THE Marcos Legacy, a long-awaited book authored by this writer and published this week by Brown Madonna Press and Amazon’s CreateSpace for local and international editions, respectively, presents a glittering galaxy of multidimensional episodes wittingly ignored and distorted for more than three decades now.
In 446 pages, “the book exudes a classic and panoramic vista of events that metamorphosed to the chronicled history of the country. It rights the wrongs and omissions wittingly or unwittingly omitted and rectified,” said retired Justice Manuel ‘Lolong’ M. Lazaro Jr., who wrote the introduction of the tragic life of the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos.
“His perceived illegal acts have been incessantly repeated to veil a veneer of truth to submerge or marginalize his landmark contributions, particularly in the political and legal system. But, as the surrealist painter Salvador Dali once said: ‘The difference between false memories and true ones is the same as for jewels: It is always the false ones that look the most real, the most brilliant,’” Lazaro said.
To drive home his point, he also quoted the great playwright William Shakespeare who wrote in an epigrammatic tone: “The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones.”
Lazaro added: “It is typical of some people to have short memories of another’s good deeds, but long memories of the other’s bad or perceived wrongs.”
FM’s place in Philippine history is secured
According to Lazaro, “The beneficiaries of the February 1986 accidental events of time, place and personalities, remarkable only for being unremarkable in constitutionalism, have fashioned and sustained a litany and barrage of adverse publicity to efface President Marcos from the tapestry of history.”
Marcos’s achievements and contributions are a matter of record. To obliterate his achievements/contributions from the pages of history is to distort the past and mislead the future.
“Succeeding administrations have inordinately used laws and the media to destroy or consign Marcos to oblivion, notwithstanding his solid unprecedented achievements for the good of the nation and its people,” argued Lazaro, chairman emeritus of the Philippine Constitutional Association.
He explained that good deeds, especially those beneficial to the nation and the people, cannot be effaced or expunged. “Good survives and triumphs in the end. FM’s place in history is secure. The Marcos laws abound around and benefit us. They are embedded in our legal system and they continue to govern and guide the nation. Marcos’s vision and foresight in lawmaking for governance are richly illustrated by the varied and numerous legal issuances.”
Number of FM legal issuances
Between September 21, 1972, and February 25, 1986, President Marcos had crafted and formulated, with the assistance of experts, 7,883 presidential decrees (PD) and other legal issuances that have the force and effect of law covering
almost every phase of human life or conduct—from birth to the grave, so to speak.
They are categorized as follows:
- a) Presidential Decrees (1 to 2036).
- b) Letters of Instruction (1 to 1525).
- c) Letters of Implementation (1 to 157).
- d) General Orders (1 to 61).
- e) Executive Orders (366 to 1093).
- f) Administrative Orders (349 to 504).
- g) Proclamations (1081 to 2486).
- h) Memo Circulars (599 to 1297).
Significantly, out of the 2,036 presidential decrees issued, only 67 PDs have either been repealed or modified. The minimal percentage of 67 PDs either repealed or modified by Executive Order 187 of former President Corazon C. Aquino were the decrees increasing the penalties for certain offenses against public order and security, e.g., PDs 38, 1735, 1834, 1974 and 1996.
These legal issuances were designed not only for the past, but also for the present and the future. Gifted with legal acumen, Marcos adorned his legal issuances with wisdom and justice, and embellished them with compassion for the welfare of the nation and its people. They are exclusive of the hundreds of laws that he authored and/or sponsored as congressman and senator for almost two decades.
A leader of phenomenal vision
President Marcos was a leader of phenomenal global vision. He dreamed of greatness and relentlessly pursued its realization and fulfillment. He was a leader ahead of his time. Perhaps, it is for this reason he was often misunderstood and unappreciated. But in time, after the winds of hatred and vengeance shall have flown away, he will be remembered as the greatest Filipino lawgiver.
Through its 17 chapters, the book draws its intense analytical narration and exposition of events from the works of many historians, scholars, writers and important people, including politicians, economists, sociologists and national security experts, who pieced together a comprehensive and insightful account of the destabilization and ouster of the Marcos regime.
Is Marcos a heel or a hero?
IT depends. It is a matter of perspective. He is a hero to those who are aware and appreciative of his remarkable performance and achievements. However, he is a heel to those who envy his ingenuity, vision and foresight and to those who seek revenge and hatred.
“At time’s healing hands, FM will be vindicated. He is a great man unjustly judged at the wrong time by the wrong minds. Time and history will vindicate his vision and foresight, especially in lawmaking. Generations freed from the ugly blemishes of hate, vengeance and prejudice will look more kindly and with gratitude on his achievements and contributions to the nation,” Lazaro said.
To reach the writer, e-mail cecilio.arillo@gmail.com.
1 comment
Yes, the Legacy of FM will live and affects our lives as Filipinos, good or bad but can never be erased by those who hate him and his legacy stays till kingdom time considering his descendants will carry on his good deeds.Mabuhay and God bless.