"Future generation of Filipinos have the right to know how their past presidents governed."
"Future generation of Filipinos have the right to know how their past presidents governed."
The establishment of presidential libraries is a recent development in historical terms and it is only happening in the United States. This is in spite of the country’s more than 200 years of presidential history.
As of 2016, only 13 presidential libraries have been established, 14 if we include the presidential library of former President Barack Obama which is under construction in Chicago, Illinois and scheduled for inauguration sometime in 2020-21.
It used to be that presidential papers were kept by the family of a dead president and sometimes sold in auctions like what happened to some letters of Abraham Lincoln.
It was former President Franklin D. Roosevelt who as president realized the value and importance of presidential papers for future academic research. He, therefore, on his own volition offered in 1939 to sign an agreement with the National Archives and Records Administration that after his death, the agency would get hold of all his papers for preservation thus making sure that his papers were preserved for posterity. Many of his friends also bonded together to raise money to construct the first presidential library which is now located in Hyde Park, New York.
It also established the tradition that presidential libraries must be constructed without government funds involved. Soon, President Herbert Hoover, the predecessor of Franklin Roosevelt, followed suit. Eventually in 1955, the Presidential Libraries Act of was passed, saying that the NARA will own and manage the libraries. In 1978, the Presidential Libraries Act was amended; it further streamlined the kind of endowments needed for each library.
In the Philippines, we do not have such a system in place. Including our current President, we have had 16 presidents including Jose Laurel who was president during the Japanese occupation. Aguinaldo has his shrine in Kawit, Cavite to house the memorabilia of the late Chief Executive. Quezon has his rotunda in the city named after him also housing some of his memorabilia which include the car that he used as President. Cory Aquino has some kind of a museum at the Hacienda Luisita, no doubt constructed by the Cojuangco family. I am not aware if the other four presidents who came after her have a privately run facility housing their papers.
It is really a shame because future generations of historians or researchers will not be able to access important historical documents unless the families agree to provide them. Future generation of Filipinos have the right to know how their past presidents governed, not only from the textbooks they will be reading in school but by going over the unadulterated primary documents. Nothing is better than going directly to the source when it comes to academic research.
One problem with presidential libraries however, is that there may be presidents who do not want to make available their papers because there are things to hide. But this should not be the case or the attitude. The presidential library of the late Richard Nixon contains all the papers during the Watergate turmoil that includes all good and bad materials. Among our surviving former presidents, it is former President Fidel V. Ramos who has the longest record of public service starting when he graduated from West Point in 1950. If we count his four years of cadetship, that is about almost 74 years of service. He was also either a witness or participant in some tumultuous events in our nation’s history like the two peaceful but extra-legal removal of two presidents.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo may have the shortest public service of all our living former presidents but she had the longest reign as president of nine and a half years. Former President Joseph Estrada of course had the shortest reign of two and a half years. Taken altogether, the three have a total of 18 years as president and there should be a lot of stories to tell. FVR who is the oldest of the three is approaching 92 years come March of next year. He is known to abhor the naming of a street in his name or other awards and recognition but I hope he will agree to an effort to set up a facility to house his papers and all his memorabilia collected during his years in public service. His current foundation office in Makati does contain a portion of his papers and many souvenirs but there really should be a facility—perhaps located in a military facility owing to his many years in the military—that could house his papers. In addition, a portion of the facility can be made available to many senior military officers who served with the president in the field.
Unfortunately, for us in the Philippines, not too many veteran officers write their stories depriving future academics the important stories they can share with the country. But having a facility that can house and preserve their papers would be a good beginning. This is a good way to pass valuable historical records to younger generations of leaders either military or civilian. Being able to do this can only make the country richer in experiences that can be imparted to future generation of leaders. At this time, Congress should take a look at the United States Presidential Libraries Act to see if a similar law can be passed in order to preserve valuable historical documents.
* * *
Baguio’s roads are now choking. It is tough just to go to Camp John Hay or Baguio Country Club but that is Christmas up here in the mountains. Enjoy your stay and Merry Christmas and a more prosperous New Year to all.