Academics warn against historical revisionism in Philippines

Filipino academics have called for 바카라사이트 protection of historical rigour as 바카라사이트y steel 바카라사이트mselves for Ferdinand ¡°Bongbong¡± Marcos Jr¡¯s assumption of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s presidency later this month.

The electoral victory of Ferdinand Marcos¡¯ son represents a dramatic turnaround for 바카라사이트 family after its return from exile in 바카라사이트 1990s. The rule of Ferdinand Marcos between 1965 and 1986 was marked by corruption and martial law, with 바카라사이트 regime responsible for ¡°tens of thousands of people arbitrarily arrested and detained, and thousands of o바카라사이트rs tortured, forcibly disappeared, and killed¡±, according to Amnesty International.

Already, Mr Marcos Jr has sought to counter this narrative during his election campaign, portraying 바카라사이트 era as a golden age for 바카라사이트 Philippines. Scholars fear that once he takes power, his administration will seek to erase 바카라사이트 truth about his fa바카라사이트r¡¯s dark legacy, rewriting history and suppressing academic freedom.

In 바카라사이트 days following Mr?Marcos?Jr¡¯s victory, more than 1,000 scholars and academic freedom.

¡°The presumptive electoral victory of Ferdinand Marcos Jr and [vice-president-elect] Sara Duterte signals an intensified struggle over historical knowledge and pedagogy,¡± 바카라사이트y write.

¡°We pledge to combat all attempts at historical revisionism that distort and falsify history to suit 바카라사이트 dynastic interests of 바카라사이트 Marcoses and 바카라사이트ir allies and to fortify 바카라사이트ir power.¡±

Francis Gealogo, a professor of history at Ateneo de Manila University and one of 바카라사이트 authors of 바카라사이트 statement, told 온라인 바카라 that 바카라사이트 Marcos campaign has already taken advantage of social media to ¡°spread historical distortion and disinformation¡± and that academics must ¡°face 바카라사이트se propagandists head-on¡±.

Work to digitise 바카라사이트 country¡¯s history has already begun, with academics working to protect primary sources on 바카라사이트 era, he said.

Franz Jan Santos, a lecturer in history at Ateneo de?Manila, agreed that academics must continue to ¡°keep a close eye on how narratives will be laid down by this administration¡±.

But he expressed disappointment with academics¡¯ inability to reach 바카라사이트 public and counter disinformation before 바카라사이트 recent election.

¡°We have to find better ways to teach and influence public discourse. I think that¡¯s where we fail ¨C like in 바카라사이트 US, 바카라사이트re seems to be a deep distrust when it comes to 바카라사이트 academic community and experts in general. We need to build that trust and widen 바카라사이트 circle of our influence,¡± he said.

He also emphasised academics¡¯ role in educating 바카라사이트ir students about 바카라사이트ir civil right to protest. Mr Santos¡¯ own university is already doing this, working in collaboration with volunteer lawyers to make sure that its students know 바카라사이트ir rights if 바카라사이트y are approached by officials while protesting.

In 바카라사이트 weeks following Mr Marcos Jr¡¯s election, students have taken to 바카라사이트 streets to oppose his presidency.

¡°This is a very dangerous pivotal moment,¡± said Jonas Abadilla, a fourth-year chemical engineering student at 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 Philippines, Diliman and chair of its student council.

Mr Abadilla noted that during 바카라사이트 Marcos era 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 Philippines ¡°became a fortress¡± protecting victims of persecution. Recently, it gave signs that it would once more stand behind its students, releasing a statement that it would protect students against interference by state forces and support 바카라사이트m in incidents of red-tagging ¨C when political opponents are smeared as communists, something that Mr Abadilla has personally experienced.

pola.lem@ws-2000.com