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The Solicitor, Polytechnic University of the, Manila (2025)

21/09/2025

𝐅𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄 | 𝚁𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚂𝚎𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛 𝟸𝟷: 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝟻𝟹𝚛𝚍 𝙰𝚗𝚗𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚊𝚛𝚢 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙳𝚎𝚌𝚕𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚘𝚏 𝙼𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚒𝚊𝚕 𝙻𝚊𝚠

September 21, 1972, remains one of the most pivotal dates in Philippine history. On this day, then-President Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. signed Proclamation No. 1081, placing the entire country under Martial Law. For some, this date signifies order, discipline, and the promise of a “new society.” For others, it stands as a stark reminder of repression, curtailed freedoms, and human rights violations. As we mark the 53rd anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law, it is worth reflecting on what this chapter means for us today, as citizens and as custodians of democratic values.

Martial Law was justified at the time as a response to rising lawlessness, communist insurgency, and secessionist movements. The 1935 Constitution granted the President the power to declare Martial Law “in case of invasion, insurrection, or rebellion, or imminent danger thereof.” Marcos’ proclamation suspended civil liberties, closed Congress, and empowered the Executive to rule by decree.

Yet, beyond the legal justifications, the lived experience of Martial Law cannot be ignored. Thousands of Filipinos were detained without warrant, censorship of the press became widespread, and dissent was silenced. Reports from human rights watchdogs documented instances of torture, extrajudicial killings, and enforced disappearances. Indeed, the promise of a revitalized nation came at the cost of democratic space and individual freedoms.

The end of Martial Law in 1981 and the eventual ouster of Marcos through the 1986 People Power Revolution restored constitutional democracy. The framers of the 1987 Constitution took deliberate steps to ensure that the excesses of the period would not be repeated: they tightened the conditions for declaring Martial Law, limited its duration to sixty days, required congressional concurrence, and mandated judicial review – a safeguard that was notably absent during Marcos’ regime.

Fifty-three years later, the memory of Martial Law is still contested. Some argue that the period was one of infrastructure growth, discipline, and economic reform. Others caution against historical revisionism, emphasizing the human cost and the danger of unchecked executive power. As such, we are called to approach this debate with critical minds – to balance legal theory with historical truth, and to champion constitutionalism even when doing so is inconvenient.

Commemorating the Martial Law’s anniversary is not about reliving the past for its own sake. It is about vigilance – reminding ourselves that democracy is fragile and that the rule of law must always prevail over rule by force. It has been often said that “𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐯𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐲.” As we commemorate the 53rd anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law, let us reaffirm that promise: never again.

21/09/2025

𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐑𝐘

Ulan ng takot,
Bumuhos nang walang babala.
Sa ilalim ng gintong korona,
Ang tinig ay naging bulong,
Pinilit na gawing p**i ang madla
Ang mga matang nakasaksi
Bigla ay naging tulala.

Sa dilim ng gabi,
Isang sigaw ang sumiklab.
Hindi ng galit, kundi ng pag-asa,
Bagong henerasyon ng mga boses
Mga boses na handang tumindig
Mga boses na kailanma'y di mapatatahimik
Muli, ang mga kamay ay maghahawak,
Ang mga puso ay mapagtatagni.
Hindi sa ngalan ng isang tao,
Kundi sa ngalan ng lahat.

𝐍𝐚𝐠-𝐚𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐛 𝐧𝐚 𝐩𝐮𝐬𝐨, 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐰 𝐚𝐲 𝐡𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐲𝐚
𝐓𝐚𝐦𝐚 𝐧𝐚, 𝐬𝐨𝐛𝐫𝐚 𝐧𝐚
𝐇𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢 𝐧𝐚 𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐡𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐤 𝐩𝐚

Ang bulaklak ay muling bubukadkad,
Ang puno ay muling mamumunga.
Ang pagkakaisa ang naging ugat,
Ang pag-ibig sa bayan ang naging bunga.

21/09/2025

𝐋𝐄𝐆𝐀𝐋 | 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙇𝙖𝙬 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜

On September 21, 1972, Dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos issued Proclamation No. 1081, formally declaring a state of Martial Law throughout the Philippines pursuant to the powers vested in him under the 1973 Constitution and the Commander-in-Chief clause of the 1935 Constitution [1]. On the evening of September 23, 1972, Ferdinand Marcos addressed the nation through television and radio to announce that Martial Law had been declared in the Philippines [2].

The proclamation cited threats to national security, including the alleged communist insurgency led by the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), as well as incidents of lawlessness, rebellion, and subversive activities. These, according to the proclamation, endangered public safety and the stability of the Republic.

Under Martial Law, the President assumed both executive and legislative powers, authorized the military to maintain peace and order, and curtailed certain civil liberties in the name of preserving the State. This included restrictions on freedom of speech, press, and assembly, as well as the arrest and detention of individuals considered a threat to national security.

