Exactly 53 years ago today on Sept. 21, 1972, the lights dimmed, ushering in a dark period in our nation’s history when fear, silence and repression seeped into everyday life.
The writ of habeas corpus was suspended – dissenters were arrested and people disappeared, some never to be found again; human rights were curtailed; curfews were imposed and the media was controlled.
By the time martial law was lifted, thousands were jailed, tortured and killed; many had disappeared.
Our country had plunged into chaos and despair. State coffers were looted, crony capitalism was rampant and corruption had damaged the economy, the lingering effects of which we are still paying for today.
Decades later, here we are again in a bizarre twist of fate.
Ferdinand Marcos Sr., the man who declared martial law, is buried in a place for heroes, alongside those who valiantly fought for whatever freedom we have today, the same freedom that Marcos took away from the people.
His only son, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., and their family have successfully returned to Malacañang.
Now, barely three years into Marcos 2.0, corruption is as rampant as ever with the grand thievery of taxpayers’ money intended for flood control projects.
This jaw-dropping mess unraveled grotesquely because some contractors could no longer play the game.
Many of them attest that while the game had existed long before, the amount of kickbacks or SOPs skyrocketed since 2022, the start of the Marcos administration. In quiet whispers, they were complaining among themselves. It was a ticking time bomb.
When the rains came and the floods submerged many cities, industry players could no longer stay silent, driven by reduced earnings – lost to kickbacks – and perhaps a tinge of guilt.
The unprecedented mangling of the national budget happened in the Senate and the House, under the leadership of their erstwhile leaders, Chiz Escudero and presidential cousin Martin Romualdez.
Yes, here we are again under a Marcos administration, grappling with corruption and a grand looting of state coffers.
One does not know whether to laugh or cry because it seems that here in our nation of 115 million, the more things change, the more they stay the same.
One can only hope we see the perpetrators brought to justice this time.
Theater of the absurd
We have seen jaw-dropping corruption scandals in the past – Joseph Estrada’s juetenggate; Gloria Arroyo’s Hello, Garci; PNoy’s Development Acceleration Program; the PDAF scandal in 2016; the Pharmally scandal and now the flood-control scandal.
Almost always, those mired in these high-profile corruption scandals belong to the echelons of power – presidents, congressmen and senators.
And yet, years later, nothing much has changed. Congress will investigate. The people will be mad and protest. Some sacrificial lambs will go to jail but the powerful will stay scot-free. And some of them, not content with their previous loot, will run again for public office to steal and fool us again.
Senators Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada were previously linked to the PDAF scandal, and now, they are again linked to the flood-control mess.
We are living, real-life examples of the Theater of the Absurd, that 1950s dramatic style where ordinary life unravels as both absurd and seemingly futile.
Against this backdrop, it’s time we push for real and genuine change.
Today, on the annivesary of martial law, people will fill the streets to protest the latest thievery we are facing.
Outrage isn’t enough. But rage on. Let this anger push for real change this time.
In the next elections, we should stop voting for politicians previously mired, convicted and linked to corruption. Or those who – just like their nepo babies – have no qualms about ostentatious wealth.
We must all be part of a collective effort to guard our future, that of our children, our children’s children and so on.
What can be done? Those privy to information on wrongdoings must have the courage to speak out.
Inform authorities, inform the press, put it out there.
Raise awareness in your circles and in your communities. Use your platforms to inform and educate.
Be responsible citizens. Let’s keep asking where our taxes go.
Let’s keep the rage alive in the service of our beloved nation.
Women in the nation’s service
Speaking of service, The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service Foundation Inc. formally announced the 2025 TOWNS Awardees – “exceptional Filipino women who have made transformative contributions to Philippine society through excellence, leadership and service in their respective fields.”
They are:
• Shia Elijah Dumama Alba – Peacebuilding and Good Governance
• Jamela Alindogan – Courageous and Honest Journalism
• Maria Kristina Conti – Human Rights Advocacy
• Christine Paulien Diciano – Maritime Law Enforcement and Public Service
• Salve Duplito – Financial Empowerment
• Decibel Faustino Eslava – Environmental Science for Local Learning Communities
• Sitti Djalia Hataman – Peacebuilding, Courageous Governance and Socio-Economic Development
• Hennie Jocson – Innovations in Teacher Education Access
• Nur-Ainee Tan Lim – Ethical Public Service, Social Services and Development
• Gail Macapagal – Information Technology and Entrepreneurship
• Cielo Magno – Financial Accountability and Good Governance
• Lorelie Osial – Business Innovation and Corporate Citizenship
• Col. Francel Margareth Padilla – Cybersecurity, Military Service and Transformative Engagement with Local Communities
• Katherine Anne Reyes – Service, Research, Leadership and Public Health Delivery
• Georgina Yang – Leadership and Innovation in Local Governance and Education
“At a time when our country faces deep challenges – but also great opportunities – these women offer us not just hope, but concrete pathways toward progress. They remind us that real change is possible when brilliance meets compassion and purpose,” said Patricia Prodigalidad, president of TOWNS Foundation Inc.
Congratulations to the awardees!
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Email: eyesgonzales@gmail.com. Follow her on X @eyesgonzales. Column archives at EyesWideOpen on FB.