'Yang Human Rights Na 'Yan: Historical Revisionism. Revisionism?! (WITH KERATIN)
This is a transcript of season 2 episode 1 of ‘Yang Human Rights Na ‘Yan, PhilRights’ podcast on human rights and social justice. Listen to the episode on Spotify.
Sa episode na ito, tatalakayin ang historical revisionism sa konteksto ng martial law sa Pilipinas. Kasama si Professor Nymia Pimentel-Simbulan, Executive Director ng Philippine Human Rights Information Center o PhilRights at Chairperson ng Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates o PAHRA.
OPENING SPIEL
00:00 *Music*
00:06 Noa: Hello and welcome sa “’Yang Human Rights na ’Yan”! Ang programang tumatalakay sa mga batayang konsepto ng karapatang pantao, hatid sa inyo ng Philippine Human Rights Information Center or PhilRights. Ako si Noa at sa episode na ito pag-uusapan natin ang isang napakahalagang usapin, historical revisionism. Isang topic na sobrang relevant at crucial sa ating bayan, lalo na papalapit na ang Martial Law anniversary. Ngayon kasama natin si Professor Nymia Pimentel-Simbulan para talakayin ang mga importanteng aspekto nito. Siya ang Executive Director ng PhilRights, ang Chairperson ng Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates o PAHRA, dating Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs ng UP Manila, at aktibista mula pa noong panahon ng Martial Law. Pakinggan natin ang makabuluhang usapan kasama si Prof. Nymia.
01:05 *Music*
01:11 Noa: Hello! Welcome po, Prof. Nymia sa ‘Yang Human Rights na ‘Yan!, ang podcast ng PhilRights. Magandang araw po!
01:19 Prof. Nymia: Magandang araw po. Magandang araw naman sa inyong lahat, at sa lahat ng mga sumusubaybay dito sa PhilRights podcast.
01:30 Noa: All right! For today po, our episode is going to be about historical revisionism. So, for our first question po. Bilang papalapit na po ang Martial Law makikita po natin nakadisplay sa mga placard ang "Never Forget" at "Never Again", so, sa panahon po ngayon bakit mahalaga na paulit-ulit nating pinapaalala ang mga ito lalo na sa konteksto ng Martial Law?
01:56 Prof. Nymia: Ah, palagay ko napakaimportante na paulit-ulit na i-commemorate 'yung Martial Law. Para ipaalala lalong lalo na d'on sa mga bagong henerasyon ng mga kabataan at estudyante itong importante o mahalagang yugtong ito sa kasaysayan na talagang maraming mga sakripisyo, maraming mga paglabag sa karapatang pantao ang naganap sa ilalim ng Batas Militar na pinamunuan ni former President Ferdinand Marcos.
Bukod doon, mahalagang gunitain din, dahil 'yung kasalukuyang administrasyon ay anak ng former dictator, at siguro magandang isipin na dapat kung ano 'yung mga naganap na hindi katanggap-tanggap at karumaldumal noong panahon ng martial law dapat hindi 'yon maulit. Kaya nangangailangan 'yon ng vigilance, ng militance on the part of the people, particularly youth and students.
03:11 Noa: Grabe po 'no? Ang daming karapatang pantao 'yung nalabag n'ung panahon ni Marcos, Sr. So, sa inyo po, ano po ang reaction n'yo 'pag sinasabing gold, "Golden Era" po ito?
03:23 Prof. Nymia: Siyempre, I would ano no, my position would be otherwise. Kasi ako personally, nakita kong hindi s'ya... siguro it was a golden era for members of the ruling elite, for members of his... of the Marcos cronies, because they really... benefited from the Marcos administration and when Martial Law was declared. Talagang it led to amassing of wealth on the part of the ruling class or the ruling elite. Tapos yung pagkuha ng mga ill gotten wealth of the Marcoses na hanggang ngayon ay hinahabol pa rin ng mga certain government institutions and the courts and and even the victims of human rights violations during the Martial Law period. Pero kung pag-uusapan natin 'yung malaking porsyento ng mamamayang Pilipino, mga manggagawa, magsasaka, manggagawang bukid, mangingisda, mga mamamayang katutubo, mga urban poor, youth and students definitely it was not the golden age because these people really did not benefit, in fact suffered a lot in the form of human rights violations; killings, extrajudicial executions, massacres, enforced disappearances, illegal arrest and detention, torture.
