Recalling a dictatorship

September 21 should be a memorable day for the Philippines. Yet, much like other pivotal moments, it seems that many of us have forgotten the significance of this date. Nearly five decades ago, it marked the declaration of martial law—a time when the entire nation was plunged into unrest. Today’s generation often has little to no awareness of the struggles that took place during this period, which was characterized by widespread protests and a fervent clamor to liberate the country from the oppressive regime. Though I wasn’t alive during those dark years, accounts from those who lived through it paint a bleak picture of fear and repression.

Media played an important role in documenting the events that took place but their authoritarian nature was quick to shut down its critics. Many media outlets were silenced and closed down, except for those that praised them for their alleged good intentions. The mosquito press played a vital role in the underground storytelling, making careful steps to ensure that they were not caught in the process. The faithful's radio stations served as an alternative as they also rode on the cause to speak of the truth. We're glad that we have removed ourselves from the situation, but the perils of a dictatorship still persists today.

In terms of the freedom of the press, the media is still bound by the many restrictions that it is confronted with by its sources. Most government agencies are avoiding the hard-hitting issues by constantly referring the queries to their central office. We are dismayed at the lack of urgency when there is a subject that needs to be discussed to the public. It seems like they have used the "centralized channel of information" as a card to avoid being placed on the hot seat, as if refusing accountability.

When it comes to financial freedom, our economy continues to dive down in its performance. The purchasing power of the peso has not regained its prominence while our debt has ballooned in the past year. We are made to believe in the concept of unity and the action of standing up together as a nation, like a commandant calling on its constituents. There is a lack of crucial scrutiny on the real situation on the ground. Many are fearful to go against the current administration, for it may warrant a suspension or something grave - a myth that is yet to be uncovered.

We are, in many ways, not truly free. While the Philippines has technically escaped the grasp of the Marcos Sr. dictatorship, the patterns of authoritarianism are resurfacing, albeit in different forms. The faces involved in perpetuating corruption may have changed, but the underlying narrative remains hauntingly familiar. If only we could proactively recall the lessons of our past, we might awaken a collective spirit of patriotism that urges us to defend our sovereignty—not merely in words, but in genuine action. The chant still remains: “Never again” to martial law and “Never again” to the lies.