SUMMARY
This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.
MANILA, Philippines – In a social media platform dominated by millennials, how did a Twitter conversation about martial law go?
On the 43rd anniversary of the declaration of martial law, netizens turned to social media to express their thoughts and opinions about this period that happened under the dictatorship of former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos.
MovePH, Rappler‘s civic engagement arm, led a Twitter conversation about martial law and peace last Monday, September 21. International Day of Peace was also observed on the same day (READ: Netizens reflect on September 21, #MartialLaw and #PeaceDay).
According to pewinternet.org, 37% of online adults using Twitter in 2014 are between ages 18-29, while 25% are between 30-49.
Who are the social media influencers in the martial law conversation? What did they have to say about it?
Reach, Rappler’s data analytics, provides a visualization of a community discussion around specific topics and hashtags. Through real-time monitoring of keywords and hashtags, it can identify who the social media influencers are for a certain Twitter campaign and what their roles are in the conversation.
In a span of two hours, #MartialLaw generated over 36 million impressions on Twitter, producing over a thousand tweets from more than 560 unique Twitter users.
Aside from MovePH and Rappler, other key social media influencers in the conversation were Twitter users @pipodelrosario, @LawrenceLately, and @jeromepanibio.
Every Twitter user who engaged in the conversation had a role to play, and we were able to identify them by 3 categories: broadcasters, linkers, and niche.
Here is a screen grab of a Reach map showing the Twitter accounts categorized as broadcasters, as well as their connections with each other. The broadcasters are responsible for keeping the conversation alive, giving others something to talk about.
Broadcasters discussed how some millennials, who kept pointing out how everything was more efficient back then, should look at the other side of the coin.
For some reason, many millennials associate #MartialLaw years in PH to discipline rather than enormous violation of human rights cases.
— Pipo (@pipodelrosario) September 21, 2015
Kids, hindi namin kelangan ng Marcos-style #MartialLaw para maging disiplinado.
You’re welcome to improve your argument.
#NeverAgain
— Lawrence San Diego (@LawrenceLately) September 21, 2015
How funny these millennials. Born in the age where information is limitless yet some (or most) choose ignorance. #MartialLaw
For @jeromepanibio, one does not have to experience martial law to know why it is considered as one of the darkest eras in Philippine history.
Guys, you dont need to be alive during martial law to not know the evil of those years. Study History #MartialLaw #martiallaw
— jerome panibio (@jeromepanibio) September 21, 2015
This community became the dominant voice and opinion during the #MartialLaw conversation. However, some still argued that martial law was necessary to restore order.
Follow this Twitter exchange between @YamatoKira16 and @pipodelrosario:
Here are more tweets from other broadcasters during the conversation:
@rapplerdotcom : How #MartialLaw affected our lives? My mom refused to gave birth to my baby sister on the same date Marcos was born.
— Iara Manaig-Castillo (@iarakatrina) September 21, 2015
When the AFP has more power than the civilian authorities in the community, that’s #MartialLaw right there #StopLumadKillings #NeverAgain
— Renato Reyes, Jr. (@natoreyes) September 21, 2015
Those aren’t rose-colored glasses you’re looking through, pro #MartialLaw advocates who never even lived through it. It’s blood. #NeverAgain
— Kel Fabie (@kelfabie) September 21, 2015
Another set of influencers identified by Reach are the linkers – the Twitter users who helped amplify the message of the broadcasters to niche communities. @rapplerdotcom served as the main linker for @MovePH’s tweets during the conversation. Below are the other netizens who played a similar role.
Twitter user @iamziemoholic was one of those who said that there was a “bright side” to martial law.
Recognizing the bright side of #MartialLaw doesn’t mean rejoicing the whole experience. We learned from it and that is a bright side.
— Abdel Hazziem B D (@iamziemoholic) September 21, 2015
@Cluelesster thought otherwise.
@cluelesster @MovePH #MartialLaw strengthened Filipino resilience and nationalism. Isn’t that a bright side?
— Abdel Hazziem B D (@iamziemoholic) September 21, 2015
@iamziemoholic @MovePH Resiliency at the expense of numerous deaths of our fellow countrymen? No. I don’t think so.
— Lester Niere (@cluelesster) September 21, 2015
@sheisdominique said that martial law had its “perks” but later went on to clarify that she referred to its supposed positive impact on international relations.
Yes, it’s true that #MartialLaw was an evil move by Marcos but remember that it had good perks.
— Dominique Espinosa (@sheisdominique) September 21, 2015
@iwriteasiwrite @xpeanutgalleryx @MovePH Not the perks of his minions. But the perks, Philippines had that time in the int’l community.
