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An Unforgettable Journey: Detention in Manila in 1972 and a Story of Survival Under the Shadow of Martial Law​

 



An Unforgettable Journey: Detention in Manila in 1972 and a Story of Survival Under the Shadow of Martial Law​

November 22, 1972, was supposed to be a homecoming surprise, but it ultimately turned into a weeks-long detention ordeal. This experience was not just a personal suffering; it also reflected the social darkness of the Philippines during the Marcos martial law era (1972-1981)—abuse of power under authoritarian rule, lack of human rights, and the helplessness and struggle of ordinary people under systemic oppression.​

I. Sudden Change on Homecoming: From Airport Interrogation to Detention on "Engineering Island"​

1. Terror at the Airport: Identity Doubts Triggered by Passports​

Filled with anticipation, I returned to Manila, only to face intense questioning by immigration officers at the airport. My inability to speak Filipino (only English) and "contradictions" in my passport records immediately aroused suspicion:​

My first passport, issued in 1955, had a visa signed by Carlos García, the then-Minister of Foreign Affairs—a fact that officials found questionable;​

My 1956 tourist visa for Hong Kong (valid for only 3 months) had led to a 16-year overstay in Hong Kong (1956-1972), violating the rule that "Filipinos may not stay abroad for more than 3 months";​

Frequent entry and exit stamps from Taiwan in my old passport further deepened officials’ doubts about my identity.​

In the end, all my passports were confiscated, and I was taken by three plainclothes detectives to a place called "Engineering Island."​

2. The Truth About "Engineering Island": A "Waiting Room" in Name, an Open-Air Detention Center in Reality​

While "Engineering Island" sounded like a professional facility, it was actually an open-air detention site for people awaiting trial, known among Chinese detainees as the "water prison":​

Dire Conditions: In scorching heat, detainees could only cool themselves by pouring water over their bodies in the courtyard, wearing nothing but underwear; at night, swarms of mosquitoes made sleep impossible.​

Deprivation of Freedom: The area was covered with cameras. Although the door was inscribed with the Chinese characters "Give Us Back Our Freedom," this was nothing but a mockery—guards openly lured detainees into gambling on "Sān Gōng" (a traditional dice game) to cheat them out of all their money.​

Collective Plight: Detainees came from various countries, including South Koreans, Latin Americans, and native Filipinos. With nothing to do, they could only pass the hopeless days by chatting.​

II. Surviving the Ordeal: From Helpless Waiting to Family Rescue​

1. Crying Out in Vain: Desperate Days in Detention​

The weeks on "Engineering Island" were a time of utter helplessness: there was no official notice of the detention period, no channel for appeal, and "no one would listen, no matter how loud I cried out." My only hope was that my family in Hong Kong would learn of my situation in time.​

2. A Turn for the Better: Intervention by Family and a Lawyer​

Fortunately, my family in Hong Kong learned of my predicament through my eldest brother in Manila, who immediately arranged to visit the detention center with a lawyer:​

Step 1: After the lawyer intervened, he successfully applied for my release on parole, temporarily freeing me from the "water prison."​

Step 2: To comply with the Foreign Ministry’s request for additional identification, I flew to Iloilo City—my birthplace—to collect evidence from my mother, my birth attendant, and relatives.​

Step 3: Though my mother was blind, she recognized me by my voice when I called her "Carding" (my childhood nickname). After an emotional embrace, I obtained my birth certificate with the help of relatives; my eldest brother Tang, who was then the Mayor of Iloilo City, also issued a letter of introduction to confirm my place of birth.​

3. The Final Resolution: Document Verification and Exit Approval​

After returning to Manila with all the required documents, I went through a lengthy legal process. The Philippine government finally recognized my citizenship, stamped my passport with "Returning Citizen," and approved my exit. On Christmas Day, I finally flew back to Hong Kong, ending this ordeal.​

III. Historical Context: The Dark Truth of the Marcos Martial Law Era​

My personal experience was not an accident but a common reality under Marcos’ authoritarian rule. In 1972, after Marcos issued the martial law decree, he launched a nine-year military rule—an era known as the "darkest period in Philippine history":​

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