spot_img
27.4 C
Philippines
Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Marcos’ place in history

- Advertisement -

"Is he a heel or a hero?"

 

 

As Marcos haters remembered “the dark days of Martial Law,” on September 21, they went on the usual bashing spree, portraying Marcos as the devil-incarnate.

But did not Shakespeare say: “The evil that men do lives after them. The good is oft interred with their bones.”

This brings me to ask, my gulay—Is Marcos a heel or a hero?

It depends. If you look at his remarkable achievements and good performance, he would be a hero. For those, however, who envy his ingenuity, vision and foresight, and those who desire revenge, he is definitely a heel.

- Advertisement -

Let me quote Justice Manuel “Lolong” Lazaro, who was the Government Corporate Counsel during the Marcos era. “The beneficiaries of the February 1986 accidental event of time, place and personalities, have fashioned and sustained a litany and barrage of adverse publicity to efface President Marcos from the tapestry of history. They pursued what notable poet Sir Richard Maitland sharply observed: ‘The essential matter of history is not what happened but what people wrote or said about it.’”

Lazaro also said that succeeding administrations have used laws even as they sought to destroy or consign Marcos to oblivion, notwithstanding his solid unprecedented achievements for the good of the nation and its people.

I could well repeat what Lazaro said so eloquently that “good deeds, especially those beneficial to the nation and the people, cannot be effaced or expunged, Good survives and triumphs in the end. Marcos’ place in history is secure. The Marcos laws abound and benefit us. They are embedded in our legal system and continue to govern and guide the nation. Marcos’ vision and foresight in lawmaking for governance are richly illustrated by the varied and numerous legal issuances.”

If only to show an example of the vision and foresight of Marcos, here are his legal issuances that still apply and are still being used:

• The Judicial Development Fund, the basis of the financial benefits of the judiciary;

• The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, which provides an additional source of revenue to fund the miscellaneous activities of the government;

• The Export Processing Authority to attract foreign investments;

• The Movie and Television review and Classification Board;

• The Philippine Coconut Authority to develop and enhance coconut production and efforts;

• The Philippine Tourism Authority as one of the engines to serve as a source of revenue;

• Laws on socialized housing through a series of legal issuances from the funding, mortgage and collection of loans;

• All the specialty hospitals—the Philippine Heart Center, Lunch Center, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Philippine Children’s Medical Center;

• The first nuclear power plant in Southeast Asia;

• A geothermal power plant, one of the first in the world, as an alternative source of energy;

• Exploration and drilling in Malampaya;

• Laws on culture in the life of the nation;

• The Cultural Center of the Philippines and the Philippine International Convention Center.

Insofar as Martial law is concerned, it is needless to say that without its proclamation, the Philippines could now be under communist rule. The communists were already all over the country—in the parliament, media, academe, labor and even the clergy. The Supreme Court recognized this when it ruled in favor of Marcos insofar as Martial Law was concerned.

I sincerely believe that in time, Marcos will be vindicated. He was a visionary, born ahead of his time. Generations free from the blemish of hate and revenge will look more kindly on him, and acknowledge his achievements and contribution to the nation.

* * *

Santa Banana, I cannot believe that this is coming from the Philippine National Police chief. He said that National Capital Region Police Office chief, Major General Debold Sinas, deserves a promotion because he has experience in training new recruits.

What, when Sinas openly violated that Enhanced Community Quarantine protocols when he had a mañanita birthday party?

For PNP Chief Camilo Coscolan to say this is a big insult to us all. Even President Duterte did not even reprimand Sinas.

I won’t be surprised if one day Sinas becomes PNP chief himself. A promotion, huh? What’s next, I wonder.

- Advertisement -

LATEST NEWS

Popular Articles