04:59 Noa: Ayun po 'no. Apparently, hindi po totoo 'yung "Golden Age" kasi marami pong ebidensya at from narratives po, d'on malalaman na false nga po. Bale, from my experience po, una ko pong narinig 'yung historical revisionism, n'ong campaign po ni Marcos, Jr. So, d'on ko lang rin po naintindihan kung gaano kasinungaling 'yung mga naririnig ko dati. So, with that po, could you please enlighten the listeners ano nga po 'yung historical revisionism?
05:32 Prof. Nymia: From my perspective, I would define historical revisionism as the act of changing and distorting events and pertinent information related to those events that took place in history. Actually, it involves, parang it's a reinterpretation eh. You reinterpret historical events in terms of who, what, where, when, why, how, you know, so that the reinterpretation serves a particular personal or selfish interest. So, for instance 'yon, like what you said earlier. 'Yung pangangalandakan na 'yung Martial Law was a golden era in the history of the Philippines so, 'yung gan'ong, labeling of Martial Law by the current administration actually serves a particular vested interest na there were a lot of positive points or a lot of accomplishments, achievements that took place during the Martial Law period which, of course, would be contrary to what actually took place during the Martial Law period.
Ngayon, 'yung historical revisionism is also being used as an instrument or a tool of the current dispensation to be able to beef up its image. Lalong-lalo na kasi people will definitely not forget, no, will not forget 'yung connection of BBM with the former dictator. Ama niya nga 'yon 'no, and mayroong kaisipan na "like father, like son", and that is something that the current government would like to, parang gusto nilang kontrahin. Kontrahin na 'yung BBM administration will not be following the footsteps and the mistakes of the Marcos dictatorial government.
Kaya, binabago nila 'yung imahe noong former dictator and reinterpreting historical events to be able to show the opposite of what actually took place.Delikado 'yon. Delikado 'yon, lalong-lalo na for youth and students who were not, who did not experience the Martial Law period. And, and if you just rely on books that have been written by historical revisionists, you will be deceived. Kaya napakaimportante on the part of those who are still alive and have witnessed the abuses, atrocities, human rights violations that took place during the Martial Law to expose, to educate the general public on exactly what happened during the Martial Law. And that will entail writing materials, continuing to write materials na nag-eexpose nung naganap noong Batas Militar.
08:40 *Music*
AD BREAK
08:51 Cholo: Isang mapagpalayang araw! Alam n’yo ba kung paano mas mapapalakas ang boses n’yo sa komunidad, classroom, o barangay? Kung gusto mong malaman, we’ve got something exciting for you!
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INTERVIEW PART 2
10:42 *Music*
10:48 Noa: Yung definition po n'ung historical revisionism, it has a very negative connotation for you po, especially with relation to the Marcoses. And 'yon nga po as you said, it's very dangerous to the youth and students. Bakit po ba kailangan na malaman ng mga kabataan at ng lipunan ang totoong kasaysayan ng Pilipinas?
11:13 Prof. Nymia: 'Yun, parang ano nga, matuto tayo sa kasaysayan at 'yung hindi maulit, hindi maulit 'yung mga naganap na hindi maganda noong panahon ng Martial Law, 'no. Matuto tayo na kailangang ipagtanggol ang karapatan, kailangan manindigan para sa katotohanan at katarungan, para doon sa mga mamamayang inaapi. Kasi, essentially, 'yon 'yung ginawa n'ung maraming mga mamamayan, maraming mga aktibista noong Batas Militar na umabot doon sa puntong nagbuwis sila ng buhay.
So, parang 'yung point ko, para hindi naman masayang 'yung ibinuwis na buhay, at sakripisyo n'ong mga martir, n'ong mga bayani ng Batas Militar, 'yung mga pangalan na nakalista sa Bantayog ng mga Bayani, napaka-importanteng maisiwalat sa kanila 'yung katotohanan at matuto doon sa katotohanan na naganap sa ating kasaysayan para hindi ito maulit.
12:19 Noa: It was bad enough, bakit pa uulitin? So, 'yun nga po, bilang dating political prisoner po kayo n'ong Batas Militar at hanggang ngayon po nakakakita pa rin po kayo ng distortion of truth tungkol sa Martial Law. Ano po ang epekto sa inyo po, at saka sa tingin n'yo po ano ang epekto nito sa proseso ng paghilom ng mga survivors at pamilya?
