Ricardo_Maulion

Synopsis


The Needle in this fiction embodies Martial Law. The skull mangled exemplifies the Filipino people specifically human rights victims from all persuasions – enforced Desaparecidos to combatants, students to academicians, civilians to soldiers, peasants to landlords, laymen to religious, ordinary taxpayers to oligarchs, voters to politicians, officials to professionals, – all victims of militarization offered as sacrificial lambs in the altar of Dictatorship. The crucifix and holy rosary, guns, and bullets symbolize the protagonists – heroes and villains - and the causes and institutions they represent. The red roses, a love affair that blooms and blossoms among the main characters.          
The timeline was September 21, 1972, covering fourteen long years of dictatorship when Martial Law was declared until February 24, 1986, during the restoration of democracy ushered in by People’s Power at Epifanio de Los Santos or EDSA. Post EDSA events from Fidel V. Ramos 
to Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III or PNoy to Duterte’s presidency and Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. are briefly treated in an Epilogue.

The choice of fiction was deliberate because of its timelessness and very important lesson drawn from that historic event–the restoration of democracy no less by President Cory Aquino. Whether it succeeded or not thereafter doesn’t matter. Filipinos are that unpredictable. Their memory is way too short and the hardest to please. But what is important is we have thrown away the tyrant, award-winning Investigate Journalist Shiela Coronel emphasized restoring fourteen long-lost hostage democracy in 1986. Add to that is the consequent didactic message to all Filipinos especially the Post Martial Law babies: “Beware and never again Martial Law!” 

In format, the author uses four of Irving Wallace's criteria in writing fiction from his “The Writing of One Novel” with some innovation on grounding characters using flashbacks and other tools characterizing bestsellers like Dan Brown, Grisham highlighting the author’s premium on the relevance of the said historical event and its political ramifications surrounding the subject throughout the story. First, no loose ends in the plot. This one is a tough act to follow. The subplot should be tied together as much as possible to the end. Second, narrative excitement rings the bell for readers. Third, is the use of research to disabuse and mitigate elements of violence and sex. Treating this work as social commentary on different implacable social issues of the day was deliberately utilized by the writer given his Philosophy, Theology, and Sociology background. Note that pictorials used in the work unless indicated in the caption are meant to highlight the theme of each respective chapter. Lastly, the most unlikely ending squeezing creative  juices of the imaginative mind. Breaking the rules of writing known to man is also a challenge here. Ergo, treating the subject as fiction against the social commentary backdrop to make the narrative captivating journey instead just plain Martial Law account which is surely dry and monotonous story. 

 	How these criteria are treated and addressed by the writer especially the first, third, and fourth is left to readers and critics. Copy editing of the first draft has been done by the author using Grammarly, relevant creative writing tips culled from the internet from the likes of Ernest Hemingway, Jeff Goins, Catherine Reid, Cynthia Jones-Shoeman, Joe Bunting of NaNoWriMo, Billy Wilder, and Pruelpo, an FB friend and OFW dabbling as free-lance writer and guru. The third is actual editing from Ricardo S. Maulion Jr., my son, doing the proofreading. I have yet to accept any copy editors to do the favor for me packaging this project into a cohesive whole work.





Ricardo F. Maulion

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Email ad: ricardomauliond1205@gmail.com

THE NEEDLE

Notes and Bibliography cited from fiction and Epilogue:


(NB: There were too many from readings. Cited here are just those saved from file – RFM)


1.     English translation of Ode to Mt. Sungcal


What is bright sunlight breaking early dawn?


Bringing hope to still yearning heart 'tis brand new morn.


How appalled am I captured in awe and admiration?


True enough how beautiful its rays towards the endless horizon


Gradually. clouds descend packaging the mountain.


And how fitting it was done the gift transformed.


Up in the skylines of cloud formation, the light seemingly inviting


Calling each one for a grand celebration.


Listen to the collective voice of the people


Celebrating without knowing the real reason


Too many less-traveled roads but not one dared to thread on


What a pity wasting all those energies otherwise spent for the nation.


He has been there longing for our participation


Come, let's walk together on this journey


He's the one, our Savior from all this mess and tribulations.


2.     Kamtanu Maitra and Gil Billington. True Marcos Legacy


3.     Asian Journal: Chronology of Marcos Plunder


5.     Malay, Ed: Ninoy Aquino: Traitor or Hero? Time to Revisit Tag on Ninoy Aquino as National   Hero


6.     Cory's Magic. August 18, 2009. (13 pages written on Cory and Ninoy)


7.   Movement for the Advancement of Student Power .com.  Scandals under Gloria Macapagal       Arroyo from 2001-2009


8.     Ragas, Jules M. Troyed the Philippines Green Revolution. Aug. 16, 2012


9.     Aurelio, Julie M. 42,564 File Human Rights Claim. Phil. Daily Inquirer. Nov. 11, 2014


10.    $42 M Marcos' Ill-gotten wealth ordered a return to Govt. Manila Bulletin. August 28, 2014.


11. Lingao, Ed. A Different EDSA Story: Short Memories, Unfinished businesses. Feb. 24, 2012


            Other books cited – Cecilio T. Arillo. Breakaway,The Inside Story of the four Day Revolution in the Philippines. CTA  and Associates ROOM 206J and L Bldg, 2451-257Epifanio de los Santos Ave., Greenhills, Mandaluuyong, Metro Mla, Phil.  


1965 – Ferdinand Marcos was elected as President against Diosdado Macapagal


1969- Re-elected for 2nd term against Sergio Osmena Jr.


Sept. 21, 1972 – Pres. Marcos declared PD 1081 or Martial Law


Dec. 29, 1970-PMA Instructor Lt. Victor corpus led NPA rebels raiding the PMA Armory of rifles, machine guns, grenade launchers, bazooka, and 1,000 rounds of ammunition.


1971 – Constitutional Convention, Suspension of the Writ of Habeas Corpus


1972 – MV Karagatan incident with 1,200 M-14 and AK-47 rifles


1978 – Phil. Parliamentary Election. Plurality Election. Pres. Marcos won over Bartolome Cabangbang . . . .


January 1981 – Martial Law was officially lifted by Pres. Marcos as a gift to Pope John Paul II's visit to the country.


August 21, 1983- Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino's Jr. assassination.


February 24, 1986 – EDSA People Power Revolution


NOTES AND IMPORTANT TIMELINE