— Dominique Espinosa (@sheisdominique) September 21, 2015
A few other notable linkers talked about their plight during the martial law period:
@RaiMarielle @MovePH @raffymagno Looking for the bright side of #MartialLAw is like looking for bright side of rape
— Marcial Bonifacio (@marcboni) September 21, 2015
@rapplerdotcom during #MartialLaw, we ate rice mixed with corn/chopped cassava. No ulam. Rice purchase was controlled. Life was really hard
— Angie Gutierrez (@angie521_g) September 21, 2015
My lola wasn’t able to receive wages as PS teacher from the govt for months, had to borrow money from our househelper instead. #MartialLaw
Remembering the tragedies brought by #MartialLaw and we will realize how lucky we are to have #PeaceDay inspite of corruption lurking here
— marianne chua (@doobiegirl09) September 21, 2015
Drilling down further, we were also able to identify the niche communities.
Notable niche communities belonged to the following Twitter users: @raffymagno, @nimbosa, @tiagoarnaiz, and @arlocordova.
@raffymagno tweeted about the importance of an informed campaign about martial law.
@raffymagno sometimes commonsense lang din kailangan. Perceived development will never make injustices acceptable. hehe.
— Iking Corpus (@ikingcorpus) September 21, 2015
@raffymagno That’s true! And I concede to that. That’s why the investment in empowering us (the youth), will always be worth it.
— Iking Corpus (@ikingcorpus) September 21, 2015
So today, I honor my parents & the many young Filipinos who fought for my freedom today. Maraming salamat! #MartialLaw #NeverAgain @MovePH
— raffy magno (@raffymagno) September 21, 2015
@nimbosa tried to provide perspective, emphasizing that every story has two sides.
@pipodelrosario @MovePH exactly what my parents & grandparents told me: #MartialLaw is hell only for those who opposed, everyone else happy
— seth 周公旦 Ελεύθερος (@nimbosa) September 21, 2015
@ayvah2709 @MovePH NOT saying it was good just that those people old enough experienced #MartialLaw differently than those who opposed it
— seth 周公旦 Ελεύθερος (@nimbosa) September 21, 2015
@ayvah2709 @MovePH there are always at least TWO sides to ANY story, and #MartialLaw was NO exception, get the whole picture from a mosaic
— seth 周公旦 Ελεύθερος (@nimbosa) September 21, 2015
Meanwhile, Twitter user @TiagoArnaiz tweeted about a possible #TwitterPowerRevolution if martial law was declared in the age of social media.
If #MartialLaw happened today, social media would be the first means of culling dissenters. That tweet against the admin would be your last.
— Santiago Arnaiz (@TiagoArnaiz) September 21, 2015
#TwitterPowerRevolution @teejsolobim @rapplerdotcom
— Santiago Arnaiz (@TiagoArnaiz) September 21, 2015
@TiagoArnaiz @rapplerdotcom social media is the voice of the new era! Freedom of speech let all be heard!her ye her ye
— Tj Mibolos (@teejsolobim) September 21, 2015
Harrowing to think how if #MartialLaw happened today, my friends and I at The GUIDON wouldn’t be able to feel safe in our own country.
— Santiago Arnaiz (@TiagoArnaiz) September 21, 2015
For @arlocordova, the recent Lumad killings are an example of “glorified Martial Law.”
Kids, wanna know what your glorified #MartialLaw is like? – #LumadKillings. You can never protect those you have that they want. Like rape.
— Arlo Cordóva (@ArloCordova) September 21, 2015
There’s a fine line between fear & discipline. If we require the former to gain the latter, then we fail as humans. https://t.co/XB0YTJsQIF
— Arlo Cordóva (@ArloCordova) September 21, 2015
Unfortunate that some forget that granted change should be a catalyst for moving forward. https://t.co/lLEcntvGup
— Arlo Cordóva (@ArloCordova) September 21, 2015
What if martial law happened today? Some of our netizens from these communities weighed in on possible scenarios:
@MovePH if #MartialLaw happened today, then I won’t be able to sent this tweet and enjoy the perks of social media.
— Jon (@JonTheTan) September 21, 2015
what if #MartialLaw, happens today?will it be effective as before?i bet many would want it today as discipline has been burried 6feet under
— RochelleMara (@akosiroche) September 21, 2015
@moveph If #MartialLaw happened today, the first consequence would be the shutdown of social media.
— Pinoymommy (@pinoymommy) September 21, 2015
If #MartialLaw happened today, all our best, smartest, and most honest national leaders would be jailed or killed, no trial. @MovePH
— Ina Juan (@inabear) September 21, 2015
@MovePH @rapplerdotcom If #MartialLaw happened today, the people would lose its freedom. There would be no democracy.
— Joshua Corcuera (@ohitsmejoshua) September 21, 2015
#MartialLaw if its implemented now would it be effective ? Marcos is one the best Pres. In our country
— HenesSY (@henessymds21) September 21, 2015
@MovePH @rapplerdotcom death for rapist, drug pushers, plunderers (except for the leader) and corrupts…fair enough for me
— WAK (@tox_md) September 21, 2015
@MovePH @rapplerdotcom If #MartialLaw happened today, we’d probably 1st world class country Asia’s premier business hub like Singapore
— GOVCongresmanKAWATAN (@CongKawatan) September 21, 2015
How about you? What do you think will be the outcome if martial law is declared today?
Let us know in the comments section below or write an opinion piece on X. – Rappler.com
Add a comment
How does this make you feel?
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.