Inside Philippine politics & beyond

Martial Law in brief – just kidding

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In celebration of the People Power anniversary, which many people seem to have swept aside because of the standoff in Sabah, my hubby Alan wrote the following humor column.

It’s nostalgic for him in a way because he began writing humor columns during the dark days of Martial Law, when laughing about the dictatorship was the only way to ease the pain –

A short history of Martial Law, version whatever
Hot Manila – by Alan C. Robles

Martial Law? What Martial Law? What Marcos dictatorship? Never happened! Go home.
Ha ha, just kidding. OF COURSE Martial Law happened. In fact, that’s what we’re here to talk about. You see it seems more and more Filipinos are beginning to forget about that period
To address this problem, we’ve put together this short summary using highly reliable sources such as Wikipedia, elementary school textbooks, FB sites and random kids walking around our neighborhood .

And, what do you know, it’s about that time of the year when we celebrate whatchamacallit, People Power. A good time to recall, uhm, what was that again? Oh yeah, Martial Law. Here goes:

To read the rest, please click on this link.

Comments

  2. Maiba ako sa inyo. Have you heard? I just received from my facebook about cynthia villar in one of her recent speeches wherein she talked about philippine nurses who goes abroad to work and are just actually room nurses. Many of our philippine nurses reacted to this statement.
    I don’t have a copy of her speech but the reaction of our nurses were overwhelming. Such remark from mrs. Villar isn’t necessary at this time if she really wants to be voted as senator in the may election. Most of the filipino nurses are admired all over the world for their dedication to this profession. Just how could she insult them is beyond my comprehension.

    • It simply showed her ignorance and callousness, lol. Mas pinaburan pa nya ang business interests kasi “nakapag invest na sila”.

      Shr just lost the votes of nurses and their relatives which may be in hundreds of thousands or more :-)

    • I would like to Villa walk into a neonatal intensive care unit in any major hospital in Houston, Texas and observe the nursing staff. I am not filipino but I found her comments disgusting and more of a reflection on just how out of touch she was with reality. Comments like hers are to be expected when the only thing on her agenda is getting rich at the expense of filipinos. This bitch is heartless.

      I will always appreciate and praise the efforts of Filipino nurses abroad. They are a natural when it comes to health care. My gosh, those days of watching filipino nurses, stand on little foot stools to adjust the life lines leading into my baby, or his trachea. The tears they shared with my wife when my baby passed away. The smiles they put on my baby’s face will be forever etched in my mind. May God continue to bestow upon all filipino nurses, the blessings they so well deserve.

    • Wag ng iboto si VILLAR sa senado. Magnanakaw naman ang asawa nya. Double insertion of budget to an only one specific project.

  3. Read the article from inquirer “Pastor ‘Boy’ Saycon admits he’s sultan’s adviser” after reading that news, now im starting to understand bakit ganyan ang stance ni Pnoy sa SABAH issue.

    Kasi si Boy Saycon ay connected to GMA, ERAP, Peping and ting ting cojuangco. At kung tama ang memorya ko si Peping ay may position sa UNA partylisy while ting ting is a senatorial candidate.

    Tapos biglang banat kaagad ang mga taga UNA sa news (rappler): Honasan, Gordon, Mitos, Zubiri, Tiangco coincidence? i dont think so.

    If this Sabah incident is politically motivated dapat panagutin lahat ang mga naginstigate nito because they endangered every Filipino.

    In fairness naman kay Enrile nabasa ko yung sinabi niya sa SABAH issue sa inquirer titled “Follow the Stance of Aquino.”

    Note:
    To circumvent the “waiting for moderation” ginawa ko na lang po na bold so every can easily google search the news articles im talking about.

    • Whoever instigated this Sabah moves made it so rapid, reckless and very unfortunate for t\he people involved. Risking people’s lives! It’s full [ or fools] of holes.

      The ‘plan’ is not a professional’s way of doing things. Lousy, I call it. Maybe for political or some un-thought of dangerous idea.

      The instigators probably considered only ‘one-side of the matter’ and never bothered about the remaining side. Now, they found out how false and incorrect that idea is.

      Who will answer for this bad thing that happened? The instigators or Sultan Kiram III?

      Advice: THINK BEFORE YOU LEAP.

      • @leona

        I read that article about Pastor Boy Saycon admiting he is the sultan’s adviser but denies he has a hand in the current Sabah issue. That’s B…. S….T, as a political strategist Saycon is used to covert operations. What he says in public is different from what he actually does.

