aldric de ocampo,
‘Move on,’ quoth Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos. Two words: a catch-all response to criticisms of their family, and the regime of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, her father.
It is an appeal that we, Filipinos, simply forget the pain, the abuse, and the torment that the country suffered during Martial Law — and there’s no use denying that there was pain and abuse and torment, for if there weren’t, what is there to move on from?
It is an insult to the countless number of people who fought against tyranny during one of the darkest periods in Philippine history.
It is an insult to Liliosa Hilao, a student leader who openly criticised and wrote against the government, ultimately dying for her actions.
It is an insult to Archimedes Trajano, who, for speaking out against presidential daughter Imee Marcos, was thrown off a balcony and killed.
It is an insult to the countless other people dead at the hands of dictatorial rule.
Beyond that, Governor Marcos claimed that even the millenials have moved on. Stated plainly, this is wrong. The youth of today continue to remember the atrocities of martial law Philippines. They have not moved on, as the governor claimed.
The youth continue to struggle against misinformation and tyranny, using tools of their generation. Social media and hashtags such as #NeverAgain allow them to spread knowledge and ultimately help the nation avoid another Marcos regime.
The youth remember the past lessons of martial law in order to better the country today and avoid the mistakes of the past. This is especially relevant as the actions of the government now mirror the actions of the government then, what with the increased taxes, willy-nilly executions, and even the implementation itself of martial law in Mindanao.
Governor Marcos would also like to reduce this issue to a mere conflict between families — the Aquinos and the Marcoses — saying, ‘The conflict between the Marcoses and Aquinos happened a long time ago. We don't need to keep hating people for a very long time.’
However this goes beyond that. This is a conflict between a nation pilfered and scarred, and a dictator and his family.
How can that nation just move on, when the Marcoses still reap the benefits of their misdeeds and injustices? How can that nation move on when the Marcoses cannot even admit their wrongs and apologise? How can that nation move on when the Marcoses continue to roam free and even work in the government?
The answer is that it can’t.
There’s no moving on from Martial Law until justice is served.//by Craig Aquino and Aldric De Ocampo
Opinion: Should we move on, Imee?
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| Photo credit: Wenona Catubig |
‘Move on,’ quoth Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos. Two words: a catch-all response to criticisms of their family, and the regime of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, her father.
It is an appeal that we, Filipinos, simply forget the pain, the abuse, and the torment that the country suffered during Martial Law — and there’s no use denying that there was pain and abuse and torment, for if there weren’t, what is there to move on from?
It is an insult to the countless number of people who fought against tyranny during one of the darkest periods in Philippine history.
It is an insult to Liliosa Hilao, a student leader who openly criticised and wrote against the government, ultimately dying for her actions.
It is an insult to Archimedes Trajano, who, for speaking out against presidential daughter Imee Marcos, was thrown off a balcony and killed.
It is an insult to the countless other people dead at the hands of dictatorial rule.
Beyond that, Governor Marcos claimed that even the millenials have moved on. Stated plainly, this is wrong. The youth of today continue to remember the atrocities of martial law Philippines. They have not moved on, as the governor claimed.
The youth continue to struggle against misinformation and tyranny, using tools of their generation. Social media and hashtags such as #NeverAgain allow them to spread knowledge and ultimately help the nation avoid another Marcos regime.
The youth remember the past lessons of martial law in order to better the country today and avoid the mistakes of the past. This is especially relevant as the actions of the government now mirror the actions of the government then, what with the increased taxes, willy-nilly executions, and even the implementation itself of martial law in Mindanao.
Governor Marcos would also like to reduce this issue to a mere conflict between families — the Aquinos and the Marcoses — saying, ‘The conflict between the Marcoses and Aquinos happened a long time ago. We don't need to keep hating people for a very long time.’
However this goes beyond that. This is a conflict between a nation pilfered and scarred, and a dictator and his family.
How can that nation just move on, when the Marcoses still reap the benefits of their misdeeds and injustices? How can that nation move on when the Marcoses cannot even admit their wrongs and apologise? How can that nation move on when the Marcoses continue to roam free and even work in the government?
The answer is that it can’t.
There’s no moving on from Martial Law until justice is served.//by Craig Aquino and Aldric De Ocampo
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