A.
Outline of the Argumentative paper
Thesis: The regime of martial law under the administration of Ferdinand Marcos was once
called the "golden age era" due to its remarkable economic growth, but that it trampled on
human rights and democracy makes it better called the 'darkest era of the Philippines.'
3 key supporting ideas
1. The violations in Human Rights
2. Corruptions and Plunder Cases
3. The works in Former President Ferdinand Marcos
Opposition ideas
Administration that hides secrets behind their success
Refutation
Plunder, Violations, Corruption and brutally killings in the people without any
hesitations and fair treatment
Conclusion
Ferdinand’s Marcos administration makes people believe that it's the golden era
because of the benefit’s that it brings to the people of the Philippines and because of
the economic growth that happened. But after knowing the process and the
happenings behind the law that he imposes and how the Philippines was treated
brutally for 21 years should it still be called as a golden era. Even it clearly depicts
the nightmare and darkest era for those who experience it and for what it did for the
country and people of the Philippines.
Exactly 49 years ago this year, A very crucial and controversial event in history
happened. That shaped the beliefs, lifestyle and psyche of the generations to come. In 1965
President Ferdinand Marcos was elected, and he was the first president who lasted for 21 years in
its term. How come that he stayed for that long? Is 21 years enough to raise the economy? He
imposed martial law that stopped the system, and made him president and chief officer for 21
years. In his 7th year in his public service he announced on television that he had placed the
entirety of the Philippines under martial law. This marked the beginning of a 14-year period of
one man rule which would effectively last until Marcos was exiled from the country on February
24, 1986. So let’s go deep and dig about his presidency time The regime of martial law under
the administration of Ferdinand Marcos was once called the "golden age era" due to its
remarkable economic growth, but that it trampled on human rights and democracy makes
it better called the 'darkest era of the Philippines.'
What happened to this era? In this 21-year period of Philippine economic history
during the Ferdinand Marcos regime this period shows the significant economic highs and
lows of the country. This administration makes the growth of the economy in the
Philippines. The GDP of the Philippines rose during martial law, rising from $8.0 billion to
$32.5 billion in about 8 years. This growth was spurred by massive lending from
commercial banks, accounting for about 62% percent of external debt. His term was also
marked because of their project plans about the advances in individual’s life and infrastructure.
Under the Marcos regime, Filipinos also saw the establishment of unprecedented edifices and
infrastructures, the majority of which still stand proudly today, servicing the needs of the
Filipino people. Marco’s was behind the solid creations of infrastructures nationwide. It was in
Marcos’s time when pioneering hospitals were built: the Philippine Heart Center, Lung Center of
the Philippines, and the National Kidney and Transplant Institute. Cultural, tourism and heritage
sites were, likewise, constructed: the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Folk Arts Theater,
Philippine International Convention Center, the National Arts Center (now Makiling Center for
the Arts) housing the Philippine High School for the Arts, Nayong Pilipino and the People’s Park
in the Sky in Tagaytay City.
Majority of these buildings can still be used and seen, that’s why his regime
was once called the golden era. People of the Philippines believe in the ability and to the
intelligence of the ruling of the Marco’s. Even its proclamation of Martial law on September 21,
1972 was considered as a blessing to some. According to the interviews, articles and stories by
the people who experience it. Martial law makes their life more secure and safe. This law
disciplines the whole country and does not tolerate any unethical and not morally right actions.
But why did the former President impose this law? Philippine history articles said that When
Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law in 1972, Marcos claimed that he had done so in response
to the "communist threat" posed by the newly founded Communist Party of the Philippines
(CPP), and the sectarian "rebellion" of the Mindanao Independence Movement (MIM). It simply
implies that it’s still favorable to the people of the Philippines. Those are the remarkable works
that Former Ferdinand Marcos did for the Philippines. But is it one sided and biased if you’ll
only look at the bright and good side of his regime? How about the other side? The other studies,
other facts, other story behind his regime?
The dramatic rise and fall of the Philippine economy during this period is
attributed to the Marcos administration's heavy dependence on foreign loans, its policy of
establishing monopolies under Marcos cronies which resulted in significant income inequality,
corruption by government officials, and the capital flight which has historically been
attributed to the Marcos family's economic plunder. And not only the plunder and corruption
was a burden above their name they are also involved in trampling human rights because of
the acts that are being executed in Martial law. In statistics 3,257 killed, some 2,520, or 77
percent of all victims, were salvaged that is, tortured, mutilated, and dumped on a roadside for
public display. It is also reported that 737 Filipinos disappeared between 1975 and 1985.
Knowing that the purpose of imposing martial law is to restore order and preserve the current
government of a country. Citizens who defy martial law may be subject to trial in a military
court rather than the usual civil or criminal courts. Why does it become sketchy and carries a lot
of violation in human rights? Is it more of a dictatorship? The Human Rights Reparation and
Recognition Act of 2013 is an unprecedented legislation in the Philippines and Asia, with
the Philippine State acknowledging its legal and moral obligation for the gross human rights
violations committed by the regime of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos during martial law
from 21 September 1972 to 25 February 1986 and one month before and after the period. RA
10368 declares that the State recognizes the heroism and sufferings of all Filipinos and provides
reparation to the victims and o/or their families for the deaths, injuries, sufferings, deprivations
and damages they suffered under the Marcos regime. The law recognized that there were civil,
political and economic rights that were violated by the authoritarian regime.
Because of the damage, traumas and violation that Marcos administration
gave to the people of the Philippines the law allocated ten billion pesos (Php
10,000,000,000.00) plus accrued interest for reparation to victims of gross human rights
violations during that period and for the establishment of a memorial museum and library.
Now that you’re aware and opened from the other side effects and tragedy in the Administrations
time do you still or can you still consider it as a Golden era? When it’s already completely
stating and reflecting as a 'darkest nightmare and era of the Philippines.'
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