Marcos also forcibly took hold of businesses owned by families of his rivals and critics-among them the TV network ABS-CBN, the power firm Manila Electric Company (Meralco), and banks such as the First United Bank-and handed them to his cronies. He abolished Congress, dissolved the vice presidency, canceled the 1973 presidential election, shut down mass media, and jailed critics of his administration, including senators, congressmen, print and broadcast journalists, labor leaders, church leaders, and student activists, among others. With one fell swoop, Marcos set up a one-man authoritarian regime.

That is why declaring martial law became a necessity for Marcos, Sr.-to remain in power, to continue to plunder the Philippine economy and to suppress the growing opposition to his rule. Obviously, he was not allowed to run for the office of President in 1973. Marcos was elected in 1965 and was reelected in 1969. The 1935 Philippine Constitution allows a President a maximum of two consecutive four-year terms. Short answer: to cling to power, and to continue to enjoy the perks and funds that come with being the President. The bigger question, however, is why Marcos declared martial law. Did Marcos secretly declare martial law on September 21, and then wait two days before announcing it? Did Marcos antedate the proclamation? Was it because twenty-one is a multiple of seven, and the number seven is said to be the favorite of Marcos, who is widely believed to be obsessed with numerology? The Official Gazette, the principal publication of the Philippine government, however, dates the declaration of martial law back to September 21, 1972.įrom the outset, there was something sneaky or sinister about this declaration. spoke on national television and radio to announce that he had imposed martial law on the entire Philippines. That day, September 23, at exactly 7:17 p.m., then-President Ferdinand E. Who stole my cartoons? Who robbed me of my right to watch cartoons on a Saturday after a full week of school? And then I was mad-teeth-gnashing, lip-curling mad. Still, just static.Īt first, I was confused. I smacked the TV set, thinking that there was something wrong with the reception. But on that fateful day, there was nothing on TV. One TV channel used to show cartoons all day- Popeye, Sinbad the Sailor, Harvey Comics, Gumby, and the likes. I was still in grade school in Manila, and it was my habit at that time on Saturdays to watch animated cartoon shows on TV. I remember the day martial law took effect.

Martial law tv show watch