[New from the Press] False Nostalgia: The Marcos "Golden Age" Myths and How to Debunk Them

Book debunking Marcos 'golden age' myths is latest addition to Ateneo Press titles

The Ateneo University Press launched on the eve of the 37th anniversary of the 1986 People Power Revolution its newest Marcos and Martial Law-related title, False Nostalgia: The Marcos "Golden Age" Myths and How to Debunk Them. Written by economist and University of the Philippines assistant professor Jan Carlo Punongbayan, the book was officially launched at the UP School of Economics Auditorium, UP Diliman, Quezon City, and joined by Emmanuel De Dios, Marites Dañguilan Vitug, and Mona Magno-Veluz who served as discussants for the event. 

False Nostalgia aims to tear down the myriad myths about the Marcoses that have proliferated for decades. The book's chapters start with a common myth or misconception about Marcos Sr.’s martial law and its economic aspects, followed by a quick rebuttal. Using hard facts and data written in accessible language, the book deep dives into various aspects of the Marcosian economy—from its infrastructure spree and trade and industrial policy that widely led to poverty and hunger. It gives the economic and political milieu of the time in both context and detail.

Punongbayan intends to contribute to the ongoing conversations among readers, not only with students and teachers but also, with the rest of the community. In clear, concise, and accessible writing, it hopes to collect and reflect on the facts of martial law economics. University of the Philippines School of Economics professor emeritus Solita Monsod shares that the joy of [reading False Nostalgia] is that Punongbayan combines seven years of scholarly research with simple, clear, and compelling writing.

Human Rights Lawyer and Free Legal Assistance Group Chair Atty. Chel Diokno comments that False Nostalgia will help “put a stop to the spread of false narratives and bring to light what really happened during one of the darkest periods in Philippine history.”

Punongbayan hopes that the book equips readers with a “firmer grip on the truth and what really happened during that fateful episode in our history—to anchor us to the truth before our addiction to new media completely drowns us in a sea of lies and makes us collectively lose our grip on reality altogether.”

False Nostalgia: The Marcos “Golden Age” Myths and How to Debunk Them by JC Punongbayan is published by Bughaw, an imprint of Ateneo de Manila University Press. 

Category: Politics & Society
Language: English
Price: P530.00
Limited copies will soon be available at Solidaridad Bookstore, Ayala Museum, and Fully Booked BGC, Rockwell, and UP Town Center
Its ebook edition will be available in April 2023

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About the Author

JC Punongbayan is assistant professor at the University of the Philippines School of Economics (UPSE). He earned his PhD in Economics from the UPSE in 2021, where he also graduated summa cum laude and valedictorian in 2009 and was awarded the José Encarnación Jr. Award for Excellence in Economics and the Gerardo P. Sicat Award for Best Undergraduate Thesis. He writes a weekly economics column for Rappler and is also the co-founder of Usapang Econ and co-host of Usapang Econ Podcast. This is his first book.