Interview with my Grandmother – Ernestina Oriola

As I am patiently waiting at the dining table, camera in place, Ernestina Oriola, seventy-seven, leisurely makes her way to her seat. She takes her time as she comfortably settles herself into the seat near mine. With a glass of water in front of her, she reclines, and with a faraway look in her eyes, slowly recalls her memories from her childhood days. Gradually, she recollects her life under Mashall Law, under dictatorship, under Ferdinand Marcos. According to Ernestina, Marcos was the best president that the Philippines has ever had, and she longs to have the president rule once more. But how could a country that calls itself democratic, ever elect a dictator? So in curiosity,  I asked my first question: “How did Marcos come to power?”

Marcos was one of the fighters and fought against the Japanese in World War II. We fought because we were allied to the American People, we were for democracy. And the Japanese, instead of attacking first, the United states, they attacked the Phillipines. Japanese wanted to get the Phillipine Islands. Yes, the Filipinos recognized him as a hero.

He was brilliant… and bright. He had the… the power of controlling the government, the people around him. I think he went into congress and from the congress, either took representative of the congress or the senate first.

In the first two years, when he was president, it was okay, because he had good advisors. First two terms- first two elections… okay, it was well, good, because umm he… at this time his secretary of… Enrile. He had no rivals, all his rivals are not… they are not so famous. Not equal… Not equal with his intelligence. And Aquino was just here in the United States during that time. Aquino went home, his intention was to run against him in a different party… not the party where Marcos belongs. Aquino was killed he was going down the stair of the airplane… he was out on the stair, going down, he was shot… I think through the initiative of Imelda Marcos, who wanted to… who planned, to kill him. It was Imelda Marcos that was the suspect. It was a suspect, that- she wanted to kill him- the motive of killing him is a suggestion or the plan of Mrs. Imelda Marcos.

At first, they thought it was Marcos, but by that time Marcos was already sick when Aquino tried to go home to the Philippines. Imelda was very important… Very influential. Especially when it comes to finding funds, getting funds for types of disruption… And because at that time we were, the people, were suspecting that the wife was the one ruling, dictating Marcos. Imelda Marcos… very… what do you call that? Very powerful because, after when they left Malacanang, my God. They were so…Three hundred, three thousand pieces of shoes, and all the jewelries they were able to get her, just for Imelda.

I think 1968, something like that, he dictated Marshall Law because the people were then already uprising, when they, when they knew that he is trying to be- he was trying and, and enforcing harsh law.  But, he was then sick, and it was then again the… it’s also the plan of Imelda, through the help of this…this body guard…Ver. Then at the time the military was- the military is for the government…even the first one, they are called the government.
         

Map of Philippines. Capital: Manila, Birthplace of Ernestina Oriola

The last term, was when all those things happened. All those events. Bad already… First and second term was okay, he was, popular. Then on the third term, when the people knew it was Imelda running the government, the last term… that was the suspect, there was cheating…

  Well, my life, during that time… I think, 1941-42… It’s okay… the food and the… everything… still good. It was only the last part. There was no rationing at all, during that time… No rationing because he was already sick.

  No more elections after the last term because he planned to go home to Ilocos. The United States, instead of bringing him back to Ilocos, they directed the moving of the family to Hawaii.

  He only restricted freedom of speech, speech only. If you speak against him, somebody will catch you and there are people around for Marcos to locate and it will be based on you, and you will be caught. I was young then and people stopped talking already. Even some of Marcos’ staff are afraid of him.

  During that time, More or less, there are news papers being sold at the side walk, like Filipino News, like that. Not official, that’s just to breakdown and know everything about Marcos and his administration. The chief newspaper… they are against Imelda and was not controlled by the government. Only the Times and Herald were controlled by the government. We didn’t have TV then at the time and there was a government radio.

The public… we fared for ourselves. I think the government was collapsing, during the time of Imelda because when Aquino was shot, they had no more candidate for the next election.

There were no strikes, the people just became aggressive when Marcos was already ill and it was Imelda controlling the government. They say some of the businesses is part of the government, underground. The economy was good. Billions… It’s just so hard, because our population then, is not as big as now.

The police were okay. The Philippine people that time they were very good. They just follow.  It was only during the time of Imelda, they can be corrupt if they know that they settled peace with certain families, and then this family give them… Bribes. There were no search warrants, if you just go out quietly, then they take you to the police station. We only hear things about court trials.

  The poor people, they were hand to mouth, they are paid daily, two pesos, two pesos every day. Then one day, finally they got tired, so they, they really wanted that there will be no Marshall Law, but it was not successful. The People’s Power was not so successful… not so much. It was not really democracy, not so… Not democracy that you are really… fair enough, one hundred percent.

It was all Imelda’s fault, she was behind everything. Marcos was a great president in the first two terms. Yes, I would have chosen him again.

                                                                                                                                              Interviewed by Eugene Oriola