Ignorance is bliss

WHAT happened during martial law?! What’s martial law?

Last Friday, September 21, 2012 the country marked forty years since the declaration of Martial law by then President Ferdinand Marcos in 1972 which lasted 14 years or until 1986 when President Marcos fled to Hawaii during the Edsa Revolution. Martial Law was a time when the press was controlled in addition to various violations of human rights, disappearances and incarceration of thousands of individuals, including my grandfather Pablo and Arno my uncle, were committed.

The youth of today are either totally ignorant about Martial Law or hardly remember it. I was only a small boy during the 80’s sporting my yellow Ninoy shirt marching down Session Road with my father and holding placards saying “Stop Political Repression.” Although I was too young to remember those moments, I am constantly reminded of it through photographs and stories from those who actually lived and fought the Marcos regime and survived to tell their story. Interestingly, PNOY has begun to seriously consider the inclusion of Martial Law and the lessons learned as a subject in school. I suppose this is a good idea so that the young generation of today would realize that the freedom and democracy they now enjoy did not just come without a cost. The problem, however, is whose side of the story will they teach considering that the people behind Martial Law are still very much alive and kicking but dancing to a different tune.

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After the recently concluded impeachment of CJ Corona, the Senate has again been the center of attraction. The alleged use of U.S. Food and Health Blogger Sarah Pope’s article on the internet by Senator Sotto sparked controversy when he did not even credit her for using the same. Days later, Senator Sotto was again accused for using an excerpt from a speech of the late U.S. Senator Robert Kennedy in his speech against the RH Bill. The Senator set aside the accusation saying, among others, that Kennedy didn’t know how to speak tagalong! The good Senator Sotto is of course not to be blamed entirely for this fiasco. It is also the responsibility of his staff members to avoid things like this and to properly verify the same. I wonder what they do in the Senate beside watch Eat Bulaga?!

To add to the Senate frenzy, now Senators Enrile and Trillanes are at each other throats slugging it out with a flurry exchange of accusations. On the blue corner you have Enrile who seems to be collaborating with GMA in the splitting of Camarines Sur to two provinces. On the red corner, you have Trillanes being accused as a “traitor” and advancing the interest of China in connection with the territorial dispute between both countries. Let’s not hope for a knock-out and hope both finally get over their bruised egos.

Apparently, Merriam has more following in the senate then she thinks she does.

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The deadline of filing of the certificates of candidacy for the 2013 elections is fast approaching. The COMELEC has declared that those who intend to run for office are given the chance to do so only from October 1 to 5 and during office hours. It seems that having to wait six months or April of 2013 to kick-off the official period to campaign is too long a wait. I am pretty sure that the candidates will start campaigning immediately right after the filing of their certificates of candidacy this October which will be a long and costly one. To the candidates, advance Merry Christmas Apo haan dakami kuma malipatan!Pablito Sanidad Jr.