In the latest episode of the podcast ‘Yang Human Rights na ‘Yan, hosted by the Philippine Human Rights Information Center (PhilRights), historical revisionism in the context of Martial Law in the Philippines was examined. Professor Nymia Pimentel-Simbulan, Executive Director of PhilRights and Chairperson of the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA), was the guest for the episode, offering critical insights into the issue.


The episode opened with host Noa introducing the topic of historical revisionism, emphasizing its relevance as the anniversary of Martial Law approaches. Noa welcomed Professor Simbulan, highlighting her long history as a human rights advocate and former political prisoner during the Marcos dictatorship.


Discussing the importance of continuously commemorating Martial Law, Professor Simbulan explained how essential it is to remind the younger generation of the sacrifices made and the human rights violations that occurred under the regime. She stated that this vigilance is especially crucial given the current administration's ties to the former dictator.


When asked about the claim that Martial Law was a "Golden Era" in Philippine history, Professor Simbulan rejected this narrative, stating it was only a golden era for the ruling elite and the Marcos cronies, who amassed wealth during that period. For the vast majority of Filipinos, including workers, farmers, and indigenous peoples, it was a time of immense suffering due to human rights violations such as extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, and torture.


The conversation shifted to the impact of historical revisionism, where Professor Simbulan defined it as the distortion of historical events to serve selfish interests. She highlighted the danger of this practice, particularly for the youth, who did not experience Martial Law and are vulnerable to being misled by false information. She called for efforts to expose and educate the public about the true history of Martial Law to prevent these distortions from taking root.


Towards the end of the episode, Professor Simbulan shared ways to combat historical revisionism, emphasizing the need for continuous education, access to reliable materials, and the importance of writing down personal narratives from those who lived through the era. She also suggested using creative means such as theater and plays to expose the atrocities committed during Martial Law, likening it to the works created during the American colonial period that educated and raised awareness through artistic expression.


The episode provided listeners with a comprehensive discussion on the dangers of historical revisionism and underscored the importance of remembering and learning from the past to prevent history from repeating itself.


Listeners can catch the full episode on Spotify.