Philippine E-Journals

Dictatorship, Deception, Dementia and Decay: History and Memory in the Fiction of Eric Gamalinda

Felicidad P Galang-Pereña

 

Abstract:

The period of martial law from 21 September 1972 to 17 January 1981 was a traumatic episode in Philippine history, not only to those who were severely affected by it, but also to those who were witnesses to the atrocities. This pushed Filipino writers to write outstanding stories that depict the dark era. Among these, “The Empire of Memory” by Filipino writer Mario Eric Gamalinda (published in 1992 and was later revised in 2000), recipient of numerous recognitions such as the Manila Critics Circle, Palanca Awards and the Republic Heritage Award. This study aims to analyze the fictional retelling of this epoch in the history of the Philippines, depicting the journey of a man named Al Diaz during the dangerous days of dictatorial rule. With the ongoing peculiar revival and perverse nostalgia for authoritarian rule around the world, historical distortionism and denialism imperils truth and freedom. Fortuitously, the tragic turn in the country’s history is made indelible by writings such as Gamalinda’s novel, which must be appreciated in the context of the critical tradition of Filipino patriots like Jose Rizal and nationalists like Bienvenido Lumbera. The cancer of systemic corruption and human rights violations eating away at society, seared in the collective memory, will be redeemed in the bloodless revolution of People Power that emancipated democracy.