Remembering and learning

The 11th and the 21st of September are ominous days, and for some of us – to paraphrase US President Franklin Roosevelt – dates which will forever live in infamy.

Four days ago, 9/11, the world marked the fall of the Twin Towers in New York for the 11th time. Four days ago also marked former President Ferdinand Marcos’ 95th birth anniversary, a birthday he shares with another controversial ruler – civil war-torn Syria’s Bashar Hafez al-Assad. Interestingly enough, earlier this year, al-Assad claimed that a referendum on the Syrian Constitution received 90% support. 39 years ago, through Proclamation No. 1102, Marcos announced the “ratification by the Filipino People of the 1973 Constitution” through the so-called Citizens Assemblies. The members of these assemblies were allegedly asked the question “Do you approve of the New Constitution?” and more than 95% supposedly voted in favor. On that basis, a co-opted Supreme Court declared the 1973 Constitution ratified and in full force and effect.

But such autocratic imposition of the new Constitution in January 1973 was by then already the hallmark of the dictatorship. And six days from now, 9/21, 40 years would have lapsed since the start of one of the darkest periods in our history – the declaration of martial law through the even more infamous Proclamation No. 1081. It was this proclamation, seen in a black and white television set and heard over a static radio program, which allowed for arbitrary arrests and disappearances, and the plunder of billions of pesos.

Forty years since it was proclaimed, martial law is unfortunately only a distant memory for many of us and not even that for a lot of our young. In his introduction of Not On Our Watch, Conrado de Quiros described an encounter with the youth who couldn’t see the problem:

“They had heard from their parents and/or other “oldies” that people were disciplined during that time, rice was cheap, gasoline was cheap, movies were cheap, the poor were less poor, life was generally easier….

I said that was true in part…. True enough, food was more plentiful then, things were much cheaper then, inflation wasn’t rife then. But all that was paid for by the sacrifice of future generations.

Specifically…by the billions of dollars in loans Ferdinand Marcos got from foreign banks, much of which he, his family, and his cronies stole. Which debt doomed future generations to servitude. Which debt we are paying for now. Which debt our children and their children will be paying for tomorrow.”

We need to remember so that we can remind our people, especially the post-EDSA generation who – whether they realize it or not – continue to be burdened by the debts incurred, abuses imposed and the excesses committed. We owe it to our future to make sure that this dark episode in our nation’s history never happens again. We cannot permit historical revisionism. We are obliged to those who – in the immortal words of Rizal – “have fallen during the night” to resist any such attempt.

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Memorializing and commemorating historical facts are therefore essential elements of how we are able to move forward while avoiding past mistakes. One important way of honoring history is precisely through the passage of the bill compensating the victims of human rights violations during martial law. Authored by Senators Escudero and Osmena, the Senate version is pending before its committee on justice and human rights. It is hoped that this measure is passed sooner rather than later. This would be the most fitting way to remember the sacrifices of those who fought for our freedom.

The PCGG has consistently affirmed its support for the bill. To be sure, the Commission has taken a divergent stance from a group of victims suing to recover damages (known as the Pimentel Class) in cases abroad. It will be recalled that Marcos was sued in a US federal court in Hawaii by individuals who were victims of martial law human rights abuses. After his death, they obtained a U$2 billion judgment against his estate. But this is precisely a judgment against the Marcos estate, i.e., against assets which he owned.

This cannot therefore be enforced against properties stolen from the public coffers (or the proceeds of that which he plundered) since these belong to the Republic. All ill-gotten wealth should, as a matter of legal principle, be returned to the Philippine Treasury. These assets were improperly obtained through gross misuse of his public office and in grave betrayal of the public trust and therefore, under the laws of the Republic, were forfeit from the moment of misappropriation.

But then again, the Commission has been consistent in its support for the compensation of the victims albeit insisting that this be undertaken through a law duly passed and equipped with a sound framework for verifying and validating claims of genuine victims.

Beyond monetary compensation however, it is important to establish mechanisms of remembrance. Thorough documentation of cases and establishing a Roll of Victims (as provided in the Senate and House bills), the proposal in the House to integrate lessons of martial law in basic education (House Resolution No. 2608), the creation of a martial law Museum (as proposed by VP Binay) – these are measures that are worthy of serious consideration.

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Similarly, any “touristic” benefit afforded by an exhibit of the so-called Marcos jewelry is of secondary importance. The “messaging” is assuredly the most important objective, i.e., to highlight the impact of intemperance and profligacy, and to emphasize the ills and consequences of plunder. While these jewelry will certainly arouse curiosity, what is more important is that the exhibit will convey historical lessons of acquisitions by corrupt rulers who plundered and pillaged, even as their people endured poverty and suffered loss of rights and dignity.

How we deal with the lessons of our history, how we right the wrongs of the past – this will ultimately define us as a people.

This year, on the 40th anniversary of martial law, I hope that “we learn to remember and we remember to learn.” For a change.

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Greetings: Birth anniversary best wishes to Distinction Lamps’ top honcho, Enrique D. Pantaleon.

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“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” — Benjamin Franklin

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