A lens into Martial Law

BY KAT DELA RAMA & YEL DELENA

Martial Law happened. It was oppressive. It was vile. And it was real. The unscrupulous peddlers of fake news and disinformation would try their best to convince those who never lived through the Marcos military regime that the torture, murder, corruption, and plunder did not happen. Thankfully, there are not only news archives and essays about it, but also books and movies depicting the horrors of that dark era in Philippine history.

To mark the 50th anniversary of Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s declaration of Martial Law, here’s a list of recommendations: movies, books, and plays to help understand and never forget the atrocities committed — and to never let them happen again.

Liway (2018)

Set in the final years of the Marcos regime, this movie is about an anti-Marcos dissident, Commander Liway (Glaiza de Castro), and her son, Dakip (Kenken Nuyad), who grew up in a prison camp. Liway shielded Dakip from the horrors of reality by regaling him with folklore and mythology where she wove her experiences during the dictatorship. The film was based on actual events from the life of its director, Kip Oebanda. Liway pays homage to an important part of our history and honors mothers and the sacrifices they make so their children can live normal lives, even under difficult circumstances.

Barber’s Tales (2013)

Barber’s Tales is the story of Marilou (Eugene Domingo), a widow who took over the only barber shop in town when her husband died. Initially reluctant about the business, she mustered enough courage to reopen the shop so she could support herself. Unfortunately, she couldn’t draw any customers because the sexist men in town refused to go to a female barber. That is, not until Marilou became friends with prostitutes from the local brothel who convinced their clients to start patronizing her business. The movie was set against the backdrop of the early days of the Martial Law era and tackled the themes of female solidarity and liberation under a patriarchal society beset by political turmoil.

Pisay (2007)

Pisay is a touching coming-of-age film about a group of students who entered Philippine Science High School during the final years of the Marcos dictatorship. It shows how they navigated the challenges of academic life at a time when so many things were unfolding outside the campus.

Canal de la Reina

by