Stuck

'THOSE who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." (George Santayana)

'Ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay hindi makakarating sa paroroonan.' (Jose Rizal).

This is now the favorite quote of the week.

Nice. This is an admonition we learned from childhood to adulthood. It taught us about the Filipino virtue of 'utang na loob'. But the same is applicable to our recollection of our historical past and some current memories which are impaired by our penchant for politics.

In the incendiary speeches of the protesters to the Marcos burial at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani (LNMB), the focus should have centered on what they claim is a national sentiment and condemnation of martial law regime that has to account for the despicable atrocities and repression in that era. That while he was once President and soldier, the mayhems that took place in that dark history of the country are reasons enough to deny him the burial in the heroes' cemetery.

These emotive issues, however, do not find sympathy in the magistrates of the Supreme Court. On the other hand, President Rodrigo Duterte, a lawyer, said in his many interviews that he will abide by the decision of the High Court on the internment of (former president Ferdinand) Marcos in the LNMB. The political opposition, who joined the protesters, are now holding Duterte accountable for the burial of Marcos which is a vain attempt to discredit the sitting president.

But there are more dramatics to the recent display of anger and emotionalism over a burial. To add more numbers the diminishing protesters, the organizers which include the Catholic Bishops of the Philippines and naturally Catholic universities, timed their rally on Bonifacio Day. Mar Roxas, surfaced from somewhere. Adamant to say anything after suffering that ignominious electoral defeat he instead appeared in symbolic black. The fading couple Christian and Winnie Monsod lent their presence to give the assembly some historical notes but they were over shadowed by the theatrical announcement of resignation of the head of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, Maria Diokno. This was to be followed later by her subaltern.

Former Aquino loyalist Sen. Rene Saguisag was resurrected from hibernation. As always, his language is always colorful and erudite even as it has all the shaded monochromatic lemon. And if that was not enough, from lethargy and stink of decaying Yolanda relief donations, (Corazon) Dinky Soliman with her classic carmine and buttery clump of hair intoned 'Duterte is accountable for the burial of Marcos.'

The millennials, by now, should have realized that they were being taken for a ride by the dwindling tribes of Aquino worshippers. They cheered when Sen. Leila De Lima waded through the crowd with a sticker on her chest that boldly announced 'Never Again'.

But what was there to recall if remembering the sins of the past is what we should expose to teach us a lesson. The history of our country did not begin and end with Marcos regime. And here lies the test of who has the courage to tell and face the truth. University of the Philippines Clarita Carlos proposed to convoke historians to write our history but even as she made the suggestion in her Facebook Page, the cynics already expressed doubt, whether historical truth, will ever be achieved.

Which is rather sad. So how then can we relate to the millennials the chapters before and after the Marcos regime? Are they aware of the Harry Stonehill scandal that revealed the magma of corruption that tarnished the government bureaucracy to include Congress before and during the Diosdado Macapagal (DM) administration? DM, of course, had some of the most spectacular performances as President. The litany is too long to print in this piece but it took only a blue book which unmasked those in the take from Stonehill's largesse to destroy what the poor boy from Lubao had built. Macapagal ordered the immediate deportation of Stonehill but that did not help. He lost on that issue to Ferdinand Marcos.

Macapagal's caper was remembered in recent time. The Stonehill's lists was said to be as scandalous as the list kept by Janet Napoles. The 'Queen of all Scams' listed members of Congress who were on the take during the Benigno Simeon Aquino III regime. A high-school dropout, Napoles claimed she was tutored by PNoy's (Benigno Aquino III) trusted man on how to set up Foundations as conduits of congressmen's pork barrel and how to fake project accomplishments and fork out the billions of people's money bilked from the operation to the pockets of the honorable crooks.

I wonder at this point whether the millennials knew that when the scandal broke out because one senator complained he received less than what the others received PNoy immediately ordered the manhunt of Napoles and even placed a prize for her arrest. Scared, she called Malacanang Palace to say that she will give up. Mar Roxas, the BFF of PNoy, fetched her with a limo and brought her to Malacanang instead of locking her up in Camp Crame. Before she could face the press, she was obviously tutored on what to say and then assured that she will not be locked up in jail but confined in PNP detention center in Tagaytay City.