12:48 Prof. Nymia: Siguro merong aspetong sa bahagi n'ung mga pamilya n'ung mga survivors and pamilya ng mga biktima ng Batas Militar, mayroong aspeto na nakakalungkot. Nakakalungkot, kasi nga doon sa intentional na distortion of historical events, of historical facts. At itong mga survivors at 'yung mga pamilya n'ung mga victims sila 'yung nakakaalam n'ung ano talaga ang naganap at ano talaga ang katotohanan. Lalong-lalo na sa isang sitwasyon na 'yung kanilang mga kamag-anak, mga mahal sa buhay, ay nagbuwis buhay, naging martir, nawala dahil sa kanilang paninindigan para sa katotohanan, sa karapatang pantao, at saka sa katarungan. Kaya, mayr'on, palagay ko mayr'ong aspetong may bahid ng kalungkutan. Bukod d'on sa puntong sa ngayon kasi, 'yung dissemination of distorted facts ‘yung instruments or tools are quite sophisticated. 'Andun na nga 'yung use of technology, which many people, even members of the lower class, are able to have access to or own. Halimbawa, mobile phones. Kaya uh, 'yong vulnerability to distorted information is uh, they're more prone to accept distorted information via the use of technology.
14:24 Noa: It is heartbreaking to see how the victims of Martial Law continue to be saddened by what's happening, and we do owe it to those who sacrificed their lives. 'Yung mga nagsakripisyo ng sarili nila para sa karapatan natin ngayon.
14:42 Prof. Nymia: Mayr'ong dimension or aspeto na nakakalungkot, pero at the same time, palagay ko mayr'on di namang mga gains or victories 'yung mga families and victims of Martial Law. For one, there is a recognition on the part of the state that there were victims of human rights violations during the Martial Law period and a very concrete proof or evidence of that would be 'yung Human Rights Compensation Law that was passed during the time of former President Noynoy Aquino. So, mayroong naipasang batas para mabigyan ng kaukulang kompensasyon 'yung mga biktima o kaya 'yung mga mahal sa buhay ng mga biktima ng Batas Militar.
At sa bahagi ko na biktima ng Batas Militar at ‘yung iba pang mga families of victims and survivors of Martial Law, I think, I mean, that is something to celebrate. Kasi, mayroong recognition on the part of the state. On top of that, 'yung mayroong kaukulang compensation. Although that is secondary kasi, when people became active during the Martial Law period, despite the risk, the difficulties of the period hindi naman inisip na eventually may makukuhang compensation. Pero, I think one major victory is 'yung recognition itself that there were victims of human rights violations during the Martial Law period, and I think that is something which the current government cannot deny.
16:27 *Music*
AD BREAK
16:35
Cholo: Hello sa aming listeners! Ako si Cholo, kasama si Dee. May tanong kami: naghahanap ka ba ng internship o volunteer work na may tunay na impact?
Dee: Kung oo, naku, perfect timing! Ang Philippine Human Rights Information Center o PhilRights ay bukas sa mga interns at volunteers na gustong mag-contribute sa advocacy para sa karapatang pantao.
Cholo: Basta interesado ka sa human rights, we want you! Sa PhilRights, matututuhan kung paano mag-research, gumawa ng reports, at mag-engage sa real-world issues na talagang mahalaga sa mga Pilipino.
Dee: Maraming pwedeng maiambag na tulong sa human rights movement, mula sa pag-document ng human rights violations hanggang sa pagtulong sa pagbuo ng mga grassroots campaigns. Iba’t-ibang tasks na magbibigay ng hands-on experience sa field ng human rights.
Cholo: At syempre, hindi lang puro trabaho, makakakilala ka rin ng mga taong passionate at dedicated sa pagsulong ng social justice.
Dee: Kaya kung gusto mong ma-experience ang realities on the ground, at makita ang epekto ng teorya sa tunay na buhay, PhilRights is the place for you.
Cholo: Madali lang ang mag-apply! I-email lang kami sa info@philrights.org. That’s info@philrights.org. Isend lang ang inyong curriculum vitae at ikwento ang inaasahan mong maranasan, at paano mo gustong mag-contribute.
Dee: Let’s make your academic journey meaningful! Tara na at isulong ang karapatang pantao kasama ang PhilRights!
Cholo: Email lang sa info@philrights.org. See you soon!
INTERVIEW PART 3
18:25 *Music*
18:27 Noa: From experience po, what are ways to combat or paraan para labanan ang historical revisionism po?
