Remembering Martial Law: A reading list

It’s been 52 years since Ferdinand Marcos Sr. declared Martial Law in the Philippines. It is an event that secured the power of the dictator and his cronies, an event that paved the way for the loss of lives and the loss of freedom, an event that continues to haunt us. It is an event that we must never forget, even more so now that a Marcos is once again president of the country amidst allegations of rigged elections, massive vote buying, and the extensive use of troll farms to spread lies in his favor. As a nation, we must arm ourselves with the truth to combat tyranny, fraud, corruption, disinformation, and historical revisionism. To aid in this endeavor, we’ve compiled a list of books that offer various ways of understanding the Marcos regime and the wounds it left that continue to bleed to this very day. 

Ascending the Fourth Mountain

By Maria Virginia Yap Morales

With so many stories of the Martial Law years silenced, when someone bravely steps forward with theirs we must be ready to listen. Ascending the Fourth Mountain unravels the life of Maria Virginia Yap Morales who fought for equality within a revolutionary movement and fully participated in drafting the orientation of the Malayang Kilusan ng Bagong Kababaihan (MAKIBAKA). This book also details a journey of self-discovery as the author introspects her own experiences against the three mountains of American imperialism, feudalism, and bureaucratic capitalism.  She delves deep into the struggles of women against a fourth mountain outside and unfortunately present also within the underground movement. 

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Some Are Smarter Than Others: The History of Marcos’ Crony Capitalism

By Jose Ricardo L. Manapat

Marcos did not rule alone. A network of powerful associates reinforced his power— who in their greed then stole from and oppressed the Filipino people. In this book, Manapat employs intellectual passion and evidence-backed rage against the many crimes that led to widespread suffering, especially of the marginalized. Some Are Smarter Than Others is a stark reminder that the relentless fight for accountability should be extended to the individuals who bolstered and benefited from the gross abuses of the Marcos dictatorship. 

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The Marcos Era: A Reader 

Edited by Leia Castañeda Anastacio and Patricio N. Abinales

More than five decades have passed since the declaration of Martial Law yet there is still so much knowledge about this dark time that escapes public notice. Utilizing the expertise and experience of historians, political scientists, social scientists, economists, lawyers, investigative journalists, and public intellectuals, this book offers readers interdisciplinary perspectives on the Marcos regime. It aims to provide “a more balanced, holistic, and sober appraisal of this traumatic yet formative era in Philippine history.”

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Martial Law in the Philippines: Lessons & Legacies, 1972-2022

Edited by Edilberto de Jesus and Ivyrose S. Baysic 

We must never tire of learning from those who lived through the Marcos dictatorship. They witnessed truths that have been systematically altered and misconstrued to paint the Marcos family and their cronies in a more forgiving light as time passes. Twenty-two experts meticulously unravel the intricacies of Martial Law and its long-lasting effects that reverberate to and corrupt the present. A variety of topics are discussed such as cultural politics, populism and authoritarianism, party politics, electoral reform, crony economic governance, terror and violence, as these relate to Marcos Sr., Marcos Jr., and the Left. 

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False Nostalgia: The Marcos “Golden Age” Myths and How to Debunk Them 

By JC Punongbayan

Many tout the Marcos era as a golden age, a period of economic prosperity, but was that ever truly the case? This book guides the reader through eighteen longstanding claims about the Marcos era and answers each one with comprehensive data and research, exposing the hard facts beneath the veneers of disinformation and lies. Punongbayan extensively explores the state of the economy during the Marcos era—exposing how infrastructure, trade, and industrial policies enacted at the time were the cause of great poverty and hunger. As the myths within this work remain rampant, False Nostalgia becomes a crucial tool for anyone wishing to join the crusade to debunk them. 

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Martial Law Melodrama: Lino Brocka’s Cinema Politics 

By José B. Capino

Many individuals used art to express their dissent against Martial Law. Considered one of the greatest filmmakers in the country, Lino Brocka was a known creator of groundbreaking social films, a pioneer of queer cinema, and a staunch and vocal critic of the Marcos regime. Through archival research and acute analysis of over fifteen of Brocka’s major and minor works, Capino delves deeply into the influence of politics in the late Filipino director’s movies, discussing their historical context, allegorical tropes, and social critiques. Martial Law Melodrama testifies to the capacity of film to hold a mirror to society, as well as its power to ignite discourse and defiance in the name of democracy. 

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Presidents and Pests, Cosmopolitans and Communists

By Patricio N. Abinales

Every aspect of Martial Law deserves attention and critical scrutiny, no matter which niche. In “Political Science and the Marcos Dictatorship,” Abinales surveys the issues that hampered the growth of this discipline during those dark years. A few of these issues included fear of criticizing the regime and the fact that some influential political scientists believed in the rationale of the dictatorship. In “Can Communists Laugh? Recalling Vanishing Ditties of the Marcos Era,” Abinales analyzes the integral role of songs and chants in the expression of anger towards the Marcos regime. These two essays showcase the grander intent of the author to highlight seemingly marginal events and bring them to a greater national focus. 

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The Collaborators: A Novel

By Katrina Tuvera

Being the only fiction recommendation on this list doesn’t diminish the realities depicted in this book. The Collaborators follows Carlos Armando as he reminisces about his life, from World War II to Martial Law and its aftermath. Tuvera delves into the intricate ties between complicity and collaboration and its ensuing proximity to some semblance of power. The book then challenges readers to reflect on our morals, the truth and lies that surround us, and what we’re willing to do about them when faced with dire consequences. 

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The Conjugal Dictatorship of Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos

By Primitivo Mijares

A certified classic of Martial Law literature, this seminal work uncovers the deep and dark schemes and secrets that paved the way for the enforcement of Martial Law in 1972. As a former propagandist of the late dictator before his defection in 1975, Primitivo Mijares has provided generations of readers with extensive evidence of the massive corruption and military abuses under the regime. Marcos fought hard to stop the publication of this book. A year after it was published, Mijares went missing and was eventually deemed legally dead. His youngest son, Boyet, was tortured and murdered, as a result of the publication of this book. This is then a reminder of how dangerous the truth is to those who wish to stifle it, and how we must preserve it in respect for those who died for it. 

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