Statement on the 53rd Anniversary of the Declaration of Martial Law in the Philippines

Filipinos are yet to be freed from the lived horrors of the country’s past under the Marcos regime. A period yearly reopened to remind us of the atrocities suffered; the materialization of violence under the influence of greed, that ultimately haunts contemporary nation-states in the form of corruption and warmongering. A single year, 1972, that reminds us of the Marcos’ debts to the Filipinos: justice for all that was lost and forcibly denied a place in history.

The state of the country during this period was in no way near being ‘golden.’ It was designed to give the impression that it was keeping pace with its fellow nation-states in the international community. Bilateral agreements and debts were pursued to show a life of lavishness lived by a ‘typical Filipino,’ all in pursuit of the interests of the Marcos family.

As diplomats of the nation, we seek to communicate our message across and beyond linguistic intricacies and formalities: We stand with the bereaved, damaged, and lost Filipino families. We stand against the violations of human rights. We stand to remember it all so as not to repeat it.

Now, in another Marcos presidency, let this day also be remembered for the recurring instances in history. We call on our fellow diplomats to call for accountability from the current administration, for a firmer stance on our autonomy over our seas, for compassion towards people displaced by internal and external conflicts, for the condemnation of US-Israel occupation of the Gaza Strip, the blocking of humanitarian aid, and many other issues that hinder the exercise of global peace.

May this day remind us of our responsibility to hold the corrupt and fraudulent officials accountable; all those who are members and cronies of political dynasties who enjoy the seats in the Congress, warmed by the hunger of every Filipino and made comfortable by their continued exploitation. Let us be vigilant of what happens behind the curtains, observe the puppetry unfolding before us and keep in mind how the Marcoses used Martial Law as a facade to assume absolute power over the nation. The current uproar over fraudulent projects is telling us of our responsibility to remain steadfast in holding those in power accountable. And while we are yet again in another Marcos presidency, despite the looming repetition of our dark history, let this be our reminder to not let these politicians exploit the Filipino resiliency. Resilience teaches us to demand better accountability, and we affirm that we do not forget and neglect the dark Marcos dictatorship and all that continues today.