Many in the Philippines still carry the weight of Martial Law in their bones. The heavy weight of grief remains with every glance at untouched rooms. Their story is untold by textbooks but whispered among families and passed down like heirlooms.
As the country marked the 52nd anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law, the many ways this period continues to be remembered through literature, media, and space come into focus. Most recent is the planned construction of the Freedom Memorial Museum here in UP, mandated by Republic Act 10368 or the Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013. After significant delays, including issues with land transfer, the date for the deed signing has been scheduled for tomorrow, with its construction set to begin in December.
When completed, the Freedom Memorial Museum will house artifacts, documents, and personal accounts that reveal the realities of the Marcos regime. Once a weapon of the dictatorship to spin a tale of triumph, architecture will now be used to honor victims and raise awareness about the corruption and atrocities committed during Martial Law.
Constructing a ‘Golden Age’
Under their rule, Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and Imelda Marcos developed an 'edifice complex,' marked by their obsession with constructing grandiose buildings. These projects were used strategically to project an image of prosperity and gain public support, as Gerard Lico highlighted in his book “Edifice Complex: Power, Myth, and Marcos State Architecture.”
Marcos Sr. reinforced his power over the economy and society by investing in large-scale projects. The opulence of structures like the Cultural Center of the Philippines diverted attention from discontent and human rights abuses, serving as monuments to the regime's manipulation of public perception.
Decades later, these structures were used to revise history to serve the interests of the Marcos family, and frame their regime as a ‘golden age.’ By glorifying their contributions to infrastructure, they perpetuated a narrative of disinformation that downplays the brutal cost of their 14-year dictatorship. The family and their cronies have also leveraged this distortion of history to evade accountability and rehabilitate their reputation, a tactic evident in the 2022 elections.
Resistance Through Memory
The construction of the Freedom Memorial Museum serves as a counternarrative against efforts to obscure memories of the dictatorship. In a joint statement from UP and the Human Rights Violations Victims’ Memorial Commission, they underscored the museum's vital role as an educational resource and a poignant reminder of the nation’s history.
By housing nearly a million artifacts, from documents detailing the Marcos family’s ill-gotten wealth to affidavits of Martial Law victims, the museum provides a space where history is not just remembered but actively reclaimed.
"Ito (Freedom Memorial Museum) ang dapat nating igiit, kasi bahagi ito ng paglaban para sa katotohanan, katarungan, at para ilinaw natin kung ano ang panawagan para sa pananagutan," said Mong Palatino of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan.
With the museum standing alongside Marcos-era architecture, two different sites of memory emerge—a concept introduced by historian Pierre Nora. These sites are spaces where history and people’s collective memory anchor themselves, shaping how societies remember or forget the past. While the structures from the Marcos regime were designed to erase its dark legacy, the Freedom Memorial Museum will stand as a site that helps solidify historical truth. It will resist disinformation, providing a dedicated space for education and commemoration.
How Museums Tell Our History
It is imperative, then, to make these spaces more accessible and affordable to fulfill their role as sites of memory. By shedding light on important historical events like Martial Law, museums enrich our knowledge of the past and our experience of the present. When there are no barriers to museum accessibility, they not only deepen our understanding of historical narratives but also encourage dialogue, reflection, and a deeper appreciation of it.
For as long as societies have existed, there have been efforts to preserve their stories and legacies in tangible ways. By transforming space into representations of history, culture, and experience, preservation goes beyond simply commemorating the past; it actively shapes how it is remembered and understood.
Over time, these physical environments become embedded in the collective memory of a society. Collective memory refers to the way a group remembers and interprets the past as defined by sociologist Maurice Halbwachs. It is formed beyond individual interactions and is shaped by the group’s shared rituals, symbols, and stories. This understanding is built through common experiences—such as seeing a landmark or celebrating a national holiday—which together help people develop a shared meaning.
Museums are a prominent example of how collective memory is constructed. As seen in the “Bantayog ng mga Bayani,” commemorating the martyrs and heroes of Martial Law helps form a shared historical narrative—one of resistance and collective action. This underscores how museums are not just storehouses of artifacts but living and dynamic accounts of history, deeply tied to the people who visit and interact with these spaces. Moreover, while physical spaces like museums offer tangible accounts of history, digital archives like Arkibong Bayan also democratize access to historical documents and narratives to engage with a broader audience.
For a nation still grappling with the scars of its past, space and infrastructure can be a reminder of a painful history. However, these spaces can also be reclaimed to preserve the truth. As the atrocities of Martial Law are yet to be acknowledged or apologized for, the Freedom Memorial Museum amplifies the voices of those silenced during this period of repression—a reminder that while the truth can be distorted, it cannot be forgotten. ●
