— George Santayana, from his work, The Life of Reason: The Phases of Human Progress (Vol. 1, Reason in Common Sense), published in 1905
Today marks the 52nd anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law by then-President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. Its declaration on September 21, 1972, plunged our beloved nation into a dark era of brutal authoritarianism, economic plunder, political repression, widespread human rights violations, and state terrorism.
Let us remember this dark chapter in our nation’s history and remain committed to protecting our hard-fought freedom and democracy. We must commit to uprooting any remnants of this past from our society. May justice prevail for its victims, and may we stand firm against any attempts to rewrite history or glorify its perpetrators. Together, we must ensure that such a time never returns. Pax et bonum!