18:36 Prof. Nymia: Of course isa d'yan 'yung talagang tuloy-tuloy pag-aaral sa bahagi ng mamamayan particularly, lalong-lalo na sa hanay ng kabataan at estudyante n'ong kasaysayan. Being able to access reliable, reputable materials produced by historians, by social scientists, by academics, talagang exposing what took place during the Martial Law period. My belief is that there are a lot of materials, it's just a matter of talagang being able to access those materials. That would be one. So continuing education, discussion using the classroom. Both the elementary, high school, senior high school and college level, kumbaga talagang make conscious effort on the part of faculty members or teachers to incorporate this, to include this in the study of Philippine history. 'Yung gan'tong mga pangyayari.
Siguro another is for those who are still alive and have experienced the consequences or the effects of Martial Law, siguro it would be a call or a challenge on them to write. To write down their experiences. To come out with a lot of rich materials, narratives which the youth and students can read and enrich their knowledge about what happened in the past.
Bukod doon sa tuloy-tuloy na pag-aaral, tuloy-tuloy na pagsusulat at pananaliksik kung ano talaga ang naganap noong panahon ng Batas Militar, siguro, another effective way of addressing historical revisionism is through theater. Mga dula, ng mga musical plays na ang tinututukan ay tungkol sa kaganapan noong Batas Militar. Parang katulad 'yan n'ung... n'ong panahon ng American colonial rule, some of the Filipino writers, poets came up with materials in the form of a play exposing 'yung mga, the repression, exploitation experienced by the people during the American colonial rule. Tapos ano siya, entertaining at the same time nakaka-educate nakaka-raise ng political awareness. Mayroon pa palang pang-apat. May efforts ngayon d'yan through Martial Law Memorial. There is actually an offshoot of the Human Rights Compensation Act to come up with a memorial. Parang, like it's some kind of a museum where our young people can visit para malaman, mapagyaman 'yung kanilang kaalaman tungkol sa kaganapan n'ong panahon ng Batas Militar. I think that would be another effort to move forward and at the same time, not to forget this particular phase of Philippine history.
21:53 Noa: 'Yon, bago po tuluyang magsara ang tindahan, pinapasalamatan po natin si Prof Nymia Pimentel-Simbulan. 'Ayan, mayr'on pa po ba kayong dagdag na mensahe?
22:07 Prof. Nymia: Meron lang akong isang mensahe lalong-lalo na sa kabataan at estudyante.So parang they are confronted with a lot of materials, a lot of technology that can be used to distort the truth, that can be used to distort history. For instance, 'yung phenomenon ng historical revisionism. That's why it's very important on the part of the general public, particularly youth and students, to continue doing research, to continue asking questions, to continue reading materials whether these materials are exposing the truth or not.
Kasi sa pamamagitan ng ganitong klase ng mga pagkilos 'yung mag-aral, magtanong, magsaliksik d'on mo matutuklasan ang katotohanan. Kasi, if you do not question, if you are not skeptical then you become a prey of misinformation, disinformation.
23:16 Noa: Um, I agree po na, it is important to be critical of the information we absorb. Na fact checking and media literacy is key para malabanan ang misinformation and 'yung pagkalat ng fake news.
CLOSING SPIEL
23:29 *Music*
23:34 Noa: Maraming mahalagang impormasyong naibahagi ni Prof. Nymia. Nalaman natin mula mismo sa nakaranas ng Martial Law na gawa-gawa lamang at hindi totoo ang "Golden Age" era. Walang "Golden Age" na naganap, panahon ito ng pang-aabuso, korapsyon at pagpatay sa mga karapatan ng mga Pilipino. And I think, history doesn't repeat itself. It's just that the same mechanisms are still in place. Katulad ng pagkalat ng maling impormasyon at pagbaluktot ng katotohanan. At ang nagiging epekto nito ay nanganganib pa rin ang mga karapatan natin.
Kung kaya't kailangan natin ipaglaban ang katotohanan, kilalanin ang sakripisyo ng mga bayani't martir, at pakinggan ang mga naratibo ng mga biktima ng Batas Militar. Huwag natin hayaang masayang ito, para sa hustisya pati na rin karapatan nating lahat.
Ayun, dito na nagtatapos ang episode tungkol sa Historical Revisionism. Salamat sa pakikinig sa 'Yang Human Rights na 'Yan! Hanggang sa susunod na episode. Paalam!
Read up on Martial Law! Check out these resources:
Martial Law Museum of the Ateneo de Manila University
Online Martial Law Museum by DAKILA
The Conjugal Dictatorship by Primitivo Mijares at the Internet Archive