Never again

Palace: Youth will be educated on hard lessons of dictatorship

As the country marks the 43rd anniversary of the martial law declaration, Malacañang is pushing for a widespread educational campaign to teach the youth about the lessons of martial law to prevent a repeat of the dark period in the country.

Presidential Communications Operations Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. acknowledged that many young Filipinos were

not born during martial law era, saying they must be taught about the nation’s perilous journey towards democracy several years ago.

“Together with our efforts to ensure sustainable long-term growth, progress and stability that would include the active participation of all Filipinos, it is important to impart to the youth of our land the lessons learned from martial rule and the struggle to restore democracy, as our continuing legacy to all future generations of Filipinos,” Coloma said over government radio.

“We must let them understand so they will join us in saying ‘never again’ to martial law in the Philippines,” he added in Filipino.

On Sept. 21, 1972, then President Ferdinand Marcos issued Proclamation No. 1081 placing the country under martial law supposedly to quell threats to the stability of the government, public order and safety.

Thousands of people suffered human rights abuses during the Marcos dictatorship, including President Aquino’s father the late Senator Benigno “Ninoy” S. Aquino Jr.

The martial law period officially ended on Jan. 17, 1981 via Proclamation No. 2045, almost a month before the papal visit in the country. Marcos claimed his government successfully waged a “democratic revolution” reforms in education, security, agriculture and the economy.

In the same radio interview, Coloma called the imposition of the martial law as “one of the darkest chapters in the country’s history” and paid tribute to the sacrifices of the martial law victims.

“We join our citizenry in remembering and honoring the sacrifices of the victims of martial rule,” Coloma said.

“With courage, they defied harassment, cruel punishment and fear as they asserted and fought for the recognition of basic human rights at a time when the dictatorship demolished the house of democracy in our land,” he added.

The Marcos dictatorship was eventually toppled by the bloodless EDSA People Power Revolution in February 1986, paving the way for the return of democracy in the country.

“From their blood, sweat and tears, our people gathered and rebuilt their willpower and strength to mount wave upon wave of protest movements that culminated in the triumph of the EDSA People Power revolution in 1986,” Coloma said.

“Indeed, the people’s resistance and struggle against martial rule served as the foundation for rebuilding democracy in the Philippines that served as a beacon of hope and inspiration for other freedom-loving people, who overcame dictatorship and rebuilt democracy in their land,” he said.