The last year of the 1960s were full of chaos and

disorder brought about by social, political and

economic problems. Graft and corruption in
government was rampant. Bribery in government
employees were inefficient and negligent.
In the rural areas, the farmer earned very little from
agriculture. In the labor sector , the problem again was
a low income. Many workers receive wages that were
not enough for their basic needs.
Most of the suffering people blamed an unheeding
government for their miserable condition. They
showed their frustration through demonstration and
rallies, many of which ended in violent dispersal and
clashes with police authorities.

As the unrest escalated, more and more disturbing
incidents happened. Some of them are discussed
below.

The discontent of farmers tenants who had grievances
against their landlords New Peoples Army
established in 1969. Later, other people who had
communist leanings joined the NPA.
After a few months, the NPA merged with the
Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) under Jose
Ma. Sison and became the armed organization of the
CPP. NPA were embodied in the 1968 Program for
Peoples Democratic Revolution in the Philippines.
The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) started as
secret organization . It was established in the middle of
1969 by a group of Filipino Muslims under the leader of
NUR Misuari.
They conducted their training activity in the island of
Pulao Pangkor in Sabah.
Just like the NPA, the MNLF was discontented with the
government.
1971 the MNLF started their attack after Buldon Incident in
North Cotabato. Afterwards, the MNLF staged a series of
attacks against Christian communities be cause they
accused the Christians of land grabbing.


The government established the Barrio Self-Defense Unit (BSDU) in
order to stop terroristic activities in the provinces, particularly in
barangays.
Frequent encounters occurred between the NPA and government
troops. The politicians established their own private armies which
worsened the situation. As the result , farmers left their homes and
neglected their farms
NPA leaders either surrender to the government or were captured .
On September 16, 1970 Commander Sumulong was captured in an
encounter in Angeles, Pampanga, while Pedro Torres, the NPA leader in
Central Luzon, was killed. In an encounter in Tarlac.
Commander Dante, the top NPA leader, was captured. With his
capture , communist influence in the country weakened. These
government campaigns against the NPA were successful because of the
BSDU.


Many students became restless and disgruntled
because of the continuous increase in tuition and the
low quality of teaching and educational facilities.
They boycotted their classes , became more violent,
they vandalized school and joined riots.
January 26, 1970 a bloody demonstration occurred
during the openings of congress. Metrocom soldiers
tried to stop the students from entering Congress as
the latter forced way in.
January 30,1790, they tried to enter Malacanang but
were stopped by Metrocom soldiers at Mediola Bridge.
There was a bloody confrontation when the student
insisted on passing through.
Seven people- six students and one laborer- died in
that demonstration.

Because of the disorder and problems worldwide, Pope
Paul VI decide to travel to remind the people of Gods
love for mankind.
Many people eagerly welcomed him at the airport but
one of them tried to assassinate him. Luckily the
attempt failed.

August 21,1971 in preparation for November election of
senators and local government officials, The Liberty
Party help a proclamation rally at Plaza Miranda.
While the candidates were being proclaimed, two
grenades were thrown at the stage by an unknown
person. Many persons were wounded, Most of them
are Liberal Party candidates.
After the bombing at Plaza Mirada, President Marcos
issued Proclamation No. 899. The privilege of the writ
of habeas corpus was suspended to maintain peace and
order to protect the people.
January 11, 1972 President Marcos lifted the suspension
through out the country. Soon after chaos and disorder
returned. A series of bombing of government and
private buildings occurred. Houses of some politicians
were bombed.
Digoyo Point is located at the Western part of
Palanan,Isabela. This was where the government scored a
major victory in its fight against the communist insurgents
.
July 4, 1972 government authorities seized the ship, MV
Karagatan which had a cargo of 3500 weapons, mostly M-
rifles, aside from medicines and electronic gadgets. The
government deemed this enough proof to show that the
subversive groups were receive help from outside the
country.
In succeeding military operation, 960 guns and other
equipment's were recovered from the Sierra Madre
mountains. The training camp of the enemy was also
discovered.
The country was endangered by activities which had the
objective of overthrowing the Marcos administration. The
suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus was not
enough to stop this activities.
President Marcos ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines
(AFP) to combat communist insurgency. It was learned that the
two communist factions existed in the country, the Maoists and
the Traditionalist. A side from this communist groups, there
were the rightists who wanted to take over the government by
means of the coup d'tat.
There was also the MNLF which wanted to control Mindanao.
On the top of these, there existed private armies maintained by
politician who wanted to propagate their power.
Which this circumstances' as basis, President Marcos declared
Martial Law on September 21, 1972.


Under Martial Law, President Marcos acquires vast
legislative powers. He made laws by means of
presidential decrees, general order and letter of
instruction.
Martial Law in the Philippines was unique. Unlike in
other countries where martial rule was also instituted
the Philippines was not rule by military men. Civilian
authority through Marcos still remained supreme.
President Marcos a new society composed of new
Filipinos were paragons of virtue-industrious,
disciplined, considerate and civic minded
To achieve this, he implemented various reforms
represented under acronym PLEDGES which stood the
following.
P- Peace and Order
L- Land Reform
E- Economic Development
D- Development of Moral Values
G- Government Reforms
E- Educational Reforms
S- Social Services
On December 21, 1972, President Marcos issued
Presidential Decree No. 86 creating the barangay or
peoples assembly in the barrios urban center.
The barangay is composed of all the people living in
the barrio or district in the city. The purpose is to give
the majority of the people a chance to participate in
the democratic processes and to able to express their
opinions regarding important issues
The barangay is headed by a chairman. A group of
barangays forms a zones and these zones compose the
city or municipality.

