: humans drift to a baseline level of happiness. It doesn’t matter what misfortunes befall us, we tend to juggle stuff around in our heads so that we can be happy (a simple example would be the ‘sour grapes’ reaction). For normal people – that is, people who have valid reasons to be happy – there is no real incongruity between reality and one’s mental state. For people who have, say, gone through a war and lost family or limbs, the difference is a lot more marked. They build justifications for their happiness that might seem weird to outsiders. The flipside of this coin is that people who are clinically depressed often have a very realistic view of reality.
So what’s going on here is fairly simple: if Filipinos actually saw the country for what it is, they’d probably all commit suicide. They create a mental model of the country in their heads which doesn’t remotely resemble reality, and they do this so that they can be happy.
A related phenomenon is that people strive for internal consistency: they will justify the decisions they make, even when they’re plainly stupid. Marcos cannot possibly have been a mistake, because that would be inconsistent with the Filipino’s view of himself as an exceptional human being. The same applies to all sorts of everyday failures, resulting in the common “but this is the way we do it in the Philippines” retort that has many a foreigners running around in circles while screaming and tearing his hair out.
Thanks, Marius. Yes, it’s my thought too about Marcos starting with good intentions, but then declining as he was further entrenched in the system. Of course, I wouldn’t count out that he knew corrupt practices early on. Yet he wasn’t the cause of the corruption, as that kind of thing was entrenched not just in politics, but in ordinary society at the time. He may have not ordered directly arbitrary tortures, killings, abductions and such, but one can call him out for command responsibility on that. But… I guess we know all this already. What sucks is that there are other people who are like this. Ordinary Filipinos who make people with sense tear their hair out.
Who knows also if people are switching to pro-Marcos just to piss off the other side. That’s how some people live life: if you can’t win over the other, at least piss them off.
Well, the consistency and overall coherence in your actions could reveal your intentions. If the case is solid against the guy, then by all means let things go through the due process. Oh, and the thing about returning the hidden wealth, does it make sense for an alleged thief to return the loot only to suffer more persecution because it’s practically an “admission of guilt”? Or say it’s for political maneuvering? That’s stretching it. Like the theory that he built on infrastructure to mask the country’s problems. That’s perverted thinking.
>> Like the theory that he built on infrastructure to mask the country’s problems. That’s perverted thinking.
It’s not a “theory”. It’s what happened. It’s really easy to verify: all you need to do is look back at laws and institutions that were created during those years, and ask yourself what the common thread is.
More accurately, what Marcos did was classic Pinoy skimming: fund some project at an inflated price X, make 50% of X disappear, and spend the remaining 50% on the original proposal. He set up various front companies to facilitate this, or commandeered existing ones. Again, all this is on public record – there’s no need to invent conspiracy theories. Some of the Marcos fronts still exist (PHILCOA, for example) and probably still have the same purpose.
If the “facts” you seem to be so sure about are solid, I wonder why the one mainly accused wasn’t even allowed to face trial. It’s a common Filipino scam so Marcos could have done it himself??Inability to think between black and white, you say?
It’s not my style to categorize something as final unless the fact cannot in any way or means be reasonably justified or disproven.
Like I said, it’s all a matter of public record. You can look stuff up for yourself if you want to. But of course you don’t want to. For example, I could point out that the Marcos estate was sued, successfully, several times in US courts (by living on US soil, Marcos was under US jurisdiction). However, you’ll just call me a liar, even though it would be easy enough for you to access all the documentation on those cases.
As I said elsewhere, if Filipinos didn’t live in perpetual denial about how often they’ve been scammed, lied to, and ass-raped in various ways, it would shatter their view of themselves as clever, capable people. They’d have to accept that they’re gullible, venal, willfully ignorant, and largely responsible for their own pathetic state. Nobody could cope with that without becoming horribly depressed. So they have to go on believing utter nonsense in order to maintain their sanity (if you can call it that).
@Marius:
The late Pres. Marcos Sr. was kidnapped by a certain U.S. Gen. Allen; and was taken to Hawaii, U.S.A. He and his family were taken against their will to Hawaii, U.S.A.
The late Pres. Marcos Sr. , was asking for transportation to his Home Province of Ilocos Norte. However, he was tricked by the U.S. State Department , under Sec. of State Shultz, and was taken Prisoner to Hawaii, U.S.A.
It was like the case of Gen. Noriega of Panama. The U.S. military invaded Panama, under the order of Pres. George Bush . Gen. Noriega was taken Prisoner; and was tried , convicted and imprisoned in the U.S.
Yeah, you believe whatever you want to, guys. While you argue over whether Marcos was a crook or not, your country is slipping slowly down the toilet.
