Danilo P. Vizmanos - Martial Law Diaries, and other papers

and other papers

Danilo P. Vizmanos

Published and Distributed in the Philippines

by

KEN incorporated

QUEZON CITY

Published by KEN INC.

Quezon City, Philippines

Distributed by POPULAR BOOK STORE 305 T. Morato Ave.

Quezon City 1103, Philippines Tel. No. 372-2162 Telefax: 372-2050

ISBN 971-8558-44-6

Vizmanos, Danilo P. 2003. Martial Law Diary

Printed in the Philippines

i ii iii iv v vi vii

In memory of Manong Tony Zumel

whose favorite quotation,

' I shall pass this way but once; any good or kindness therefore that I can do for my fellowmen,

Let me not defer nor neglect it,

For I shall not pass this way again."

best describes his humble services to the toiling masses.

Published by KEN INC.

Quezon City, Philippines

Distributed by POPULAR BOOK STORE 305 T. Morato Ave.

Quezon City 1103, Philippines Tel. No. 372-2162 Telefax: 372-2050

ISBN 971-8558-44-6

Vizmanos, Danilo P. 2003. Martial Law Diary

Printed in the Philippines

i ii iii iv v vi vii

In memory of Manong Tony Zumel

whose favorite quotation,

7 shall pass this way but once; any good or kindness therefore that I can do for my fellowmen,

Let me not defer nor neglect it,

For I shall not pass this way again."

Family members and friends who contributed to the realization of Martial Law Diary and Other Papers: Daughter Diana who shared the cost of a new printer that facilitated the review and editing of the manuscript; grandchildren Demi, Caroline, Kevin and Japeth who served as errand kids and providers of overdue meals and other services; the late Manong Tony Zumel who gave guidance and valuable pointers on effective article and letter writing; Ka Satur Ocampo who readily obliged to provide the Foreword; Auring Go who provided needed resource literature and computer materials; Lito Ocampo, Arkibong Bayan, Marie Hilao-Enriquez and Karapatan Staff for photo contributions; Bonifacio Ilagan for the special feature on Southern Tagalog 10 victims; Teddy Casino and Bayan Staff for valuable contributions to the book launching affair; and to my publisher who gave me the opportunity to share my thoughts through this book.

My sincere appreciation and thanks for your generosity and kindness.

BY SATUR C. OCAMPO

As the author points out in his Preface, Martial Law Diary is not a personal diary in the conventional sense, devoted as it is mostly to accounts, observations and comments on significant happenings during, the early and critical stage of martial law.

Ka Dan (as we, who have worked with him in the progressive mass movement, fondly call retired PN Capt. Danilo Vizmanos) suggests that his diary be regarded as a source reference for political and social education and enlightenment. He has in mind specifically two sets of readers: first, members of the First Quarter Storm generation who have lived through martial rule, but who are now afflicted with amnesia on the essential character of the Marcos martial law regime; second, the larger section of todays younger generation who hardly know anything about martial law and are apathetic to the alarming revival of the excesses and abuses of the New Society that was supposed to have gone with the downfall of the conjugal dictatorship of Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos.

On this point I can only agree with Ka Dan. Moreover, I think that this diary may as well be regarded as an account - sketch and staggered thought may be - of the quantum advance and consolidation of the authors own political and social enlightenment, and the sharpening, with an effluence of new insights from extensive reading and observations, of his political-military education.

Entries in the diary denote how the author applied his time, after voluntary retiring from military service in protest of the martial law declaration, to a regimen of prodigious reading of the books, periodicals and various publications even as he rigorously sought information on what was going on from a variety of sources. He specifically delved into a deeper examination of the ideological and social underpinnings and strategy and tactics of the Chinese Revolutionary war led by Mao Ze Dong and the then still raging US war of aggression in Vietnam.