We of course knew of Marcos. Let's forego with the so-called 'golden era of Marcos' since to do so we will likely be labeled 'revisionist of history'. Cory (Corazon C. Aquino), the 'icon' of democracy was heir to the people power or EDSA revolution. Her first act was, in fact, to establish a revolutionary government and swore she will only be a transitory President. But she abolished congress, dismissed all duly elected local government officials and installed new characters of her choice.

The now President Rodrigo R. Duterte was among the reluctant appointees (as vice mayor of Davao City). She reneged on her agreement with Salvador 'Doy' Laurel who was to be Prime Minister and she -- the ceremonial President. She appointed to top positions, Juan Ponce Enrile and Fidel V. Ramos, the chief architects and enforcers of the martial law regime of Marcos martial rule.

If Marcos regime has transgressions against humanity, Cory was not short of these. While she ordered that every landless will be given land, her clan saw to it that Hacienda Luisita be intact. The farmers of course resented and staged rallies in Plaza Mendiola near Malacanang Palace and in the gates of the hacienda in Tarlac. They were mowed down by machine gun fire. The only difference between the two regimes is that many Marcos victims were tortured and shot while those who perished during Cory's term were quickly and summarily executed.

As her term almost came to a close, it was clear among her partymates that Speaker Ramon Monching Mitra, her loyal follower, was to be her anointed candidate. Mitra won decisively during a party convention and indeed he was proclaimed. FVR (Fidel V. Ramos), who lost the nomination, however proceeded to run anyway. Nobody ever had an inkling Cory will support FVR but she did. Monching (Ramon Mitra) lost that election the one which the late Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago insisted she won. That election was to be the start of 'dagdag-bawas' technology.

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was to redeem the image and legacy of her father. She took over the helm of the embattled Pres. Joseph Estrada who was embroiled in jueteng money (Php500-million), forced by People Power 2 to leave the palace via the Pasig River, got impeached, sentenced but later granted absolute pardon by his successor. That bacchanalian regime abruptly ended. But GMA, who saved the country from economic perdition while the rest of Asian countries were in doldrums, was herself to be nailed on the cross because of 'hello Garci' and 'I am sorry' incidents. She won over Fernando Poe Jr. by a slim margin and was accused of rigging election results. She admitted to have called Comelec Commissioner (Virgilio) Garcillano and then appeared on nationwide TV to apologize. She read a statement of apology written for her by a cluster of her cabinet secretaries, who, after singing 'we will hold on together', left her the following day. The Brutuses are known in our political history as the famous 'Hyatt 10'.

She weathered the unkind stabs but there were more to come. She put a marginal note, 'okay' on the request of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Board of Directors for a Php366-million which earned her a plunder case and detention. As if that was not enough, she was tainted in the ZTE broadband deal which she later scrapped. While in detention, she suffered a serious medical condition in her neck bone that would have needed delicate surgery. She was to fly out of the country only to be stopped by then Sec. of Justice Leila De Lima. She endured the humiliation and the pain and forced by circumstances submitted herself to series of delicate operation at St. Lukes.

In retrospect, and after a series of congressional hearings that relate to drug operations and woman's frailty, the maximum sentenced inmates who had some dalliance with a top government official who held them by the balls actually enjoyed better amenities and royal treatment than a former President. (The Supreme Court dismissed charges against GMA last July 19, 2016. She is now free.)

Noynoy Aquino was swept into the Presidency amidst the necrology that followed the death of his mother. Zero in his performance both as member of the House of Representatives and the Senate, his credential was being the son of the famous parents. But his entry and exit from Malacanang are fraught with eerie and bloody events: the massacre of Chinese tourists in Luneta and the massacre of 44 members of the Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police. Both incidents were indicative of lax and inept leadership which institutionalized corruption in the Philippines.

What about incumbent Pres. Rodrigo Duterte? Too early to judge. Presently he is busy fixing the damage wrought by his immediate predecessor.

Just tidbits of history that may merit some protest placards and bare butts the next time around. But let us not get stuck to stagnation after remembering some of our sordid past.

(Mr. Jun Ledesma is a community journalist who writes from Davao City and comments from the perspective of a Mindanaoan)