Lyndon James Diesta

Film was created to preserve moments, so that the sands of time may not wipe away these memories from future generations. On Saturday, September 21, the nation will commemorate anew one of the darkest chapters in Philippine history — the 52nd anniversary of dictator and former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s declaration of Martial Law.


From extrajudicial killings, faking injuries, tales of shimenets and budget quarrels, the Philippines is all too familiar to controversial presidents and political figures. But the most ruthless of them all was Marcos Sr.’s tenure — spanning 20 years, nine of which were spent in Martial Law.

During this time, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines noted that almost 400 media outlets were shut down, and according to Amnesty International, over 70,000 people were detained, often without warrants — branded as “enemies of the state.” Among them, about 34,000 people were tortured with an array of options; which included electric shock, rape, molestation, beating, among others.

September 21 also aims to honor the desaparecidos — or those who were abducted or detained with the state’s support during the regime. With that, the following are some documentaries and pieces of cinematic media to watch in memory of those whose blood were shed for the sake of greed and violence.

Dekada ‘70

Dekada ‘70 is the quintessential movie when it comes to the depiction of Martial Law and the Marcos regime. This film stars Vilma Santos and Christopher De Leon as Amanda and Julian – parents of the middle-class Bartolome family, as well as the lives of their five sons within the dire political landscape.

Directed by Chito S. Roño and written by Lualhati Bautista, this Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) winning movie captures the lives of Filipinos, as well as the love and loss they feel as the student movement arises during the era of dictatorship. It also tackles themes of activism, human rights abuse, and political injustice as part of the Philippines’ darkest moments.

In the movie, it showcases how loved ones are unjustly killed, such as one of the Bartolome sons Jason, who was stabbed in Manila Zoo by corrupt policemen, which was discovered by his older brother Emmanuel in a morgue. It also depicted lawless imprisonment, as the eldest brother Jules was arrested and tortured for being a member of the revolution – attending Jason’s funeral in handcuffs.

Released in 2002, this movie was a film adaptation of Bautista’s novel published in 1983. And yet, a lot of these issues concerning political turmoil and wrongful killings still apply today. Meanwhile, it has also been turned into a stage play directed by Pat Valera. In an interview with Rappler, Valera stated that this story is a deeply personal one, and it is a lot to process.


“You think you are only reading the tragedy of a family. But in truth, you are reading the tragedy of a nation,” Valera said.

11,103

According to the government, 11,103 is the number of victim-survivors from the Martial Law under the regime of Marcos Sr., set to receive monetary compensation from the Marcos family’s secret stash in Swiss banks. The documentary of the same title, however, aims to preserve the stories and scars left by the dictatorship on its survivors.

As such, the documentary showcased stories from multiple perspectives across the country. This ranges from Dr. Aurora Parong – a nurse at the time who was detained due to accusations of tending to members of the New People’s Army, to Cris Palabay, whose older brothers were killed as well as his other family members by association amid the regime, and to Mariam Kanda, who lost her family to the Palimbang Massacre in 1974, wherein the Philippine military committed mass murder on Muslim Moros in the village of Malisbong in Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat.

Continuing to protect these memories from the sands of time, Storytellers International, the filmmakers of the documentary – invites people to spread the word of 11,103, as well as help organize screenings of it, or even document the stories of Martial Law survivors themselves to open the eyes of others towards the horrors committed by the late dictator.

“The atrocities were state-sponsored, straight out of a playbook for any dictator who wants to stay in power. Today, it is a race for time as many survivors have gone ahead,” said the official 11,103 website.

EdJop

This upcoming film will depict the life of student-leader Edgar Jopson, known by his friends as “EdJop”, who was martyred during Martial Law. According to an article by pep.ph, it also states to capture the lives of those who were around him during his radical life – including his friends and family.

Graduating from Ateneo de Manila University with a degree in Management Engineering, Jopson was an intense critic of the Marcos regime—who also helped labor groups, and had a soft spot for the poor, as stated in an article by Esquire this February. EdJop also called for political reforms as the president of the National Union of Students of the Philippines.

During the implementation of Martial Law, he was working with the Communist Party of the Philippines and was arrested and tortured in 1979 at Camp Crame. He then escaped and fled to Mindanao, where he was killed in 1982 via a raid following a 180,000 peso bounty on his head.

In this film, Elijah Canlas will be playing the titular role of EdJop, with Jodi Sta. Maria and 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival Best Actor Award winner Cedric Juan playing unreleased supporting roles. Its release date is yet to be announced, with an upcoming scene drop on September 21 of this year.

Though these films and documentaries serve as a reminder of the past, one must not dwell on it – but instead learn from history, ensuring that Filipinos commemorate the unsung heroes who laid down their lives for the country; and for us not to repeat that dark chapter in our history.

Considering the political landscape today, one may help be part of the solution by registering to vote for the upcoming senatorial elections in May 2025, or doing research on which among the running politicians is suitable to be in a position of power – ensuring that they face the music of the country’s issues, not flying off to some other country like Marcos Sr. did.

May these stories continue to be sealed in time – never revised by those in power, with these tragedies never to be replicated in the present.