UNFRIENDING A MARCOS LOYALIST

By Philip M. Lustre jr.

(Author's Note: I posted the following in a social networking site almost three years ago. I take pride being unfriended, or defriended, by a Marcos loyalist. Proof: I am still intact after such unfriending.)

A few days ago, a known confidante of Bongbong Marcos unfriended (or defriended?) me in a social networking site in reaction to my comment on his post, which was a picture of Ferdinand Sr. and Imelda during their happier days in Malacanang.

It was nice picture, by all means. Knowing the legacy they have left to the country, I commented: "worldclass kleptocrats."

I did not see anything wrong with what I did. It stemmed from deep personal conviction.

This is a free country and I can say what I want. Whenever I post something, I have learned to live with the negative comments, sarcasm, and innuendos of other people, who disagree with me.

I have experienced the disparagement of the most toxic people. But I have learned to take them in stride.

This is democracy. I have to endure the cacophony of voices in this world.

The former friend wrote me a private message telling me that instead of berating, he would just unfriend me.

Fine. I could live with that. But not without me saying the last words. The former friend was obviously living in another world, when people would say hosannas whenever the pictures of his idols are put on public display.

I could not imagine Philip Lustre Jr. saying: "Good job Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos."

The former friend was obviously unaware that when he put something publicly, he could expect the public to react in so many ways imaginable or not imaginable.

He must have thought that martial law was still in effect in the Philippines.

Or martial law was the best thing that had ever happened to this country and we owe its development to what the Marcos did.

The Marcos legacy is comprised of three major things: over-centralized graft; crony capitalism; and wanton human rights violations.

Marcos and his ilk controlled big ticket projects and received commissions from big fat government contracts at the height of martial law.

In their haste and disorientation at the height of the EDSA Revolution in 1986, they left the Palace with plenty of incriminating pieces of evidence that confirmed the high level of graft in government.

Marcos also nurtured a stable of friends and cronies, whose main function was to corner those fat contracts and build monopolies.

He expected these cronies to build the national economy, but they later fattened their pockets.

This was wrong judgment on his part and history will certainly judge him harshly on this score.

Marcos likewise put into jail tens of thousands of political activists, critics, and ordinary citizens, approved their indefinite incarceration and torture, and summary execution and caused the eventual disappearance of thousands. 

The legacy of Marcos is still fresh in our collective mind.

I would not expect the former friend to understand the Marcos legacy.

I do not think he is capable of understanding this level of thinking.

But I would not just remain still and quiet.

I would definitely say my piece no matter how unpalatable it would sound to him. 

The Philippines is a nice country.

It is a country of forgiving people.

Had the Marcos did the same to any other country, they would definitely line the wall and get shot.

I rest my case ...