BONGBONG: STOP BLAMING MY DAD FOR THIS NATION'S ILLS
MANILA, FEBRUARY 26, 2012 (MANILA TIMES) Written by : Ed Lingao,
Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism - Filipinos have
short memories, unfinished businesses
THERE IS another version of the EDSA People Power story, but it is one that
EDSA veterans aren't liking.
In this new version, former President Ferdinand Marcos is portrayed as the
real hero of EDSA for refusing to fire upon the assembled crowds in February
1986; EDSA was a gathering of military adventurists, veteran professional
protesters and communists, and hakot crowds; and Corazon Aquino stayed tucked
away in the safety of Cebu while unwitting civilians put their lives on the
line.
Marcos is hailed as the one who built massive infrastructure projects and
rebuilt the economy; he is also the one who turned back the communists at the
gates of Malacanang by declaring Martial Law.
In addition, Marcos is portrayed as a close friend of oppositionist
Benigno 'Ninoy' Aquino Jr., whom he jailed during Martial Law. In fact, this
version says, Marcos and Ninoy would even chat with each other using scrambler
telephones. As such, Marcos could never have ordered Ninoy's assassination.
As the nation marks the 26th anniversary of what the world has come to know
as the People Power Revolution, young Filipinos who never experienced the events
of February 1986 are left wondering again what all the ruckus is about.
But what is most striking is the fact that this alternate version of the
story is one that more and more young Filipinos are tuning into – and apparently
identifying with and liking.
This new version of the People Power story is being told over the Internet
through social media sites, in a nine and a half minute video that seems like a
cross between the Angry Birds game and the movie 'Gladiator,' with
heart-pounding music, bold primary colors, and moving graphics, yet with simple
lines of text that are well attuned to what one viewer calls the "Powerpoint
generation."
Hidden truths?
Titled "Ninoy + People Power: Hidden Truths the Media is not Telling Us!",
the video began gaining popularity in YouTube by the middle of last year and has
since become viral. It has appeared or has been reposted in numerous websites
and YouTube channels, and pops up repeatedly in FaceBook. (WATCH VIDEO
BELOW)
The video's creator, who calls himself Baron Buchokoy, maintains a YouTube
channel called PinoyMonkeyPride. As of mid-February, the video that was posted
in Buchokoy's YouTube account in June 2011 already has more than 200,000 views.
Buchokoy implies that the video has had more views, saying that the video in
fact was just re-uploaded "since the powers that be hacked and removed it
recently from YouTube."
This is proof, Buchokoy says in his introduction to the YouTube video, that
"someone or some group is trying to hide the truth."
"Please spread the message," he adds. "Marcos is the least suspect in the
Ninoy assassination and that only 2% of the 1986 Philippine population attended
EDSA People Power. Let's end Filipino ignorance. It ends now."
[PHOTO - Ninoy Aquino and FM (Ferdinand Marcos) were more than
friends.]
IN THE past, such assertions had merely been dismissed as rumblings of Marcos
sympathizers keen on putting their own spin into the history books to
rehabilitate a fallen icon.
"The points are not very new," says Mon Casiple, executive director of the
Institute for Political and Economic Reform (IPER). "These came out immediately
after the assassination of Ninoy and right after EDSA 1."
"All these arguments were made by Marcos-aligned groups," Casiple says. "It
is a mixture of truth, lies, omissions, and, of course, a little bit of popular
handling."
"That falsification or distortion of history may go some length, but it is
like you can change the perception of Hitler and the Nazi regime," comments Rene
Saguisag, former spokesman of then President Corazon Aquino. "You saw the human
rights violations and the plunder committed by the Marcoses during their
merciless martial rule."
Old version, new traction But if the number of views and the lively and
passionate comments on YouTube are to be any indication, this new "old" version
appears to be gaining traction with the youth. Too, the video is told in the
language and the pace of the Net and video generation, something that neither
pro-EDSA nor pro-Marcos proponents were able to maximize before.
"It's effective," says 20-year-old Darlene Basingan, a PCIJ intern from De La
Salle University in Cavite, after watching Buchokoy's video. "Marcos was
portrayed very negatively in the stories I had heard about EDSA. So I wondered
if it could be true that everything about Cory was positive. Now I have been
enlightened as to the truth after watching this video."
[PHOTO - NINOY, THIS COUNTRY WILL BE GREAT AGAIN. MARCOS]
She says Marcos "wasn't all negative" during the uprising. "Hindi naman pala
niya gusto atakihin ang mga tao (He didn't want to attack the people)."
"This should be viewed by the youth," says Basingan. "I suppose everything
said here is true, based on facts, and not just someone's imagination. If that
is the case, this should be seen by other youth so they can have a bigger
perspective of People Power."
