Seeds of Democracy

By: Justine May Gappi

Current president Rodrigo Duterte warned the public that no one could stop him from declaring martial law if the situation in the Philippines becomes “virulent.”

From democracy in to dictatorship, this is one of the most controversial issue and rumor in our country that’s mainly the reason that causes peoples’ attention in to chaos and to reminisce, once again, what happened way back years ago in our country.

It’s true that our lives were the product of brave heroes who fought and sacrificed their lives with great eagerness in attaining freedom that we desired for such a long time; until Philippines’ flag was raised by Emilio Aguinaldo in Kawit, Cavite last June 12, 1898.

Years of being independent, we’re like children who are just beginning to learn how to walk. Downfalls were experienced but always standing firm. With a thought that freedom is unending, a man clothed with armors, powers, and riches stolen from us, ruled diversely from what should be. Instead of having democratic government, he changed it to dictatorship.

Ferdinand Marcos declared Martial Law in order to have all the powers. The darkest times in our country wherein journalists, press, media, do not have the rights to make their work- to inform the real happenings and wrongdoings of the government and authorities, the human rights violations, killings, corruptions and such.

The freedom that the Filipinos had won over from Spaniards was once again, taken, making the people whether young and old, rich and poor, strong ones or weaklings unite together protesting, voicing out, and fighting without violence making the whole world astonished.

With the happenings in the current situation, history seems to repeat itself once again. Rumors of bringing back Martial law ‘unacceptable’.

If Martial Law will be implemented, our forefathers’ and heroes’ sacrifices will all go in vain. If situations come up to worst and the government pushes through with the implementation, do we need another hero to light up our hopes? What will happen next? Are we just going to rely and depend onto others?

In our anxious quest for national development and given the vulnerability of democracy, our responsibility must match with peoples’ patriotism during the dark times of our country, Martial Law.

Developing love for our country, freedom and the unity of the people must forever be engrossed graved in our consciousness.

Qualities and optimisms of a hero is a must so it’ll serve as stepping stone for what Philippines will become years from now.

Freedom is never won once and for always. It must be sustained. Take freedom and democracy as if it was a seed that needs to be watered and sheltered, requires nurturing and caring by its owner, by us, Filipinos.