MANILA Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula on Wednesday urged Filipinos to never forget the lessons they learned from the dark days of Martial Law, as the country marks the 50th year since the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. issued Proclamation 1081.
In a statement posted on the Manila Cathedral Facebook page, Advincula said the days of Martial Law were a “stormy” phase for the country.
“Hindi maitatanggi na naging hudyat ito ng maunos na yugto sa ating kasaysayan bilang isang bayan,” Advincula said. “Sa gitna ng dilim, may liwanag tayong natanaw. Sa harap ng mga hindi magagandang nangyari, may mga aral tayong natutunan.”
The Manila archbishop said Filipinos were able to learn about the value of life, dignity, and human rights after braving through the abuses of Martial Law.
“Natutunan natin ang halaga ng demokrasya at ang kapangyarihan ng taumbayan. Natutunan nating manampalataya at manalig sa Diyos na nagliligtas at nagpapalaya sa mga sinisiil,” he added.
Advincula warned that these lessons could be forgotten by deliberately denying the past.
“[A]ng mga mahahalagang aral na ito ay hindi natin matututunan kung pilit nating itatanggi o kakalimutan ang dilim ng kasasayan,” he said.
“Huwag nawa nating kalimutan ang mga aral mula sa panahon ng Martial Law,” he added.
More than 3,200 Filipinos were killed during the 14-year span of the draconian measure, while at least 34,000 were tortured, according to international human rights watchdog Amnesty International.
The Marcos dictatorship was overthrown by the EDSA Revolution in February 1986. Ammiel B. Maestrado
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