        Here is a comment on the same article by martial_law_baby:
        The players are unravelling. I hope someone from Malacanang takes notice of this. The suspicion that there is a political motivation to agitate the Sultan is true. PNoys government is in a no win-win situation. Either side he takes, he will lose. For those not in the know, Boy Saycon, Peping Conjuangco and Usec Art Valdez were the people behind the NoyBi campaign. They were the real supporters of Binay. Now you draw your own conclusions. You think the death of the Sulu Royal Army will be the end of it? Not a chance. Watch out for a political front of this conflict. It will escalate further. This is the same strategy of the Chinese government. To quell a growing domestic discontent with the Communist government, you stoke patriotism by agitating border issues. Here in PH, it seems the strategy is since the current government is enjoying high popularity rating, they will bring it down by using old conflicts that it cant handle. Kawawang Pinas, pinaglalaruan na naman ng political opportunists – See more at: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/66385/pastor-boy-saycon-admits-hes-sultans-adviser#sthash.wnEpBZyV.dpuf

      • @leona,
        may nagsulsol at may nagpasulsol?
        ano ba yan? desperado na ba talaga?
        ibig bang sabihin ay naaamoy na ng mga dark forces ang kanilang pagkabigo sa mayo 13 kaya naghahanap sila ng ipambubukol kay Pnoy?
        tanong lang po?

  4. Dapat talaga i-emphasize sa mga bata kung gaano kahirap ang buhay during marcos time. Wala ka na mapanood minsan sa TV kundi mukha ni marcos.

  5. Hi miss Raissa I always read your blog and I always use to get the proper perspective on issues. I notice that many young people are so misinformed about the Marcoses. They even go as far as to say that Marcos is the best president there ever was in the Philippines. I dont know if this is a propaganda by the Marcoses but this really hurt us who have been alive during the marcos era and have seen just how evil he was.

    • Would you not find it true that he really is the best?…best criminal lawyer who was able to acquit himself.. best to even say to his cabinet. “after me, no one would ever fit my shoes except Ninoy.” ; then, Ninoy was gone and he was gone and the succeeding leaders really had a hard time straightening the bent system he left behind. Actually, many plundering copy cats even came out.
      Worse, he left something for his family to stay in power in spite of the many allegations made against them. Even worse, like a TV Series in USA entitled “Following” with Kevin Bacon starring, this great president may even end up being buried at Libingan ng mga Bayani’…That is how great he is.

  6. China sends more ships to West Philippine Sea
    http://globalnation.inquirer.net/66337/china-sends-more-ships-to-west-philippine-sea

    I dont think its a coincidence na habang nalingat tayo sa issue ng Sabah ay biglang dumadami ang chinese patrol ship sa WPS. I hope yung AFP patuloy pa din ang pag check sa Scarborough shoal baka may nakatayo ng structure duon pag nakaligtaan natin.

    Any update kung ano ang situation sa scarborough shoal? Wala pa akong mahanap na news o litrato kahit aerial view/photo :(

    • the sabah siege is really on a very bad timing. kawawang Pnas. naglalaro na naman ang mga kuhol. ang mga sulsulero at mga sawsawero.
      mga kababayan, wag po tayong padadaya at pauuto. nais palikuin ang tuwid na daang tinatahak na natin.
      at habang tayo nga ay nalilingat, ang mapagsamantalang mang-aagaw ay umeeksena.
      tanong: may alam kaya ang intruder na iyan sa naganap na paglusob sa sabah?
      malay natin, baka meron nga…

  7. mga kababayan ngayon ko lang po napanood itong video na ito. at talaga pong nalula ako at halos maduwal ako habang pinapakinggan ko ang pagsisiwalat ni senadora miriam defensor santiago.
    ang mga kababayan natin hirap sa hanapbuhay at pagbabayad ng buwis tapos ganito lang ang ginagawang pamimigay ng buwis ng taong bayan sa mga senador.
    DIOS KO PO eh talga namang pong parang santa claus ang pangulo ng senado, daig pa kasi si santa claus regalong kahon lang peor itong ginawa eh halos isang kumunidad ang puedeng pakainin at kalingain sa laki ng ipinamimigay. nasaan ang katarungan dito?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErjkXfgVL7g
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErjkXfgVL7g

    • When ‘Pork barrels’ are removed, people and country can rest. Money is most of the time the cause of so many BIG TROUBLES not only in ordinary lives but also even in politics.

      Never entrust disposal of people’s MOMEY to one single public officer. Abuse will happen.

      I hate and condemn this abusive practice of our TAXES being just GIVEN to others life GIFTS on Christmas days. It is our MONEY not JPE’s or anybody else.

      Very unworthy! Very calloused and irresponsible for public officials to treat TAX MONEY like it is their OWN. Let us put a LIABILITY as a punishment for such act in our next LAW on this kind of action. We have to do this. It is OUR MONEY!