Marcos wouldn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things, since the guy is dead and gone. However, in another way, it does matter, because most of the oligarchy are still playing the same games Marcos did. But, of course, they’re not really – it’s all just a big plot by the CIA to destabilize … uh, a third-world country of zero political or economic importance to anybody.
You know, it occurs to me that reactions like yours and Klara’s are precisely why Marcos did what he did.
When people have respect for themselves and get beaten down through no fault of their own, the natural reaction is sympathy.
When people seem to invite exploitation, jumping up and down and shouting, me next, me next, take my money next … well, the natural reaction is contempt.
Marcos must have thought: WTF? I can do absolutely anything I want to these people. ANYTHING. And they’ll just swallow it and ask for more. I’m going to have some fun here ….
@ marius:
I am just stating in my blog, what really happened 30 years ago; when the U.S. intervened in Philippine affairs. Demonized the late Pres. Marcos Sr., removed him from power; and installed Cory Aquino as a U.S. puppet…
Cory Aquino protected her Hacienda Luisita, massacred her tenants when they ask for better living condition.
Her Oligarch cahoots raided the National Treasury, stole whatever was not nailed down…
Anyway, you can defend them, as a Paid Troll of the Aquino Cojuangco political axis.
They have to import you, because they cannot answer our issues on them !
What reaction are you talking about, Marius? I responded to your comment. It’s as Plain as that.
I don’t invest “feelings” or take arguments personally. I can search up the “facts” you’re referring to but the person being accused won’t be able to refute or verify facts or numbers on the records. I’ve seen and heard enough anti-Marcos material from journalists, books, and shows.. they’re everywhere. If you think govt records can’t be manipulated while saying most Filipinos can’t be trusted, that’s for you to figure out. I have my own methods.
@klara: you didn’t respond at all. You just dismissed my assertions out-of-hand because they don’t agree with your beliefs.
Here’s another one. A while ago, Switzerland handed over half a billion euros to the Philippines. Now, what’s more likely:
1) The Marcoses did, in fact, hide half a billion euros in Swiss bank accounts, and the Swiss government had decided to return it;
2) The Swiss are all part of a worldwide plot to discredit the Philippines and the Marcos family, and gave the Philippines half a billion euros to keep the story going.
Of course, you’ll go with (2), won’t you?
The reaction I was referring to is what Lee Kuan Yew described as a “soft, forgiving culture”. You seem to be saying that because Marcos built a few roads (with borrowed money), he must be a good person and THEREFORE he couldn’t possibly be guilty of corruption. Read ChinoF’s article and comments again. There is absolutely no reason why someone can’t do “good” things with one hand and “bad” things with the other.
In fact, because Filipino politicians know the public fall for it every time, it’s become the routine method of robbing the country blind. The Pork Barrel Scam was just one egregious example – it goes on all the time, in smaller ways.
It’s amazing how you assume to be able to predict my flow of logic. Did Isay he couldn’t possibly be guilty of corruption? Don’t use your own assumptions to form or judge somebody else’s premise.
Sure, a person can do as much good as he can also do harm. That’s as simple as it can be for you.
But if I were you, I’d try to be more careful in saying things as if they’re the gospel truth.
Not everything can be discussed in the open.
@Marius:
The U.S. has the same dilemma on Panama and the Philippines, during that time.
U.S. Panama Canal lease was expiring and Gen. Noriega was not amenable to renew the lease contract.
The U.S. Bases in the Philippines were expiring. Pres. Marcos Sr., was not amenable to renew the bases agreement.
So, the U.S. Dept. of State, under then Sec. Shultz, planned the overthrow of Marcos Sr. and Noriega.
Demonize them, and produced fabricated violations of U.S. laws, against them.
The U.S. also, choose U.S. puppets, to takeover their powers.
Both Marcos Sr. and Noriega , were tried in U.S. Courts.
Marcos Sr. was acquitted. Imelda Marcos was acquitted.
Unfortunately, Noriega was convicted; and was imprisoned., in the U.S.
These are the True stories of both countries, controlled by the U.S.
We hope that U.S. Pres. Trump and his Secretary of State Tillerson, will be better than the previous U.S. Presidents and U.S. Secretary of State.
It’s funny you should compare with Noriega because he and Marcos were not dissimilar. Yes, the US decided to punish Noriega for “noncompliance” with US policy. Everyone knows that. However, the crucial point is this: although the US acted vindictively (and probably illegally), they could not have got away with it if Noriega had been a good and honest ruler. He wasn’t. He was a horrible person who created all sorts of mischief in South America (in collaboration with CIA).
The various US-sponsored coups, propaganda wars, proxy wars, etc from the 20th century are all well-documented. Nobody denies what happened, although sometimes they make vague apologetic noises. The US says: yeah, we toppled Noriega. So what? The Filipino, on the other hand, just pretends bad things never happened.
