Pilipinas Kong Mahal

Based on the Constitution, only the Filipino people “can determine a President’s place in history”.  – Justice Marvic Leonen’s dissension on Marcos Burial

I had promised that my blog will be as light and fun as possible, but try as I may to keep it apolitical, I can’t keep silent anymore.

Today marks a disheartening moment in Philippine history, as the Supreme Court allows Ferdinand Marcos to be buried at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani.

President Duterte has been straightforward about his support for Marcos’ burial at the LNMB, and since he assumed office in June, I have been preparing for this inevitability. However, realizing that the Supreme Court has validated its legality is making me question the kind of justice system that we have; the kind of people that we are. Are we so foolish to ignore the horrors of Martial Law? Are we willing to forget the people taken from their families, tortured, and murdered, because they fought for their rights? Are we willing to “move on” from all the atrocities that a dictator’s greed has done to the Filipino people?

I am writing this because history has been made, and I cannot change it. The future generations will read about it in their books. They will learn in school that on this day, November 8, 2016, Ferdinand Marcos has been granted interment at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani – a sacred ground dedicated to our nation’s pride and inspiration.

I am writing this to let my children, and their children after them, know that history is made by the people. It is their collective testimonies and experiences. The stories passed on from our parents, and from those who experienced the dark times of Martial Law, we will pass on to future generations, so that we may NEVER FORGET.

This is the truth. This is history. Marcos is not a hero.