Reaction Paper

DEKADA '70
By Lualhati Bautista

The film is about the life during 70's and 80's. The Martial Law era, and how it affects the life of every
filipinos. This movie is based on true to life stories, The "Dekada 70" not only focuses on life during
martial law by the president ferdinand marcos, it is also how the life and the job of every women in 70's
and 80's. How women underestimate their power and capabilities as a human and as a mother. Because
this movie also presents how amada being inserted her full life of being a mother to her five son, even
thou she have her own plan, she chose to be a good and supporting mother to her family.

A middle-class family who expericed chaotic life during Martial Law period. Couple Amanda
Bartolome and Julián Bartolome Sr. are parents to sons Julian "Jules" Bartolome Jr. , Isagani "Gani"
Bartolome, Emmanuel "Em" Bartolome , Jason Bartolome and Benjamin "Bingo" Bartolome.

Young Gani was fighting with his friend while they were playing a game in the street, their mothers
came by to stop the fighting and made them stay away from each other happened on 1965. In the
streets of Manila, protests take place when the Philippines enters the Vietnam War.

Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos wins his re-election bid as president in 1970. At dinner time,
Jules and Gani speak about the upcoming Junior-Senior Promenade. Amanda was looking for a job but
her husband Julián stopped her from pursuing it. At the prom, Gani tries to grope his partner but she
accidentally kicks him instead. The Bartolomes get stuck in traffic in the streets on the way home from
the event. A protest happened near the Legislative Building and large protests was the major cause when
Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law, there were effigies burned by activists during the recent protest.

Protest took place in the University of the Philippines in 1971 and Jules with his best friend Willy
became activists that same year. Emmanuel begins to write illegal exposure and other kinds of banned
literature. Jules and Wily joined a resistance movement and both of them made pledges. A large number
of protesters started to demonstrate outside and they began to sing the Philippine National Anthem,
"Lupang Hinirang", with raised clenched fists. The soldiers were outnumbered and the protesters were
trying to push them away but they couldn't so they retreated back to their places. Just then a furious
Julián explain to Jules and Willy and also learns that the writ of habeas corpus was suspended by Marcos
himself including the enforced disappearance of the student leader Charlie del Rosario. Gani explains to
his father his plans to apply for a job in the US Navy only to be overheard by Jules, who admonishes his
actions as lack of patriotism for the Philippines. Gani angrily explains to him that working for the US
government entitles one to a high salary with numerous benefits. Julián accepts the plan, thus making
Gani the family's newest breadwinner. Another protest depicts President Ferdinand Marcos acting as a
lackey to Uncle Sam, and crucifying a Filipino. Bingo pulls down a flying kite and Amanda discovers that
the kite is made out of an activist newspaper. Julián also discovers that Jules is an activist and he sneaks
up to his room to check his rebellious pamphlets. He convinces that when Marcos was not yet a
president in the past, the government signed a treaty between the United States, and the Philippines has
no other choice but to recognize that treaty.

Marcos declared martial law on nationwide television in 1972. He also included curfew at night to round
up people from going outside to be imprisoned, interrogated, and tortured to death. Gani accidentally
impregnates his girlfriend Evelyn and her sleeping in Gani's room was discovered by Amanda. Two police
cars escort the Bartolomes to Evelyn's house. At the house, Evelyn's father speaks to the Bartolome
couple before blackmailing Gani into

marrying her. They are married but days after the wedding, they have an argument for being the
Bartolome's figure of shame. Jason shows his mother the report card but his grades just went down. But
despite that, he convinces that during the first period, there was a high value of time. Jules came home
late and confessed to his family that Willy had been tortured to death for staying past curfew. Jules
wanted to go to Bicol to join the communist group the NPA for his exposure trip despite his mother's
opposition.

In 1973, Evelyn gave birth to a baby girl and the same day, Gani went to the United States after he was
enlisted at the US Navy while Evelyn went back to her mother. Emmanuel is going to Bataan for his
interview about the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant but Julián becomes furious as Em might get caught due
to martial law as well as the presence of soldiers in the area. The next day, Emmanuel left for Bataan for
his interview and then two days later the Bartolome family went to the beach in the afternoon. It is then
revealed that Evelyn and Gani had already separated the day Gani left for the United States.

In 1974, Jules brought a wounded friend home to have a bullet extracted from his leg, as bringing him to
a hospital would arouse too much suspicion. A few days later, he began to hangout with Emmanuel and
at the following day, Jules left the house again realizing that he cannot stay there for long.

In 1975, Bingo celebrates his birthday and they throw a birthday party in his family house until night.
And after a couple of months without returning to his house, Jules was revealed to have been married to
Mara and they both have a baby boy. At night, they burn Jules' anti-government pamphlets for fear of
being arrested by who they think are the military but are actually a group of harmless carolers.

In 1976, a group of soldiers arrive at their house for the search and arrest order led by Jules, who had
just become a political officer. The next day, Amanda and Bingo release two of their own pet birds to fly
away for their freedom, but they know that those birds will come back to them. At night there is a phone
call, and Emmanuel is shocked because Jules is subsequently sent to prison after his friend betrays them
by revealing himself to be an undercover government operative. He also survived from torture but
instead he was electrified and made to sleep on and ice box while in front of an electric fan while naked.
At Christmas Day, Jason went home late from caroling and he learns that there was no curfew, but he
wants to have a date with his girlfriend, Bernadette tomorrow but his mother told to him that he can
have a date with her anytime but not during Christmas Day.
In 1977, Amanda learns that Jason was missing, she and her husband went to many police stations to
look for their missing son all night long. And they learned that Jason was imprisoned for possession of
marijuana but he was released for a few moments later and he was still missing. Emmanuel went to his
friend and he said that there were three policemen who stabbed a young man to death, tying up his
hands and salvage him to the dump. When he came home silently, he engaged in a private talk with his
father while a saddened Amanda sat down on the chair. While hearing loud cries, the young man was
revealed to be Jason who was stabbed to death and Amanda faints.

In 1978 The Bartolome family started to join the activist group called the Kilusad group to overthrow the
Marcos regime. Emmanuel went on stage to lead his fellow activists to sing the Lupang Hinirang.

the Bartolome family attend the wake of Ninoy Aquino at the Santo Domingo Church in Quezon City after
his assassination.(1983)

After nine years, the shouts of "Erap resign!" followed by the singing of "Bayan Ko," prompting the
crowd to call for the resignation of then President Joseph Estrada in time for the EDSA Dos and led to the
installation of Vice President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as President at the EDSA Shrine on January 20,
2001.

All of them may have their own characters, but jules part here is my favorite, because he stands for the
freedom and for the sake of our country, he expericed a lot of struggles of being activist. But he never
surrender, he fight for what is right and for the country.

This movie for me tells us to how love and patronizing our country. And we should stand against the
freedom and our rights to live not to die in the hand of the dictator president and freedom against
government. This movie helps alot of students and peolple on how we stand against justice. And how
family helps alot when there is struggles in ourlife, love our country like our family, because the future of
our children relies upon the land where we first stand, and the blood of being a strong filipinos.