By Danielle Liwanag

We dream of once upon a time and in a faraway land — to live in stories where the villains are overruled and peace prevails — a happily ever after, if you may. As tempting as it is to escape reality, what is at stake when attempts of painting the nation’s darkest moments in a good light persist today? For those dreadful days to be deemed a golden age while multitudes are victims of murders and massacres? In a time of tall tales and unreliable narrators, the fight for the truth is imperative. 

If you ask a Marcos apologist why they continue to support the political dynasty, they will most likely tell a series of tall tales — exaggerated or even altered events of the Marcos regime. Like how they say that the Marcos presidency was the “Golden Age of the Economy” or how the country was the “richest in Asia”; when in reality, most of these claims have been debunked and his reign actually left the Philippines in a much more dire economic situation than before. While the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) did peak after the declaration of Martial Law in 1972, it also hit a record low when the Philippines had the worst recession in history. This decline also ratified our title as the “Sick Man of Asia” in the years to come. In addition, the country’s external debt grew exponentially, with most of the regime’s “successes” actually being debt-driven growth. Not only was the country’s economic state worse than how it was before his rule, today’s citizens and taxpayers also have to bear the brunt of his economic exploits.

Another common argument from apologists regarding the questionable Marcos wealth is the notion that the family was already rich before the presidency and did not steal any sum of money in their two-decade rule— yet Imelda Marcos’ several cases of graft and the family’s court cases on corruption beg to differ. The prosecution found her guilty of amassing around 200 million dollars in foundation schemes involving Swiss-based private organizations while in power. 

In addition, there have been numerous denials of media censorship and claims of a free press when the personal stories of victims who lived through the era testified that media access was indeed restricted, with networks like ABS-CBN forced to shut down, and freedom of speech was trampled on. Historical records also showed that dissent and criticisms were met with warrantless arrest, torture, execution, and other human rights violations. 

These claims only make up a small portion of what is carried out to get people to lionize the Marcoses. Perhaps one of the most controversial attempts at the distortions of the Marcos regime was the burial of Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani back in 2016. Newly elected at the time, President Duterte initiated and insisted on this burial – despite the cries of Martial Law victims and activists. Duterte’s decision eventually boiled down to the reasoning that Marcos was buried there because he was a soldier. Sure, he might have served the Philippine Army — but what accounts for the corruption and lives lost because of his thirst for power?  Yet, the ousted dictator’s body lies among those of Filipinos who actually served and sacrificed. 

These attempts at historical revisionism feed on the greed and the thirst for reputation — to be put into history books as heroes, even if it means distorting the realities and stepping over oppressed voices to do so. Spreading Facebook posts and YouTube videos that question the logic of those who stand against the Marcoses, whilst the same pages or channels post content that contains fallacies and misinformation. As if relying on these mistruths just to gain supporters, none of the Marcoses have denied any of these already-debunked claims.  

The only thing worse than such attempts is the implications it has on the Philippines’ history, society, and education in the long run. We learn of the country’s heroes in our history classes; their efforts and achievements in overthrowing leaders who seek unjust power over the Filipinos — what would our heroes be for, if in the textbook pages that succeed them lie the same type of people they wished to overthrow? It feels like a mockery, not only to these heroes but also to those who have been victims of the parts of history they want to erase. It is a threat to the young Filipinos who will soon take their own history classes, only to be met by omissions of relevant events that have contributed to the democracy we get to enjoy today. For if not these moments in history, what will teach them to value the country’s democracy and to refuse attempts that undermine it?  After all, history is not just a retelling of events, but a means to learn from the themes of the past.

We are far from a happily ever after. In today’s political climate, we live amidst attempts of distorting the truths of history. It is now the sons, daughters, and even grandchildren who wish to take positions of power again — no doubt pushing the agenda to be perceived as saviors among men. In times like these, let us look through the lenses of the oppressed, and not through tinted ones of those who continue to fix shattered reputations. Let us remain vigilant despite distortions, and always pursue the truth.