Accolade to Martial Law: The Termination of Proclamation 1081 in State-Controlled Media
Philippine Social Sciences Review
The aim of this research is to analyze the practice of narrative molding through a textual overview of selected media pieces circulated by the Marcos Administration—particularly concerning the lifting of the state of Martial Law on January 17, 1981. Given the significance placed by the Marcos Regime on media projection, I argue that the occasion of removing Martial Law on paper was instead used as its advertisement and enshrinement. Marcosian rhetoric would seek to touch upon both public and partisan realms, pitching Marcos leadership as both saving the nation against a perceived enemy, and as an agent of positive human development. Such frameworks thus necessarily situate the “New Society” in the same association as the “good” of Marcos.
Keywords
Martial Law
Media
Marcosian Rhetoric
Faculty Involved:
Lorenzo Jose C. Martinez
Teaching Associate
Focus: The Marcos Regime, Media, Mindanao-Bangsamoro, Human Rights