Think about it
A Martial Law interview
By Jun Velasco
“I can’t be imprisoned by these walls. My thoughts are wings,” Entrances
WE thank ABS-CBN for regularly getting our report about our Martial Law experience. Every Sept. 21, and sometimes, on February 25, Edsa Anniversary, we are asked to share our experience and what we thought about these pivotal episodes in our national life and, in the case of Proclamation 1081, our own.
How can we forget? We were then with greenhorn Rep. Joe De Venecia at the Manila Overseas Press Club with Joe Guevarra, E.P. Patanne and Nap Rama when Martial Law was proclaimed.
We begged off to leave for Dagupan, not out of fear of the anticipated imposition of Martial Law, as there were then an increased number of soldiers on the streets. We had to leave to catch up with the press deadline of the Courier, now defunct, the following day.
But there was no more newspaper the next day. And there were no airing of news on TV and radio. There was martial law in the country.
When Michelle Soriano with her crew came to the house, we said we might be repeating what we regularly dished out in most of our interviews, the horrific experience of being kept in the stockade, from Lingayen, to Camp Olivas, to Camp Aquino, all of 30 days.
In fairness, we were treated well, probably because the soldiers, the administrators of martial law were our “friends,” our regular news sources, including then General Fidel Ramos, Col. Vicente Eduardo and Mr. Little President, Jake Clave.
But the scoop hunter in us would give Michelle a “new story.“ We said we should stop repeating our dreary story; it’s getting to be boring. We realized after more than 40 years, that it was best for this beleaguered nation to move on.
Yes, those were the words we told Michelle, “the nation has to move on.” Better light a candle than curse the darkness. Down with the uncertain, dark night.
Let’s now try some new, refreshing paths, some sensible, pragmatic and wise strategies in dealing with those years that kept us cursing.
We have proposed a scientific method in evaluating or reevaluating problems, including the political issues, stressing that we would be re-playing a mournful dirge or requiem, which won’t turn in new, hopeful ideas.
To ABS-CBN’s query if there were causes or issues we fought for which were won, we quickly said “freedom.” But we again stressed a need for a deeper reflection that would lead us to an uplift not only of our personal lives, but the nation’s as well.
It’s sad, that many of the things we had slammed have remained — poverty, widespread criminality, graft and corruption, moral decay.
On the local front, we recalled that in the compendium of the late Bayardo Estrada’s writings (Estrada was a contemporary of former Vice Gov. and Appeals’ Justice Porfirio V. Sison and Sunday Punch founder Ermin Garcia Sr.), we came upon editorials that raged against jueteng, criminality, graft and corruption, prostitution, moral breakdown, school items for sale, things that still persist in our community.
On poverty, our pen zeroed in on American imperialism that was promoted by local lackeys – the feudal lords, compradors, insensate capitalists and corrupt politicians.
Because of our view that dreary laments should now give way a new collective energy that pull the country from its morass, we point to the coming elections as opportune for a creative, positive and resolute movement to permanently say goodbye to all that has brought us down.
We leave the details of this ideal to our economic managers and our reform-oriented politicians to work things out and push the nation forward.
We said that the proposed P500-million building to house Martial Law memorabilia is nuts. The more and faster we did away from past guilt, the better for the country to achieve a better life and a bright future.
The way to the future should emanate from a positive outlook, consistent positive outlook, not the sins of the past.
(For your comments and reactions, please email to: punch.sunday@gmail.com)
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