Remembering and forgetting the memories of violence: the Filipinos protest over hero’s interment for Marcos, 2016-2017

Abstract

This article examines the divergence in social memory about Ferdinand Marcos’ rule into two types of historical narratives following the announcement made by President Duterte in 2016 to bury the Marcos’ remains in the Heroes’ Cemetery or Libingan ng mga Bayani. The historical narratives were divided into two major school of thoughts which comprised the national narrative that was propagated by President Rodrigo Duterte and the opposition narrative advocated by the victims and relatives of Marcos’ human rights violence. The protests and demonstrations took place from 2016 until 2017, before and after the interment of the remains through various forms and methods including street protests and internet activism. Thus, this study shows that the changing of political ideologies has changed the national narrative since the memories of violence during the Marcos’ regime are gradually lost from the social memory of the society. The proponent of President Duterte and Marcos’ legacy demand justice for the late President Marcos for his contributions to the country, while those who oppose President Duterte as well as the victims of Marcos’ cruelty, try to revive the memory about Marcos’ spate of violence. Their demands are voiced through their protests over Hero’s burial for Marcos.