From a legal standpoint, the declaration of Martial Law exposed both the strengths and vulnerabilities of the Philippine constitutional system. The Commander-in-Chief powers, while designed to protect the State, were wielded to consolidate power, dissolve the legislature, control the press, and silence dissent. Although the 1935 Constitution granted the President the prerogative to declare Martial Law, it lacked the clear limitations, checks, and accountability mechanisms later introduced in the 1987 Constitution. The Supreme Court’s doctrines during that period, most notably in Javellana v. Executive Secretary (1973), further legitimized the authoritarian framework by allowing the continuation of Martial Law’s effects despite questions of constitutional validity [3].

Martial Law fundamentally altered the relationship between the State and the people. The promise of order and stability was overshadowed by widespread reports of arbitrary arrests [4], torture [5], disappearances [6], and suppression of political opposition [7]. State power was exercised not as a shield for the people but as an instrument to entrench political control. Its legacy continues to provoke national debates on justice, accountability, and historical truth.

For today’s generation, the commemoration of Martial Law carries urgent contemporary relevance. 𝙄𝙣 𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝙧𝙪𝙡𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙘𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙙𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙘 𝙫𝙖𝙡𝙪𝙚𝙨. It challenges young Filipinos to remain vigilant in protecting civil liberties, to exercise their right to suffrage conscientiously, and to demand transparency and accountability from leaders.

Ultimately, the commemoration is both a legal and moral duty. It reaffirms the supremacy of the Constitution and the rule of law. To forget Martial Law is to risk repeating its mistakes; to remember it is to uphold the dignity of those who suffered, the resilience of democratic institutions, and the enduring commitment of the Filipino people to freedom and justice.

[1] Proclamation No. 1081, s. 1972
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1972/09/21/proclamation-no-1081/
[2] Radio-TV Address of President Marcos
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1972/09/23/radio-tv-address-of-president-marcos/
[3] Javellana vs. Executive Secretary, G.R. No. L-36142, March 31, 1973
https://lawphil.net/judjuris/juri1973/mar1973/gr_36142_1973.html
[4] FAST FACTS: How Marcos silenced, controlled the media during Martial Law
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/how-marcos-silenced-media-press-freedom-martial-law/
[5] Worse than death: Torture methods during martial law
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/121365-torture-martial-law-marcos-regime/
[6] Melencio, G. (2019) STORIES OF THE NAMELESS: EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS OF MARTIAL LAW VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS
https://www.ukdr.uplb.edu.ph/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4953&context=journal-articles
[7] Library of Congress – Country Studies. (n.d.). Philippines – Proclamation 1081 and Martial Law. https://countrystudies.us/philippines/28.htm

21/09/2025

𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐓𝐎𝐑 𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝟓𝟑𝐑𝐃 𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐀𝐑𝐘 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐄𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐋𝐀𝐖 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝐎𝐅 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐒𝐓

Today, September 21, marks the 53rd anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law under the former dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. This serves as a dark chapter in the Philippine history when the rule of law was not merely suspended, but desecrated. A period when legal institutions were systematically weaponized to suppress dissent and entrench authoritarian rule. While thousands were disappeared and killed, the law was used to manipulate justice and serve power rather than to protect the people.

As law students and legal practitioners, we are bound not only by the duty to know the law, but to uphold it against its distortion. We cannot forget that Martial Law was made possible not just by military might, but by legal complacency. It was upheld by the silence and complicity of those who should have defended democratic institutions.

Today, we do not remember Martial Law in silence. We remember it in protest and in action because its legacy of corruption and impunity is still very much alive.

We reject all attempts to whitewash the crimes of the past. We condemn the ongoing erosion of democratic norms and institutions. We demand full accountability, not only for those who once trampled our freedoms, but for all who continue to betray the public trust today.

We therefore call on everyone, including members of the legal profession and law students to join the movement. March with the people. 𝐁𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭: 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞.

We join the nationwide call to action today, not only to commemorate the victims of dictatorship, but to demand accountability for today’s abuses of power. Let today be a reminder that when the law is bent to protect the powerful, it breaks the lives of the powerless.

Let this day serve as a reminder that the law will never again be a tool for tyranny. Our profession demands vigilance and an unwavering commitment to justice, especially when those in power seek to pervert it.

Let our presence in the streets show that the law is not dead and that we will never again allow the rule of law to be buried under the weight of silence and fear.

NEVER AGAIN. NEVER FORGET. JOIN THE PROTESTS. DEFEND THE RULE OF LAW.

—--
Photo Credit: The Catalyst

19/09/2025

𝐋𝐄𝐆𝐀𝐋 | Upholding the Rule of Law

Under Proclamation no. 1477, series of 1975, every September 19 of every year is declared as Law Day [1]. Furthermore, under Proclamation No. 640 Series of 1995, every third week of September of every year shall be declared as the Philippine National Law Week [2]. These proclamations recognize the indispensable role of the administration of justice in sustaining a sound and vigorous democracy, and the vital part lawyers play in the promotion of the government’s socio-economic programs.

