The Solid North myth: an investigation on the status of dissent and human rights during the Marcos regime in Regions 1 and 2, 1969-1986

Issue Date

1-2020

Abstract

The Solid North is widely known in the Philippines as an electoral phenomenon used to refer to the block voting behaviour of Regions 1 and 2 that helped in electing Marcos to power during his 20-year rule in the Philippines. While the Solid North justified Marcos' victories in the 1965, 1969, 1981 and 1986 elections, the phenomenon also served a political function and became a propaganda that blanketed the massive electoral frauds during his term. The Solid North also projected a rather positive image of the Ilocanos having a relatively better life under the Marcos regime because of Marcos' ethnic ties with the North. A collection of accounts from different primary and secondary sources however show that this is far from the truth. With the implementation of RA 10368 or the Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013 victims not only gained legal grounds to receive reparations but also added a venue for them to share their personal stories. This in turn gave light to other narratives of human rights violations sponsored by the Marcos regime especially in the regions belonging to the Solid North. An investigation of these accounts show that Ilocano dissent primarily came from students, peasant movements, the church, and indigenous peoples groups, Various human rights violations were also experienced by Ilocanos and other indigenous peoples groups in the area mainly because of development aggression and election related violence.

Source or Periodical Title

U.P. LOS BAŇOS JOURNAL

ISSN

0117 1461

Volume

XVIII

Issue

1

Page

35-60

Document Type

Article

Frequency

annually

Physical Description

tables

Language

English

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