𝙒𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙩𝙝-𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙁𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙤𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙚𝙥𝙩 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙙𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙡𝙖𝙬, 𝙬𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙚, 𝙬𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙."

Today marks 52 years since the Declaration of Martial Law. A period that plunged the nation into nearly a decade of oppression, the effects of which continue to shape the Filipino identity and mindset.

From 1972 to 1981, the nation endured an era where power was centralized in the hands of an authoritarian government, enabling widespread corruption and abuses the scars of which still linger to this day. This dark period crippled the economy, with repercussions still felt today as Filipinos continue to pay for the debts incurred during that time. It also marked a period of human rights abuses, with thousands tortured and disappearing without a trace. Political opponents and rivals were also sent to prison, marking widespread political turmoil that defined this period of Philippine History.

Although the Philippines has since experienced a series of peaceful transfers of power, the lessons of Martial Law serve as a stark reminder that the fight for justice and freedom is ongoing. The scars left by that era have not fully healed, and the shadows of authoritarianism continue to loom over the nation's democratic institutions. In a political climate where disinformation, corruption, and attempts to revise history persist, it is crucial for citizens to remain vigilant, proactive, and steadfast in defending the hard-won freedoms that are easily threatened by complacency. The resurgence of tyranny, even in subtle forms, is a possibility that must be confronted with unwavering resolve.

Editor's Note: This was first published in the Upsilon Sigma Phi Facebook page on September 21, 2024; Caleb Tiam-Lee 2024 collaborated with fellows Paulo Salonga 2022 and Erick Tecson 2024 on this Opinion piece.