For today’s law students, young lawyers, and civic-minded youth, Law Day is a reminder that the practice of law is not merely a profession, but a public service. It calls on them to embrace the values of integrity, accountability, and ethical leadership amid pressures of competition and digital disruption. The legal profession must adapt, but never at the cost of justice or fairness.

Law Day serves as a national reminder of the legal profession’s duty to uphold justice, protect rights, and strengthen democratic institutions. Every year, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) and various lawyers’ organizations are urged to mark the occasion with ceremonies, public forums, and legal aid activities that promote access to justice and legal awareness [3].

In observing Law Day, we reaffirm our collective commitment to the enduring principle that no one is above the law and no one is beneath its protection.

[1] Proclamation No. 1477, August 7, 1975
https://lawphil.net/executive/proc/proc1975/proc_1477_1975.html
[2] Proclamation No. 640, September 1, 1995
https://lawphil.net/executive/proc/proc1995/proc_640_1995.html
[3] PROCLAMATION NO. 158, September 06, 1963
https://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocs/7/86528

18/09/2025

[SoliciThoughts #024]

A tightening knot I cannot unbind,
A frantic race within my mind.
Will I ever outrun it all?
Will I ever dodge the nearing fall?

The world goes on, a vibrant hum,
But I'm a ghost, a hollow drum.
And though I want to go on
My entire mind is occupied of bleeding crimson

The weight's too much, the air too thin,
A quiet shout from deep within.
To disappear, is my final plea,
And find some peace that’s meant for me.

Yet in that thought, a flicker bright,
The faces bathed in morning light.
A tangled web of love and care,
And leaving them I cannot bear.

So I exist, a silent stage,
A living line upon a page.
A painted smile, a breath drawn deep,
A solemn promise I must keep.

The body moves, a practiced pace,
A vacant stare in an empty space.
I walk the earth, a human shell,
Alive and breathing, but in my own hell.

-------------------------
If you're in need of someone to talk to, please dial the numbers below. You are not alone, and help is available. ❤️

National Center for Mental Health Crisis Hotline - 09190571553 or 180018881553

September is Su***de Prevention Month, and it's a reminder that a conversation can save a life. Let's look out for each other.

--------------

Bombed your recit earlier today? Missed the commute and arrived late for class? Tired from the daily struggle of being a law student? Or are you just plain exhausted with the mundanity of life? Time to share your thoughts future solicitors! 🤩

SEND YOUR ENTRIES HERE: https://tinyurl.com/SoliciThoughts

14/09/2025

𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒 | A Just Bar Awaits: PUP Barristers Aim For Excellence

España flooded with drums and cheers as familes and supporters gathered to welcome Bar examinees after the final day of the 2025 Bar Examinations despite the heavy rain and restrictions.

Spearheaded by the PUP Law Bar Operations (PUP BarOps), the PUP College of Law (PUP COL) community welcomed their warriors for braving the last day of their grueling battle.

After months of grueling preparation and three days of intense testing, Bar takers from several schools were also met with a hero's welcome. Families, friends, classmates, various law school bar operations and members of the faculty showed up in droves bearing banners, balloons, flowers, and heartfelt messages of congratulations.

According to PUP BarOps, PUPCOL sent out 76 Baristas for this year’s Bar Examination.

For many, the end of the Bar Exams marks not just the conclusion of a challenging chapter, but the beginning of a new one—as future lawyers, advocates, and public servants.

As the sun set on the final day, the echoes of joy, relief, and love reverberated across the country—proof that the Bar is not just a test of knowledge, but a testament to courage, community, and unbreakable spirit.

14/09/2025

2025 Bar Examinations:
• Criminal Law
• Remedial Law, Legal and Judicial Ethics with Practical Exercises

13/09/2025

𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒| : Day 3 of the 2025 Bar Examinations

Bar hopefuls and their supporters flock to San Beda University for the last day of the 2025 Bar Examinations today, September 14.

On the last lap of the bar, the candidates will be taking Criminal Law (10%) in the morning, and Remedial Law, Legal and Judicial Ethics with Practical Exercises (25%) in the afternoon.

A total of 11,429 candidates returned for the second day, last September 10, out of 11,437 who took the test on the first day.

Last year, a total of 3,962 out of 10,490 examinees passed the Bar, resulting in a national passing rate of 37.84%.

The PUP College of Law ranked 1st among schools with 51-100 Bar takers for first-time candidates with a passing rate of 88.52% and achieving an overall passing rate of 75.95% for all candidates for the 2024 Bar Examinations.

10/09/2025

2025 Bar Examinations:
• Civil Law
• Labor Law and Social Legislations

10/09/2025

Day two done!

One day left to claim that dot. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫 stands with you baristas in your endeavor to serve the people.

The Solicitor

21/09/2025

21/09/2025

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21/09/2025

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