Arellano, Ma. Kristelle Joyce S.

4BIO5
BATAS MILITAR

Last Sunday, February 24, 2019, I interviewed my grandmother, Teofila Curutan

about her experience during the martial law in Jones, Isabela. During that time there was
really peace and order. Classes were suspended, and there was nothing to watch on TV but
cartoons. People lined up to ride a jeepney. It certainly looked like a completely different
country to some. There was a strict curfew for the people and there are really no one
roaming around because they are afraid. For in those early months and years, middle-class
and upper class families welcomed the “peace and order” version of Marcos, the orderly
queues and empty streets where activists once voiced their opposition to corruption and
injustice. But the killing had started behind the scenes, unknown to many, the stealing, the
torture. Everyone was really disciplined and respects each other. There is unity among the
countrymen. No one is breaking the law because once you didn’t follow it there is a
corresponding punishment immediately. Under martial law, the curfew was implemented
from midnight to 4oclock in the morning. The demonstrations were banned, closed down
several newspapers and television and radio stations, arrested Marcos's political opponents.
Up to 30,000 victims of torture or people arrested, detained, disappeared and have not been
seen until now.
At first, knowing that during those times a bright Filipino would take over the
president's position, I'm happy because my impression about how he would rule the
Philippines would be on a good state. However, as I continued to watch the clips, my feeling
of contentment became anger because my good impression of him was ruined when he
declared that the Philippines would be under martial law. During his speech, Benigno
Aquino Jr. issued a warning as he is a newly elected senate; he said the Philippines under
Ferdinand Marcos were slowly in a "garrison state" where the country would be under
military control. I actually agreed with what Sen. Aquino said when I saw this scene. In the
early 1970s, the anti - government rallies began to raise the price of gasoline and basic
commodities, the presence of U.S. military bases in the Philippines, foreign economic
control, government corruption, and widening the gap between rich and poor.
Despite of all the happenings in our country I am still proud to be a Filipino even if it
is hard.
Arellano, Ma. Kristelle Joyce S.
4BIO5