UniTeam Ilocos caravan stirs up memories of Martial Law: Trauma for some, nostalgia for others
Part 2 of a 2-part feature on the occasion of the 36th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution on Feb. 25, 2022. Read Part 1 here.
ILOCOS SUR, Philippines — Presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and the rest of his UniTeam ticket ended his proclamation rally at the Paoay Sand Dunes with them holding Philippine flags as the Martial Law version of the “Bagong Lipunan” anthem blared through speakers and tens of thousands of supporters cheered and danced in a shower of confetti.
Marcos held back-to-back caravans through Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur, where residents were seen snaking through roads — some holding a portrait of the dead dictator — while waiting for them. Both nights ended with a rally, at Paoay Sand Dunes and at Narvacan Farmers Market.
At both events, the mood was cheerful and the crowds waited gamely for hours under the sun for Marcos and the UniTeam to arrive.
When Marcos took the stage at Paoay past 11 p.m. — which meant a wait for more than eight hours for some — he was greeted with loud cheers of “BBM” and an instrumental of “Umagang Kay Ganda.”
Former Overseas Filipino Worker Sheryl Monte said they traveled half an hour and arrived at the Paoay Sand Dunes at around 3 p.m. She told Philstar.com she’s voting for Marcos because "he is our hope for a better nation."
When speaking at campaign events, Marcos has preferred to stick to the theme of unity in speeches and has declined invitations to some televised forums organized so candidates could give more details on their plans if elected. Reporters have been relying on their press releases and follow-up questions to these are often left unanswered.
At Narvacan, the sun was beating down on thousands of supporters’ backs but they did not care. They were willing to wait hours to get a glimpse of Marcos.
Hipolito Ragasa came from the town of Burgos and had been waiting for UniTeam for hours. Asked why he would vote for the younger Marcos as president, he simply said: "Kasi kababayan namin eh (He is from here)."
Marcos Sr. was born in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte, while the younger Marcos was born in Manila. The latter however held the seat at the provincial capitol in Ilocos Norte for nearly a decade, although some residents remembered him as an "absentee governor."
'What abuses?'
Aside from usual campaign jingles, Marcos’ proclamation rallies include playing of “Umagang Kay Ganda” — which resonates with their call for unity for a better tomorrow — and the "Bagong Lipunan" anthem.
According to the Martial Law Chronicles, "the government required that the song ‘Bagong Lipunan’ follow the National Anthem at flag ceremonies when Marco was in power."
For many of those who lived through the Marcos regime, the song brought back haunting memories. When it was played at the grand proclamation rally at the Philippine Arena, one social media user said it brought back "bad, unhappy memories."
But in Ilocos, the song made people stand up from their seats and dance.
Melvin Labunao, who hails from Candon City, traveled for an hour to Narvacan to show his support for Marcos and his running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.
“Noon pa man, talagang Marcos na kasi kahit ano sabihin nila, basta Marcos (Even before, I have been for Marcos. Whatever they say, it’s just Marcos)," he told Philstar.com.
Asked about documented abuses during Martial Law, Labunao said he does not believe them because these happened when he was in elementary school. "I saw it, the rise of the Philippines when his father was governing it. I know it… The milk they give us in school, [it’s from his] father," he said in Filipino feeding programs that included the near mythical Nutribun, a USAID project to curb malnutrition in the Philippines.
Corazon Bello Mantac wore a hat with a hand-written flier for "BBM Sara" at the Ilocos Sur rally.
She said she believes Marcos will continue the "good start" of President Rodrigo Duterte, who was elected on the promise of peace and order and of getting back at so-called oligarchs in the Philippines.
"In his hands, the Philippines will rise again," Mantac said in Filipino, echoing Marcos’ Babangon Muli slogan that in turn echoes the ousted dictator's "This nation can be great again."
She also said it was only the "cronies" that carried out abuses during Martial Law. She said she was in Manila, studying in college, during Martial Law. "You could not go out... because activists filled (the streets). It was chaotic," she said.
Abuses during the Martial Law regime of the elder Marcos are documented though, in the annals of the government and court cases.
The Philippine government also recognizes that human rights violations were committed under the elder Marcos. Republic Act 10368, which created the Human Rights Victims’ Memorial Commission and the Human Rights Victims' Claims Board.
The law was passed during the administration of President Benigno Aquino III but the processing of claims and the release of reparations continued until the Duterte administration.
According to its website, the HRCVB processed the claims of 11,103 victims of human rights violations committed from 1972-1986.
Cracks in the 'Solid' North
As expected, Marcos again hammered on "unity" in his speeches at the Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur campaign rallies.
But even in his bailiwick, the theme of unity is tattered at the edges.
The Marcoses are trying to wrestle the House of Representatives seat from the Fariñases. Rep. Ria Fariñas is seeking re-election in the 1st District, while the eldest son of Marcos Jr., Sandro, is gunning for the same seat.
State run-Philippine News Agency reported in October 2021 that Laoag City is poised to see a three-way rivalry among incumbent Mayor Michael Keon, Vice Mayor Vicentito Lazo and former mayor Chevylle Fariñas.
Keon, a cousin of Bongbong, was a first-time mayor in 2019 and had the backing then of the Marcos family. But, in the May polls, the Marcos family is supporting Lazo who is seeking Keon’s seat. Locals said the mayoral race is already tense.
A group of supporters of Vice President Leni Robredo and her running-mate Sen. Kiko Pangilinan is also gearing up their campaign.
For Salve*, Bongbong has done nothing impactful as a politician. "Remove his surname, who is he? What has he done? What are his impacts on the Philippine nation? What has he done as governor? What has he done as congressman?"
"How can you govern the whole Philippines if you yourself cannot (govern) a small province?" the doctor told Philstar.com.
Andrew* said they harbor no illusion that they would carry Robredo’s bid in the province. But they aim to increase her votes, maybe double or triple them, from the last elections.
Marcos, unsurprisingly, won by a wide margin of over 294,000 votes in Ilocos Norte. He secured 297,853 votes in the province, a landslide victory over Robredo’s 3,696.
With a province touted to carry the "Solid North" torch for Marcos, Andrew admitted however that there remains fear among supporters of the political opposition. He has been distributing fliers at night so no one would see him and to avoid harassment.
"I look at houses, if no one is around, I drop [the flier]. If someone is in, I would pretend to just be taking a walk," he told Philstar.com.
Salve said the Ilocos Norte for Leni & Kiko Volunteers group is planning for a more active campaign and to be more visible.
She recalled that a handful of them wore pink and posed at the local plaza and carried with them banners for Robredo.
"What I always tell my peers is, you don’t have to be afraid because you’re fighting for the right thing. You just need to be brave, because if we’re not going to fight, who else will fight for us?" Salve added.
*Sources requested that pseudonyms be used for fear of retaliation.
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