Martial Law Perspectives from the People: An Analysis of the Interviews Conducted by the Students of Readings in Philippine History

Abstract

The study aims to aid the students in their further understanding of Martial Law in the Philippines inasmuch enable them to experience history through the perspectives of the Filipinos who had experienced the event. Marcos’s Martial Law was widely known as one of the darkest events in Philippine history. Incidents during those years continued to be remembered by the new generation whose platform of learning spans the schools and Internet browsing. Despite the remembrance, some information on the said event was being distorted by false narratives. Using the oral history methodology by the college students of Readings in Philippine History, the study aims to provide a deeper understanding of the event, with the support of Gadamer’s theory of perspectives in the analysis of various accounts, not only from civilians of Metro Manila, but also from several regions of the country. In addition, the interviews gathered may shed a light on some of the notable misconceptions about martial law in history.