21/09/2025
๐๐๐ข๐ข๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐๐ฆ
by: ๐๐ข๐ช๐ญ๐ฆ๐บ ๐๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ด๐ฆ ๐. ๐๐ฐ๐บ
๐๐ฅ๐ช๐ต๐ฐ๐ณ๐ช๐ข๐ญ ๐๐ณ๐ช๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ
History is a form of echoโsound waves that flood through our minds, carrying the voice and debris of the past into the present. The Martial Law in the Philippines was a disastrous flood for every Filipino; it overwhelmed one's freedom and voice. And even decades later, the echoes of that dark era remain in the present and challenge us not to forget and not to allow it to happen again.
On September 21, 1972, Philippine President Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos Sr. declared Martial Law through Proclamation No. 1081, allowing him to use extensive powers to control almost everything in the country. It effectively bypassed the constitution, the judiciary, and the press. This proclamation was not just a simple political maneuver, it drowned the voices of each Filipino. Taking away human rights led the nation through darkness. Unsettling their thoughts into a submissive state, unable to disobey due to the harsh repression.
His significance to this implementation was to create a โNew Societyโ that promises to restore order and develop the country. However, this โpromiseโ was merely a torture to Filipinos. The nation experienced a lot during this era that still echoes todayโFilipinos must not forget. Instead of progress, the growth of the country was halted, flooded by pure corruption and control.
During Martial Law, many Filipinos endured unforgettable horrors that scarred the nation deeply. However, the assassination of Senator Benigno โNinoyโ Aquino Jr. was the breaking point for each Filipino and was a moment when they expressed their voices by igniting their anger that became one of the most unforgettable sparks that pushed Filipinos to stand against the tyranny.
Until now, the echoes of struggle, pain, blood, and tears serve as a dreadful wound to some Filipinos who have not recovered in the present. The flood of suffering in the past still lingers today, and justice is still not yet served to those who suffered during the implementation of the nine-year military rule ordered by President Ferdinand Marcos in 1972 that unleashed a wave of crimes under international law. Records of human rights violations still remain a problem, and one of the reasons is due to the lack of accountability and truth-telling to seek more information about the problem.
The flooding echoes of Martial Law still ripple through the lives of many Filipinos today, carrying with them memories of pain, loss, and injustice. These echoes remind us how dangerous it is when power goes unchecked and voices are silenced. To honor those who suffered and to protect our future, we must never allow these echoes to fade into silence. Teaching the real stories of this dark era is important, so future generations understand why freedom must be moderated closely.
Justice is not just about punishing the wrongdoers. It is about healing the deep wounds left by years of fear and repression. We owe it to the survivors and the families of the disappeared to keep seeking the truth and to stand tall against any return of abuse. If we listen carefully to these flooding echoes and learn from them, we can come together as a united people. Only then can we ensure that the waves of suffering never overwhelm us again and that every Filipinoโs voice will always be heard and respected.
