All things dark and booty-full
All rackets great and small
All things rank and plunder-full
"The politician's made them all!"
"We needed a 're-structuring'
Of our unjust society."
The clamor "Change!" was echoed
Re-echoed to satiety.
"We faced the gravest danger---
The Republic's impending fall!
A 'democratic revolution'
Was launched to save us all!"
The top-most politician
Then ruled us by decrees
Behind him, martial power
"So as to keep the peace!"
"A rule 'authoritarian'
A crisis government'"
A plain dictatorship
Until his power's spent!
He got a Constitution
"Approved." By a show of hands!
By voters and non-voters
In parks and grandstands!
"A change from presidential
To parliamentary."
With a period of "transition"
As certain as uncertainty!
This was since Seventy-Two.
And that was long ago!
And how's the nation now?
Today? Why, don't you know?
Another "Referendum!"
The alternatives they weave?
If "Yes," he'll stay. But even
If "No," he cannot leave!
The government's still run
By casuals, high and low.
The test of tenure's whether
You're Marcos' friend or foe!"
The people still are silenced
And feed on "guided news."
The press still has "freedom"
Of tolerated views!
For truth is still "subversive!"
And dissent --- "sabotage!"
And normalcy remains ---
A promised dream. A mirage!
To: My child, MariVic
on her 16th birthday
17 November 1977
License: (license)
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