MANILA, PHILIPPINES – In comemmoration of the anniversary of martial law in the philippines, is today, September 21, 2023 a holiday?
It all started after Marcos declared martial law in the Philippines in 1972. Through Proclamation No. 1081 signed on September 21, 1972, the Philippines was placed under the state of Martial Law.
“WHEREAS, on the basis of carefully evaluated and verified information, it is definitely established that lawless elements who are moved by a common or similar ideological conviction, design, strategy and goal and enjoying the active moral and material support of a foreign power and being guided and directed by intensely devoted, well trained, determined and ruthless groups of men and seeking refuge under the protection of our constitutional liberties to promote and attain their ends, have entered into a conspiracy and have in fact joined and banded their resources and forces together for the prime purpose of, and in fact they have been and are actually staging, undertaking and waging an armed insurrection and rebellion against the Government of the Republic of the Philippines…” The proclamation reads.
Read the full Proclamation here.
Some sources say that Marcos’ governance aimed to take over the government in order to gain absolute power. However, according to sources, it may be due to various objectives related to politics.
”NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested upon me by Article VII, Section 10, Paragraph (2) of the Constitution, do hereby place the entire Philippines as defined in Article I, Section 1 of the Constitution under martial law and, in my capacity as their commander-in-chief, do hereby command the armed forces of the Philippines, to maintain law and order throughout the Philippines, prevent or suppress all forms of lawless violence as well as any act of insurrection or rebellion and to enforce obedience to all the laws and decrees, orders and regulations promulgated by me personally or upon my direction.” The proclamation concludes.
So to answer the question, is September 21, 2023, a Holiday in the Philippines, not necessarily.
However, several rallies will take place in the national capital region in commemoration of the Martial law.
According to a post by Bantayog ng mga Bayani Foundation Inc.’s Facebook page, various sectors and organizations have announced their activities today which carries the year’s theme “Paggunita at Paglaban” (Remember and Fighting).
“This is in commemoration of the 51st year since the imposition of martial law in the country by then President Ferdinand Marcos, Sr.,” the groups said.
The rallies will set foot in Sen. Jovito R. Salonga Building in Diliman, Quezon City.
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