"This is the only time I learned about this," says JB, a sophomore computer
science major. "I had never seen or heard about these things in any documentary.
Not everything we heard about EDSA was true."
In Buchokoy's YouTube account, a post by MrLangam read, "I used to be fooled
by our history teacher using a false book."
"The only thing I can say is that this country needs a new Marcos, and
history needs some revision," said Maimiewow.
"I cried after watching this video… this country is dying," said Dyna1226.
"Like a patient with cancer stage4."
Meanwhile, anelio21 said, "Dami na nating nagising na mga Filipino dahil sa
video na ito. Maraming salamat sa gumawa nito (There are a lot of us who were
awakened with this video. Thank you to the one who made this.)."
Yet while the comments were overwhelmingly in favor of the video and its
message, not everyone has been a happy fan. Said genocide222: "Most people who
are commenting here are probably too young to really know what happened so
please just don't comment. Cory had a country that were in ruins in every aspect
and was destined to fail, Marcos on the other hand came in with an economy that
was one of the best in Asia and he just built on that, and he did a good job on
that. I just think he became obsessed with the idea that he is the savior? of
the country and did not want to let go. That's why he was threatened by
Ninoy."
VIDEO: NINOY + PEOPLE POWER: Hidden Truths The MEDIA is NOT
Telling Us!
This video is not Marcos propaganda, read the title, its all about what
media is not telling us. After 25 years, it is now obvious that Cory
administration is more violent with more journalist dead in her 6 year term
compared to Marcos' 20 years. She also suffered 8 coup attempts which is a
reflection of her administrations rampant corruption.
The MASS MEDIA, especially AbsCbn and Inquirer, is doing their best to
cover up the incompetencies of the new Aquino president. Pretty much the same
with what they did to Cory's presidency. This video will show FACTS that mass
media is trying to silence through the years.
This video is a RE-UPLOAD since the powers that be hacked and removed it
recently from Youtube. Proof that someone or some group is trying to HIDE the
truth. Please spread the message: Marcos is the least suspect in the Ninoy
assassination and that only 2% of the 1986 philippine population attended EDSA
People Power. Lets end filipino ignorance, it ends NOW.
Any copyrighted material that may appear herein are properties of their
respective owners. Copyright infringement not intended. We invoke U.S. copyright
law of FAIR USE. For educational and information dissemination purpose only. Not
intended for any commercial purposes.
Stop blaming my dad for nation's ills – Bongbong
Published : Saturday, February 25, 2012
00:00 Written by : AFP MANILA
TIMES
[PHOTO - Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr.]
FORMER President Ferdinand Marcos should not be blamed anymore for the
country's woes, his son and namesake said on Friday as he criticized subsequent
leaders for doing little to improve the lives of Filipinos.
Sen. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., who harbors aspirations for the
presidency, let it hang out on his Facebook page as President Benigno Aquino 3rd
prepared to lead a rally on Saturday to mark the bloodless "People Power"
uprising that toppled the strongman in 1986.
"China, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia can all point to
the progress they have made these last 26 years but unfortunately, for the
majority of our people, nothing much has changed today," the younger Marcos
said.
"Blaming past administrations will not bring food to the plates of the
hungry. Excuses bring food to the plates of the hungry. Excuses cannot
substitute for performance and results," he added.
The senator acknowledged that he was unable to pass impartial judgment on the
uprising that ended his father's 20-year rule and forced his family into exile
in the United States, but said that his political foes also promoted only their
version of history.
"Most of what we hear now from all sides are still within the ambit of
propaganda. But I certainly am concerned with the state of our country today,"
he said.
Aquino's mother, the late President Corazon Aquino, famously led the uprising
after reluctantly taking the pro-democracy leadership baton from her husband,
former Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr., when he was assassinated at the then-Manila
International Airport in August 21, 1983.
She served as president between 1986 and 1992, and earned a reputation as a
leader with strong personal integrity. She lost her battle with colon cancer on
August 1, 2009.
Her son scored a landslide victory in the May 10, 2010 elections for
president by capitalizing on the immense public support for his late mother, and
vowed to continue her agenda of fighting corruption.
The incumbent blames a culture of corruption in past administrations for
widespread poverty in the Philippines.
But while the President enjoys widespread support because of his parents, so
too does the younger Marcos.
He easily won a Senate seat in the 2010 polls and has said publicly that he
may seek to emulate his father and lead the Philippines.
His elder sister, Maria Imelda or Imee, was elected governor of Ilocos Norte
province, the family's political stronghold, while their famous 82-year-old
mother, former First Lady Imelda Marcos, is a member of the House of
Representatives.
Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE
NEWS ONLINE
All rights reserved
PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS
ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE
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