In 1973, President Marcos saw the need for a new constitution to
replace the 1935 Constitution. For this purpose, he convened a
constitutional convention.
In 1971 Constitutional Convention was headed by Diosdado
Macapagal, who took over the convention presidency after Carlos
P. Garcia, it conventions first president, died. It took the
convention a year to finish the Constitution. The 1973
Constitution took effect on January 17, 1973.
The 1973 Constitution provide for a semi- parliamentary form of
government and unicameral assembly called the Batasang
Pambansa
The President remained as the head of government while the
Prime Minister served as the head of the cabinet. The President
nominated the Prime minister but was elected by the Assembly.
Under the 1973 Constitution the other constitutional
offices aside from the national Assembly were the
following:

1. Office of the President
2. The Prime Minister and the Cabinet
3. The Judiciary
4. Local Governments
5. The Constitutional Commissions


While the country was under Martial Law, elections were
suspended, thus extending the term of the President. This
became a ticklish issue. To solve the problem, President
Marcos called for a referendum.
Among the things taken up in referendum were the
following:

1. Reducing the voting age from 18years to 15
2. Allowing illiterates to vote
3. Extending the term of President Marcos to another four
years or beyond
4. Allowing Martial Law to continue.
Mindanao was in chaos during the years between 1968 and 1976. The
MNLF wanted to secede from the country, partly because they said the
were not given a chance to participate in government activities.
The Tripoli agreement was entered into between the Philippine
Government and the Moro National Liberation Front on December
23,1976.
The agreement provided for the establishment of an autonomous
region to be governed by Muslim Filipinos.
In line with the agreement the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines,
Article X section 15, provided for the creation of autonomous region for
Muslim Mindanao and the Cordilleras.
These autonomous regions had the power to enact laws adapted to the
inhabitants customs and traditions. They also had the power to collect
taxes and disburse and audit funds for their regions.
The ratification of the 1973 Constitution by the people was the
first major political reform since 1974. It change the Presidential
system of government to the parliamentary system but under the
martial law, President Marcos remained at the helm of the
government.
On January 17, 1981 after eight years of imposition, martial Law
was lifted. President Marcos believed that the threat to the
Republic was gone and announced that election would be held
soon.
Before the elections, a plebiscite was held to consult the people
on whether or not Article VII,VIII and IX should be emended.
The result of the plebiscite showed that the people were in favor
in amendment. Consequently, a slight change was made on the
parliamentary system of government.
On June 16, 1981, a presidential election was held.
President Marcos won over his rivals and this was
interpreted as an approval of his achievements during
Martial Law.
Some of these achievements were in the following:
1. Infrastructure programs which included
reconstructed roads, new bridge, schools, housing.
2. Social, economic and educational development;
country side development; and flood control.

On June 30, 1981, President Marcos proclaimed the
birth of the New Republic. It was called as such
because of the many reforms implemented during the
Martial Law administration. Some people refer to this
period as the Fourth Republic.
After gaining independence in 1946, in the Philippines
refrained from establishing diplomatic ties with
socialistic states with her Asian neighbors.
The Philippines realized that her American centered
foreign policy would not remain forever and that being
Asian, her policies should be based on the situations in
the continent.
In 1975, Philippines foreign policy had six objectives:
1. Emphasis on our foreign with ASEAN
2. Friendly relationship with all nations
3. Cooperate with the other members of the Third
World
4. Helping the Arab nations maintain peace in the
Middle East;
5. Continuing relations with Japan
6. Continuing a special relationship with United States
that was adapted to a new developments in Asia.
Gradually, relationship with other nations improved.
Ties with other countries have been established
regardless of their ideologies. The country adhered to
the policy of peace, equality, justice, freedom,
cooperation and conciliation with all nations
regardless of creed and race.
Compare to other Asians nation the Philippines is more attractive to
foreign investors because of its rich natural resources. Besides, labor is
cheap and there is an abundance of skilled man power.
In order to attract more investors, the nations open door policy was
emphasized. It meant that in the Philippines, foreign investors were
given the following:
1. The right to invest in industries which are potentially successful.
2. The right to invest in developing industries and with Filipino
partners.
3. The right to own properties for a period of 30 years provide they have
Filipino partners.

There was also a change in the military bases agreement with the
Americans. The control of the bases was transferred to the Filipinos.

Ferdinand Marcos wanted to be known in Philippine
history as a great leader and a great builder. This was quite
evident in the numerous infrastructure projects that his
administration undertook, especially during the 1970s.
Financed through foreign and local borrowings, this
projects were supposed to spur investment, both foreign
and local, in the country and at the same time, provide
much needed employment for the Filipino people.
In almost all parts of the country , construction of
highways , buildings, transportation system, factories and
bridge . Projects sites began to mushroom. One such
project was the San Juanico Bridge.
San Juanico Bridge is located in Barrio Cabalawan, ten
kilometers from Tacloban City. It connect the province of
Samar and Leyte. Spanning 2163 kilometers long and 10.62
meters wide.
The San Juanico Bridge is the longest bridge in South East
Asia. This S-shape bridge serves as a vital link of the
Philippine. Highway and was envisioned by President
Marcos as an economic artery between the two provinces it
connects.
Construction of the bridge started in 1970. Built a cost of
Php 85.65 million, it took the government three years to
finish constructing thee bridge. It was inaugurated on July
2, 1973 , Imelda Marcos birthday. The inauguration served
as a special gift of President Marcos to his wife, who,
incidentally, is a native of Leyte. President Marcos dubbed
the San juanico Bridge as a Bridge of Love as a tribute to
the First Lady.
As the Republic progressed, certain events in the 1970s
prompted President Ferdinand E. Marcos to change
the course of the Philippine history. With the
proclamation of Martial Law and the institution of
certain reforms, he envisioned a New Society that was
peaceful, self sufficient, disciplined and orderly.