This letter is about a controversy in the Philippines today—the controversy over the proposed burial of the brutal Philippine dictator, Ferdinand E. Marcos, at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (Cemetery for Heroes).
The dictator’s family and his obviously unthinking supporters are pushing for the idea. But there are those opposing the move, including many social and civic groups in the Philippines and Filipinos around the world, among them the US Pinoys for Good Governance (USP4GG), the Overseas Filipinos for Good Governance (OFFGG), the Filipino United Network-USA (FUN-USA), three anti-graft advocacy groups. We say, “No! Marcos is no hero!”
Even the blind can see clearly that Marcos was no hero. He was a villain who killed the integrity of the Philippines and the dignity of the Filipinos. To this day, Filipinos still feel the harsh aftershocks of his iron rule.
Let us, Filipinos, be wise and just, and have common sense. Let us not change the definition of heroism. More importantly, let us not revise history. Truth matters. Let us momentarily forget politics and personalities. Let us be objective and honest, and call a spade a spade.
We would be the laughingstock of the world if we choose to declare Marcos a hero, which will, by logic, automatically make the late Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. and former President Cory Aquino, and the millions of other freedom-loving Filipinos, the villains.
When the world is ready to accept the likes of Hitler, Stalin, Saddam and Bin Laden as heroes, then, and only then, can we, Filipinos, consider allowing the brutal dictator Marcos to be buried in the Libingan ng mga Bayani. To do so now would only desecrate the sacred and noble resting place of our genuine heroes, and prove to the world how hopelessly dumb and stupid we are as a people.
But, actually, if you think about it, the more pertinent question should perhaps be: Since Marcos had mercilessly raped and devastated the Philippines, does he even deserve to be buried in our soil?
—PHILIP S. CHUA, MD, FACS, FPCS, chair, Filipino United Network-USA, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, scalpelpen@gmail.com