      No Votes for TRAPOLS! No to political dynasty. No to JPE’s Jack too! Vote Wisely.

      Vote for New I mean NEW PEOPLE to public office. The tested who showed their unworthiness SHOULD BE REJECTED on May 2013 elections.

      Let Us CLEAN Our Political Ranks Now by May 2013 Election. Be Responsible Voters!

      • Here is what candidate for senator, Mr. David says –

        “During the 2010 elections, David also ran for senator but lost.

        “[The adage] ‘Speak softly but carry a big stick; you’ll go far,’ that’s what we’re doing now. Kapatiran candidates may not be as visible as the senatorial candidates of other parties, but we’re definitely doing our homework to win,” David told the Inquirer in an interview.
        – See more at: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/367763/rizalito-david-wants-god-back-in-center-of-governance#sthash.NRCvlCW7.dpuf”

        I will ‘consider him’ on May 2013 elections. He is NEW and untested. I don’t want anymore those incumbents! My suggestion to Mr. David

        “Speak LOUDLY and carry a baseball BAT!”

  8. Can’t find now Rappler’s interview with General Ver’s son. One moment I saw it on mobile Rappler but was absent in the regular website. Sounded damaging to both Enrile and Ongpin. Is there a big honcho plugging those taps? Just asking.

  9. Sen. Meriam Santiago has this to remark about political dynasty reported by Daily Inquirer –
    today –

    “MANILA, Philippines – With 178 active dynasties, the Philippines is clearly the “world capital of political dynasties,” Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago said yesterday.

    Speaking at the 5th Filipino Entrepreneurship Summit at the World Trade Center in Pasay City, Santiago called members of political dynasties “stationary bandits,” “gluttons for power and privilege,” “the equivalent of Mafia crime families” and “monopolies and combinations in restraint of opportunities for others.”

    “Some dynasties have ruled for eight years, some for 20 years, and some for the incredible period of 30 years. They have carved out a monopoly for themselves, as if only their families are qualified for public office. Some are even running for the Senate,” she said, urging the public not to vote for them in the coming elections.

    Santiago said the proliferation of political dynasties is a result of the 13 years of deliberate inaction by legislators on anti-political dynasty bills.
    – See more at: http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2013/03/02/914827/miriam-phl-world-capital-dynasties#sthash.3UiKsycI.dpuf”

    These class of political leaders are the same as that during the dynasty in Europe…blood-sucking, flesh-sucking and bone-sucking leeches!

    Do we want them to SUCK US? Hell No!

    No candidates who will be a potential propagator or instrument for political dynasty should be voted to public office. The tendency or propensity to get into it will be there.

    VOTE WISELY. DO NOT vote Una no. Do NOT SELL your votes! Now is our time to send this message:

    We Do Not Want Political Dynasty in the Philippines!

  11. We need a White Knight !

    Fellow CPMers, as we discuss the downward spiral of The Three Kings and UNA, we should already start planning for 2016.

    The biggest challenge we will face is the threat of a Binay Presidency. We all know that this will derail all the progress attained thus far under PNoy.

    Who can beat Binay ? How do we stop The Three Kings and their tradpols from raping our country?

    We need a White Knight !

    We need a White Knight, someone who can continue with PNoy’s Daang Matuwid” and equally important, neutralize Binay among the masa voters.

    This early, we should begin to build a groundswell of support from patriotic and right thinking Filipinos. We have but 3 years to achieve this.

    Our White Knight should not be be a tradpol, in other words,one who is clean, honest , incorruptible and beholden to no one but the Filipino people.

    Our White Knight should have worked closely and imbibed the work ethic and ideals of that singular public official who would have been a worthy successor of PNoy.

    Like PNoy, our White Knight should have a name and a legacy that transcends the tainted names of Binay, Enrile or Estrada.

    Our White Knight must be imbued with a strong sense of civic duty, a commitment to good governance and the same desire of PNoy to continue leading the Philippines the “Right Way”.

    Our White Knight must have a charisma that can cut across all demographic boundaries. It will be a charisma that will not only neutralize Binay’s mass appeal, but when combined with PNoy’s endorsement, will win the 2016 elections and save the Philippines from all that is wrong and corrupt with Philippine politics, as exemplified by the Three Kings, led by Binay.

    Fellow CPMers, please pause a moment to reflect on Leni Robredo as PNoy’s successor.
    Her Robredo name resonates with honesty, good governance and performance.

    Unlike President Cory who was unprepared and hesitant to lead, Atty. Leni’s academic background in law combined with years of close collaboration with her husband has exposed her to pitfalls in politics, good governance and accountability. In other words, she will be more prepared for such a huge responsibility.

