This short clip provides a timeline of the beginning and expansion of Tagum Agricultural Development Company, Inc., and the subsequent construction of Antonio O. Floirendo’s empire in Mindanao. Floirendo was among the wealthiest cronies of Ferdinand Marcos, Sr.
TADECO KO BAI, “TADECO History,” Youtube video, 7:06, May 16, 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2IFGzOyG-0
A brief overview of Philippine literature written during the Marcos period composed by noted literary critic, Leonard Casper.
Casper, Leonard. The Opposing Thumb: Decoding the Literature of the Marcos Regime. Quezon City: Giraffe Books, 1995.
Martial Law@50: Alaala at Kasaysayan ng Pagbabalikwas features academic papers that investigate new and important issues and topics about the dictatorship such as the peasant movement under the dictatorship, children’s literature on Martial Law, and online disinformation and historical distortions. The book also underscores the lived experiences of individuals who were organized under the national democratic movement like Bonifacio Ilagan, Judy Taguiwalo, Grace Mahinay, Carol Araullo, and others. It also includes one of Jose Maria Sison’s last works before his demise in December 2022.
Gealogo, Francis A., Laurence Marvin S. Castillo, Francisco Jayme Paolo A. Guiang, Michael D. Pante, and Reginald S. Vallejos (eds.). Martial Law @50: Alaala at Kasaysayan ng Pagbabalikwas. Quezon City: IBON Foundation, Inc., 2022.
This academic study published by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) disproves the controversial assertion that Ferdinand E. Marcos was a World War II hero. In this work, the NHCP conducts a detailed primary source analysis to show that the purported Marcos medals and his “Maharlika” guerilla unit were all a product of forgeries and invented narratives. NHCP’s study is a perfect resource material for students, teachers, and researchers who are interested not only in Martial Law studies but also in historical methods.
National Historical Commission of the Philippines. Why Ferdinand E. Marcos should not be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. Manila: National Historical Commission of the Philippines, 2016.
Martial Law in the Philippines: Lessons & Legacies, 1972-2022 is a collection of essays that explore a multitude of topics about the dictatorship period: cultural politics, dictatorial fantasies, populism and authoritarianism, religion, urban poor organizing, indigenous people, Filipino-Chinese identity, party politics, electoral reform, media roles, the Philippine constitution, population management, crony economic governance, terror and violence, the move from Marcos Sr. to Marcos Jr., and the Philippine Left. Its final chapter serves as an assessment of Martial Law 50 years since its declaration, and the prospects that face the Filipino people moving forward.
De Jesus, Edilberto and Ivyrose S. Baysic (eds.). Martial Law in the Philippines: Lessons & Legacies, 1972-2022. Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press, 2023.
False Nostalgia: The Marcos Golden Age Myths and How to Debunk Them focuses on disproving the “golden age” narrative that the Marcos family and their cohorts have propagated for many years. The book is timely because such myths have permeated into the consciousness of Filipinos who consume Marcosian propaganda. Using data and facts, it carefully debunks these myths and, in the process, recreates a narrative about the state of the economy during the Marcos years.
Punongbayan, JC. False Nostalgia: The Marcos Golden Age Myths and How to Debunk Them. Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press, 2023.
Suarez reviews a history of the Protestant Church in the Philippines and appraises its relationship with the Philippine Social and Political Climate under Authoritarian Rule. The text also includes a forward from the late Senator and Martial Law Survivor Jovito Salonga. The book not only juxtaposes Philippine Protestantism near the end of the 20th century with the struggle for nationhood, but also provides a discourse on its potential for transformative theology and practice.
Suarez, Oscar S. “Protestantism and Authoritarian Politics: The Politics off Repression and the future of Ecumenical Witness in the Philippines.” Quezon City: New Day Publishers. 1998.
This report looks into the impact of the military build-up on the Island of Samar. In particular, this report contains exploratory findings of a 5-man committee regarding various cases of abuse committed by several military units in Eastern Samar and Northern Samar. Significantly, the report also included an assessment of the impact of the counterinsurgency campaign in Samar that caused a humanitarian crisis on the island.
International Commission on the Militarization of Samar. Militarization of Samar. Hong Kong: Resource Center for Philippine Concerns, 1979.
This document is a summary of the observations made by the Makabayang Makabayang Kilusan Para Isulong ang Katarungan (MAKIISA KA) during their fact-finding mission regarding the multiple reports of human rights violations on the island of Samar. The report of MAKIISA KA underscored the brutality of the ongoing counterinsurgency campaign. Most of the data gathered by the report came from actual victims of military abuse and the survivors of massacres.
Makabayang Kilusan Para Isulong ang Katarungan. Samar: The Continuing Agony of the Land: A Report on the Fact-Finding Mission to Samar, November 3 – 15, 1981.Manila, 1981.
A major fact-finding mission was conducted in Leyte under the sponsorship of the Human Rights Investigation Commission, co-chaired by Senator Lorenzo Tanada and Ambrosio Padilla. Representatives from various Human Rights Groups including Task Force Detainees of the Philippines, the Ecumenical Movement for Justice and Peace, Concerned Citizens for Justice and Peace, and other youth, student and catholic groups participated with the support of international solidarity groups and journalists. A total of 105 persons were interviewed covering 16 barangays between 1982 and 1985, reporting on 160 cases of incidents ranging from arbitrary arrest, torture, looting, and massacres. The report also indicts Military Infantry and Constabulary elements along with members of the Integrated Civilian Home Defense Forces (ICHDF) as perpetrators. A copy of this report was archived by the Medical Action Group, and later Digitized with the help of the Rizal Library.
Human Rights Investigation Commission. “Leyte: Fear and Pain.” Fact-Finding Mission Report, November 13-16, 1985.
Researchers may take interest in examining the materials emphasized and positioned under the Balita tabloid, owned by Marcos Crony Hanz Menzi under the Marcos Administration. Included, but not highlighted in the front page, is an article noted as “Binulgar ni Laurel – Fraud at Elections is being Prepared.” The piece expressed suspicions of fraud being prepared in line for possible Snap Elections within the year 1985 or during elections in 1986 or 87. Another article positions itself against U.S. Media portrayals of the state seemingly aligning with the opposition, titled “American media slant RP coverage”.
Balita News Tabloid. Vol. 7. No. 14. 30 April 1983.
The Balita Tabloid, once owned by Marcos Crony Hanz Menzi, continued to operate after the EDSA Revolt. Researchers will find it of interest to compare or observe the content of the tabloids before and after the ouster of Marcos. One article in this issue notes criticisms of the opposition slate created for the 1987 Legislative elections, which include future 1987 senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Joseph Estrada. Another article also appears to promotes claims of the Marcoses sourcing billions of wealth in gold – focusing on the alleged Yamashita Treasure.
Balita News Tabloid. Vol 9. No. 14. 17 March 1987.
