INTERTWINED HISTORY

UNEDITED SAMPLE LITERARY ARTICLE
by Therese Romaine Nalangan Rustia
IV - Michael Faraday


The history of the Philippines has been remarkable and its story has been preserved so that it can be passed on to generation after generation of Filipinos. What began as a home for nomadic people, the place became a civilization and soon is a country slowly paving its way to development. Throughout those years, journalism has been a part of history. It had its own tale to narrate but it is also a significant portion of all that had happened in the country.

In the course of history, it showed that from Lapu-Lapu’s time until the Spanish regimen, from the years that Japan seized our country till the Martial Law, the love that the Filipinos felt for their country was immense. Working together, they fight for their freedom. Media has played a big role in all of this. When Tomas Pinpin published Successos Felices, the first Philippine newspaper, the birth of writers sprang and began using the power of the pen to reach out to the Filipino people. When the revolutionary period began, many newspapers, which served as the weapon of propagandists, were founded and published. Though some appeared to be nonchalant, beneath its masks are the hidden agendas that attack the oppressors of the country. Many still, chose to directly reveal themselves as newspapers that exposed the cruelty of those who have colonized their nation.

Newspapers such as La Solidaridad, Ang Kalayaan, La Independencia, and La Revolution served their purpose as they revealed the brutality and ruthlessness of the Spanish government and the Spanish church. These woke the nationalism in the hearts of men. These opened the eyes of the Filipinos to the truth so that they may face it. And these enflamed the spirits of the people that made them revolt against their oppressors. Graciano Lopez-Jaena, Antonio Luna, Marcelo H del Pilar, Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio and Emilio Jacinto were some of the writers who spoke only of the truth that was needed to be exposed.

During the American colonial period, La Independencia, El Grito del Pueblo, Kapatid ng Bayan, El Filipino Libre and El Renascimiento among others, continued to shout their cries for freedom this time from the hands of the Americans. Ing Masala, the guerrilla publication of HUKBALAHAP (Hukbong Bayan Laban sa Hapon), also deplored the Japanese government.

Even as the Filipinos finally achieved liberty and democracy, it ended when Ferndinand Marcos signed Proclamation No. 1081, putting the entire country under his power through the Martial Law. As new laws were implemented, the publication of newspaper was also controlled. But this did not stop the journalists to find a way to inform the Filipinos of what was happening in their nation. Some of these writers were Maximo Soliven, Roberto Coloma, Mauro Avena, Henry Romero, and Arlene Babst bravely faced their castigation.

Their courage was not wasted as the Filipino people united to break free from the bonds of Marcos through the People Power Revolution. On February 25, 1986, the Philippines is once again a democratic country. Circulation of tabloids and periodicals were permitted.
Nowadays, the press has the freedom to inform the people of the events happening in the country. The Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Philippine Star and Manila Bulletin, are presently the three most popular newspapers in the country.

What we know of history now is because of those writers who have taken account of what has happened and of those newspapers who have helped preserve these events.