As for your theory that all the historical records are lies, my own theory is this: Filipinos are so used to listening to each other lie, all the time, about everything, that they no longer recognize the truth when they hear it. So they just make stuff up, and believe whatever suits them.
@marius:
Gen. Noriega refused to renew the lease of Panama Canal with the U.S. This was the reason, Panama was invaded by the U.S.
The same as the late Pres. Marcos Sr. , refused to renew the U.S. bases agreement. This was the reason, he was removed from power by the U.S.
The Shah of Iran was the puppet of the U.S. and Great Britain, to control Iranian oil. The Ayatollah Komenie, became popular, and overthrew the Shah of Iran. The Iranian Revolutionary Guards, consists of Iranian students, held hostage the personnel of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, Iran.
The Ayatollah nationalized its oil industry, that was controlled by the U.S. and Great Britain.
If the interests of Superpower , are in jeopardy. They simply overthrow the leaders of any country.
Lybia’s Khadafy was the latest casualty…Syria’s Bashar Al Ashad is the next…
Now , Kim Jong Un of North Korea is the “pain in the ass” of the U.S. Kim Jung Un (the Rocketman), has : ICBM, atomic bombs and hydrogen bombs. He is testing them, to provoke the Superpowers.
These superpowers, must be ” pulling their hair”, in thinking how to overthrow Kim Jung Un !
Some old wounds never truly heal, and bleed again at the slightest word.
Speaking about the other side of the Marcos’ myth, here’s an interesting debate exchanges on Marcos and history between Ex-Senator Juan Ponce-Enrile and TV5’s host/anchor Luchi Cruz-Valdes over at her TV program ReAkyon. The former Senator definitely schooled real good the biased TV Host.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdDwFWSH8w4
starting @10:23
Luchi Cruz-Valdes: How do you feel about the Marcoses going back to power? And not just a Congressman or a Senator but really once he (Bong-Bong Marcos) becomes Vice-President if he suceeds in this electoral protest…
Juan Ponce-Enrile: You know it is not you, it is not for you, for me or for anyone else to say who should be back in power or not. It is a function of the people…
Cruz-Valdes: That’s right. I agree with you sir. What i wanted to ask you…
Enrile: …and it is a function of the constitution that you have adopted. It is a function of the society.
Cruz-Valdes: Absolutely sir!
Ponce-Enrile: My God! If the people want them to be in power, then, who are we to say no?
Cruz-Valdes: What does it say about the history…
Ponce-Enrile: Who were writing? Who were writing about it? Has there anybody who has written the history of the Marcos years? I do not know of anybody.
Cruz-Valdes: Some people have accused other people of revising history that ah… the history we are seeing now or reading now is a revisionist history… where martial law was actually ah… the twenty year dictatorship of Marcos was opposed to what ah… was taught to those who grew up after Marcos was booted out.
Ponce-Enrile: The people who are talking like that are the people that I encountered in my readings of history. Where they want to portray what they believe to portray and put aside the things that they do not want. It is not not like that you know.
Who brought the DEMOCRATIZATION OF EDUCATION in this country? Noynoy Aquino? Cory Aquino?
Who brought the IRRIGATION CANALS all over the country?
Who brought the RURAL ELECTRIFICATION in this country? Have they written about these things?
Who destroyed the NUCLEAR PLANT? And who initiated it in order to STABILIZE THE POWER SYSTEM of the country especially when we do not have a source of crude to maintain our lights and our industries and our convenient life in this society?
Cruz-Valdes: Ultimately the question is who’s revising which history?
Ponce-Enrile: I’m not revising… I want answers to these questions that I’m raising. I have a right to raise these questions. That is why people do not want to meet me in a face-to-face intellectual combat like this because I ask them questions that they could not answer. Come on!
Cruz-Valdes: Wow sir! Fifty-one (51) years of political life and what!? Eight (8) presidencies! Who am I to debate with you?
Ponce-Enrile: I am not saying that i know everything. But when I deal with a problem, even during martial law, I go into it and learn it deeply in order to be able to handle the situation.
Cruz-Valdes: We did see that Sir. We saw that very clearly during the …blah…blah…blah… I am honored that somebody like you would debate with me. Who am I to debate with you? Ha ha ha!
Wow, that was awkward. Cruz-Valdes could have wrapped it up with a more mindful comment. But Enrile himself seems to speak for many. That there’s no revision of history really happening. People will believe what they want no what the historical record holds, because what matters is what they personallly believe, screw everone else.
It is not the revision of history…it is the removal of Fake News, that became Fake History.
This generation must dig deep for the Truth; not politicalized Truth, but the Truth of what really happened during the Marcos’ Martial law. And why Marcos’ Martial Law was declared. Nobody can clarify this issue, than Enrile and Ramos …
We don’t want adulterated history with false heroes and false saints, who are in truth were political opportunists, U.S. puppetsand traitors !