After ten years of military rule and some changes in the life of the Filipino which started under the New Society, Martial Rule was at last lifted on January 2, 1981.
To those in government, the lifting of military rule heralded a change. To their perceptions, the Philippines became a new nation and this; former President Marcos called “The New Republic of the Philippines.”
A historian called this the Third Republic. The First Republic he claimed was during the Philippine Republic of Emilio Aguinaldo when we first got our independence form the Spaniards on June 12, 1898.
The Second was when the Americans granted us our independence on July 4, 1946. This period, January 2, 1981, was the Third Republic when we were freed from Military Rule.
During this period, it cannot be denied that many people seethed with rebellion and protest because of the continued oppression and suppression.
This was further aggravated when former Senator Benigno S. Aquno Jr., the idol of the Filipino masses, whom they hoped to be the next president, was president, was brutally murdered on August 21, 1983.
This stage of the nation had its effect on our literature. After the Aquino assassinated, the people’s voices could no long be contained. Both the public and private sectors in government were chanting, and shouting; women, men and the youth became bolder and their voices were raised in dissent.
THE PALANCA AWARDS
-The Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for literature
- launched in 1950 (see Chapter 7, The Renaissance Period)
- continued its recognition of the best in the literary fields – poetry, short story, essays, and the one and three-act plays.
In 1981, the winners were the following:
First Prize: Jessie B. Garcia’s –“In Hog Heaven”
Second Prize: Luning Bonifacio – Ira’s “The Party Hopper”
Third Prize: Jesus Q. Cruz – “In These Hallowed Halls”
In 1982, those