23/09/2025
On this day in 1972, the late former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. appeared on national television announcing that he had placed the โentire Philippines under Martial Lawโ by virtue of Proclamation No. 1081. Sources say that Marcos signed the proclamation on September 17 or 22, but as stated in the Official Gazette, the document was dated September 21. The proclamation of Martial Law was a result of a long period of preparation given the plans of Marcos to gain absolute rule over the government years before the proclamation as he instructed Juan Ponce Enrile in 1969, then Justice Secretary, to study the powers of the President as the Commander-in-Chief under the provisions of the 1935 constitution. In addition, Enrile later revealed in 1986 that his โambush,โ which happened a day before the proclamation, was staged by Marcos to justify Martial Law. This was also supported by the accounts of those who lived along Notre Dame Street in Wack Wack Village stating that a group of people opened fire on an empty car to stage the scene as if an ambush happened.
Such theatrics can still be observed in the government nowadays. Even though it may not be in the context of proclaiming Martial Law, elected officials still exploit exaggerated narratives and dramatic gestures to tighten their grip on power and advance their political capital. At the end of the day, we, Filipinos, are left to fend for ourselves amidst the rising prices of goods, services, and floodwaters. May the Trillion Peso March on September 21 forever live on to our hearts and minds that corruption and traditional politics have no place in the country anymore. May we never forget.