    Atty. Leni, for sure has much to learn about leading a country. A carefully chosen core of advisers and cabinet members will help her steer the country along a straight path.

    Her most valuable assets are an unblemished Robredo name that she will protect just as Pnoy has been protecting his parents’ name and legacy.

    I hope this message will encourage a lively discussion and lead to a solution to Binay’s 2016 Threat .

    • yes we must already start looking for 2016 presidentiables. but more urgent i think is the need right now to insure that the may elections this year do not end up as a staging ground and demonstration of binay’s popularity kuno. binay’s 2016 threat must be significantly reduced in the 2013 elections.
      to all concerned and knowledgeable filipinos abroad, let us do what we can through the technology available now to do our part in encouraging our friends and relatives in our respective hometowns and communities in our inang bayan to look at the signmifcance and urgency of voting wisely this may. i for one feel really insulted but forwarned by the fielding of an individual whose only qualification for the senate seems to be that she has her father’s name. i am very troubled by the possibility that due to lack of voter education our inang bayan might have a president whose talent seems primarily how to project himself as robin hood. please, please, please let us not allow this to happen.

    • A lady knight in the person Atty. Lani Robredo?

      or Mrs. Lani Robredo our Joan of Arc! ?

      The Philippine grass is very green all over the country. That’s why Philippines will always grow with all our sun light 365 days!

      Select wisely our candidates come May 2013 elections. Down with TRAPOLS!

      Down with political dynasty!

  12. Troubleshooting Philippine democracy – By Alan Robles
    http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/blogs/opinions/03/01/13/troubleshooting-philippine-democracy

    The best part for me

    “Customer: Listen, we got this bunch of sleazy senators who seem to have stolen public funds by putting them into a fake foundation, and now they’ve promised that to get into the heart of the matter, they will investigate themselves. Do you hear my bitter laughter?”

    They will investigate themselves lol :)

    • That is our trouble in the Senate and Lower House…it is a carnival ground with circus and clowns as members! If not ignorants, we have comedians and actors, or TRAPOLS, mediocres, atbpa!

      I do not really know why many of our voters loves BAD EGGS as lawmakers.

      Rotten Eggs in many government offices. Same in many ranks in our AFP and PNP agencies.

      The same in many of our Clergy specially RCC. What place is not? I do not know.

      What do we do? Vote Wisely. No to UNA No. No to Political Dynasty.

      • As long as people find it easy to remember the same family name among the candidates and as long as the people prefers the name they idolize in the movies, television and bill boards… like foods in our daily needs the food will always be the same as we ate last week or for the poor, like yesterday.
        As long as our system of education in the formative years of students requires only to pass because of complete attendance; most of the least will become great only for having the stroke of luck in their closed eyes choice (bahala na si Batman). We are so oriented in the game of chance of win or lose because our eyes was never meant to be used as a vision. Of course I am only talking in generalities for some have really made a good choice but how many percent are they compared to the power of votes coming from the neglected and left to stay ignorant?
        If we have leaders we dread to have at these time, forgive me for saying we deserve it. God never put us to this lowly life for what religions may say it is the will of God. It is the result of our choices and it is only us who could be blamed and no other.
        Do not also put our fingers on other nations saying they contributed to it because we allowed it and we are blinded by the ways foreign to us and that we are made to believe is better for us.

    • Ahaha, thanks @MB for the link.

      And thanks @Alan for writing about this. I hope everyone that reads it gets the message. We really need to read the user manual for Democracy to make it work :)

    • @ Marcial,

      J.P.E., ESTRADA, & Revilla said They will investigate themselves ha ha ha ha, Bakit ngayon lang ha ha ha ha, Matagal nang NALOKO NANG BOGUS N.G.O. Bakit ngayon lang mag imbestiga kong kailan nalaman nang C.O.A. ha ha ha ha, Tapos sasabihin politically motivated dahil election time? ha ha ha ha natutuwa ako dahil naloko mga matalinong senadores?, Naiiyak ako dahil Pera nang Bayan ang nadinggoy at naiinis dahil ngayon lang sila aaksiyon/mag-iimbestiga kuno? Paano ba ito? Ano kaya masasabi ni BINAY na kasama nito sa UNA? kong walang masabi /magawa si Binay kawawa siya dahil sa kanya PUPUTOK dahil kasamahan sa Partido?

      • @j.bernas,
        simple lang ang gagawin ni b-nigh. mananahimik. at kusa nang mamamatay ang isyu.

    • Bull’s eyes, all of them. That hit all the targets. I laugh – but it hurts.

      Kudos, Alan.