Guanzon, Reigna Rica Jemimah A.

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MARTIAL LAW EXPERIENCE

Martial law is the temporary imposition of direct military control of normal civil
functions or suspension of civil law by a government, especially in response to a temporary
emergency where civil forces are overwhelmed, or in an occupied territory. Simply put, martial
law occurs when the military takes control of a territory. It is a military-imposed law rather than
one enacted by our civilian administration. It can be declared in the event of an emergency, as a
response to a crisis, or to maintain authority over occupied territory.
My mother as a child, had experience the Martial law, so I asked her to talk about her
experiences during martial law. She said that during those times, there are a lot of aircrafts flying
over since our house was near the Villamor Airbase. They can also always hear the sirens
coming from the airbase. There are also soldiers who marches and checks their community from
time to time.
She remembers that there was a time that the soldiers gathered all the men in their
community including my grandfather. She said that they were looking for the group rebels who
cause trouble or start a rally. The soldiers checked each one of them and their IDs and those who
doesn’t have their IDs, have tattoo, or anyone who they think is a rebel will go with them in one
place. Coincidentally, my grandfather and one of his friends left their IDs at home and they have
to go with the soldiers. My grandmother went back to our house and get the ID so she could give
it to my grandfather, but because the way was crowded and my mother is still young and she can
fit, she is the one sent to hand over the ID. So, she gave it to my grandfather but its too late since
they’re on their way to go. They were brought to the post office near our barangay where they
did squats, push-ups, march and other physical activities performed in military training. After an
hour or so, as they are finished doing those activities, my grandfather showed his ID to a soldier
and he was sent home.
Aside from that, my mother also said that there was a curfew during those times to which
they all abided to because you will get detained if you were caught, but if you have a company
ID, you will be sent home.
But despite those things, there are also positive things that my mother said about the
Martial law. She said that we can say that the Philippines was prosperous during that time. The
foods are cheap. She said that there are trucks that are selling cheaper foods such as rice,
vegetables, and fish where people buy. The fare was also cheap, she said that during those times,
it was only 25 centavos.
 She can also recall that the Filipinos are very disciplined during that time, in which
people abide to the rules. For her, the martial law era was a peaceful time, and Filipinos who
didn’t oppose the government had nothing to be afraid of. And as she said, there are trucks who
sells cheaper goods, and she remembered that when people buy, the people lined up neatly and
they don’t make a fuss because they all know that they will all have a chance to buy and they
won’t run out of it.
Until this day, there are many different perspectives, points of view, and arguments about
whether martial law had a negative or positive impact on our country. Some may say that martial
law was one of the worst periods in the country's recent history, while others may credit Marcos
for imposing such system that results to a more disciplined Filipino.
This interview made me realize that martial law has positive and negative effects in our
country. Martial law also done such good things in improving Philippines, but the wrong thing
there is that the way it was implemented. And not everyone throughout the martial law era had
the same benefit and privilege, so it is not anyone's business to suggest that another person's
experience was false.