A random survey conducted among millennials in Davao City revealed that they do not feel the expected changes brought about by the declaration of martial law.
Those interviewed said the situation shaped up as “the same as that before Martial Law was declared.”
“Murag wala may nag bag-o”, said Darvine Ramos who teaches at the Tecarro College Foundation. She said the situation remains the same even if the city was placed under martial law.
She said that while she is aware of the ‘secure and hold’ order of Mayor Sara Duterte, her activities so far have not been affected by the declaration of martial law. “Mo suroy ra man gihapon mi bisag naay martial law”, she quipped.
Another 27-year old, Stephanie Tom, a government employee at the Department of Labor said that martial Law seems to be on television only.
“Maka kita mig gyera sa TV pero murag dili man affected ang Davao”, she said. While she is sympathetic of the plight of the Muslim brothers and sisters in Marawi, she believes that the declaration of martial law will ultimately do good for the country.
A 33-year old, Marie Mondilla, a mother of three children said that she also does not feel there is martial law in Davao City. She said that she is already preparing for the opening of classes of her kids, “as if murag wala lang ang martial law.” She added that she is trying to explain to her two daughters, 11 and 9 years old, what is martial law, however the children are not very interested.
Outside of the school curriculum, those who were born in the 80s and the 90s have no first-hand experience of martial law. President Marcos declared martial law in 1972 covering the entire country. President Gloria Arroyo declared martial law in Maguindanao, but it only lasted for nine (9) days. Martial law in Mindanao was declared by President Duterte on May 23 and has been effective already for seven (7) days.
