Caliel Lualhati KAS 1-U Besides the idea that we already know how the Philippines and Indonesia are much more similar in culture, and geography. They also seem to coincide in terms of Political dynasties reigning over information distortion for years on end in their own respective countries, history also shows how effective this system was with the Marcos and Prabowo administration in deceiving people. It is important for us to understand these similarities and differences since there is a unique pattern between the two. Prabowo winning in the current elections is like showcasing what it was like for Marcos to eventually win back in 2022. Stangio (2024) states that the two of them individually have relations with a dictator, and another with an ex-son-in-law. Both were degraded and exiled after the fall of Ferdinand Marcos Sr. in 1986 and the fall of Suharto in 1998, wherein they also got to insert themselves back into power. Indonesia had it way tougher than the Philippines under dictatorship, indicating 32 years under Suharto vs only 14 years it was considered one of the most excruciatingly brutal controlling experiences ever. This also showcases how the wealth of the people was thrown into useless bargaining, resulting in economic inequalities. The relatives of the thirteen activists who vanished in 1998, dressed in sky blue, assembled in front of Jakarta's Presidential Palace as supporters. They displayed images of the generals they believed to be accountable for their loved ones' disappearances, including one of Prabowo, according to The Associated Press. "Mr. Paian Siahaan, 77, urged the news agency, "Prabo, if you are going to be president, please resolve the enforced disappearance cases so that we, the victims' families, can have peace." Which looks like the same blueprint for how the Martial Law was declared. According to Bicker (2022), 70,000 people were imprisoned, 34,000 were tortured and over 3,200 people were killed in the nine years after Mr Marcos imposed martial law, as told by Amnesty International. People who were innocent were forced to admit that they were communists, hence not even knowing the meaning of the word itself. Records of constantly being tortured were also taken into account by many of our historians, so how did we let the same thing slip past us again this time? Some say it’s because how the current generation did not still exist during the period of the Prabowo and Marcos administrations, hence our textbooks lacking substantial data regarding their governing in those eras succeeded in implying that they were great leaders. Another would have to be how Camaraderie works against two political parties. The idea that you are assured a position in exchange for the people’s trust and of course table negotiations, evidently worked. Although it is already proven a point that we have now become more proactive, participating in various organizations and even self-educating ourselves, it is still very unfortunate that we are on the receiving end of both of these families who just won because of their selfish needs and hunger for power. Dulay (2023) states that there are 3 factors to be considered as to why Marcos eventually won again: simply because of History, Duterte, and Home, which is why suppression is nowhere to be found. As reported by Jamil Flores “Neither the Indonesians nor the Filipinos have a long political memory,” a Filipino writer, Jakarta Globe columnist, and foreign policy observer who has been working in Indonesia for 22 years. In conclusion, Indonesia and the Philippines share and favor a collective memory with our history being enclosed in political turmoil. As much as we wish for the country to improve, and look back: we still also have a long way to go with proving that the people we elected are not the people we should be tolerating. References: ● Bicker, Laura. “Philippines Martial Law: The Fight to Remember a Decade of Arrests and Torture.” BBC News, 28 Sept. 2022, www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-63056898. ● Dulay, D., Hicken, A., Menon, A., & Holmes, R. (2023). Continuity, History, and Identity: Why Bongbong Marcos Won the 2022 Philippine Presidential Election. Pacific Affairs, 96(1), 85-104.a ● Macaraig, A. (2014, July 6). Marcos, Prabowo and a failure of memory? RAPPLER. https://www.rappler.com/world/asia-pacific/62546-marcos-prabowo-history/ ● Strangio, S. (2024, February 16). Indonesia’s President Congratulates Successor-elect Following Decisive Victory. The Diplomat. https://thediplomat.com/2024/02/indonesias-president-congratulates-successor-elect-foll owing-decisive-victory/
