Whoever controls the past, controls the future. The Marcos Family and the 2022 Presidential

In the dystopian social science fiction novel 1984 by George Orwell, where the premise takes places in Oceania, a dystopian superstate where people are ruled by an extremely totalitarian regime, where its populace are tamed into mindless submission through brainwashing, mass surveillance, and extreme censorship and control of media. One method that the totalitarian regime uses is through historical distortion, whitewashing any negative history relating to the ruling party as to make everything that the ruling party says to be true and in turn, further legitimize their rule over the people of Oceania. As George Orwell, the novel author puts it:

“He who controls the past, controls the future. He who controls the present, controls the past.”

The same could be said of what the Marcos family is doing, especially with Ferdinand “Bong Bong” Marcos Jr. as one of the most popular presidential candidates, according to surveys. Since coming back from their exile, the Marcoses have been laying down a groundwork of misinformation most notably smearing of political opponents and spreading historical distortion during the Marcos era, which they reigned supreme for 21 years before being deposed in the EDSA Revolution.

Their famous poisons include that the Martial Law Era was a “golden age” despite being one of the most economically difficult times since World War Two, the country being the most powerful in Southeast Asia. despite Thailand, Malaysia and Cambodia outgunning us. And lastly, the Big Lie of all, that the EDSA Revolution was all the plot of the “Dilawans”, to depose them, despite the fact it was an organic movement resulting from the Marcoses oppression of freedom, corruption from crony capitalism and the stolen wealth worth billions of dollars. These poisons were gradually spread around the Internet, solidifying a ground for their eventual return.

Another nefarious scheme of the Marcoses is their cult of personality. Due to their extensive use of propaganda, misinformation, fake news, and historical negationism. Their cult of personality rivals that of Hitler, Stalin, Mao, and the Kim Family on how devoted and partisan their supporters, with taking to the extreme of deifying them.

And now, the failure of the Filipino people to learn from history, has now come back to haunt us and punish us for not learning any better. With many vouching to vote for Bong Bong, it’s not often that the place they once stole from welcomes them back with glee and open arms and with them using lies to whitewash their sins, it no wonder why the maxim “A lie gets halfway around the world before truth puts on his boot.” is one of the bitter realities of life.

To combat the return of what possible would become another dark age in Philippine history, a united opposition must form to combat these kleptocrats. Debunk every rumor they spread about themselves, no matter how futile you think it is. Let people critically think on what candidates they would choose. Do not let the sacrifice of the people who took part in EDSA go to waste. Remember, if an elected politician is corrupt, remember who put them there in the first place are the voters who were duped by empty promises and is now paying the price.

Defend democracy from authoritarian, fascist, and communist threats. Defend the essential right of liberty, not matter what.