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Apo on the Wall: Unwrapped

by BJ Patiño

There’s this man’s photo on the wall

Of my father’s office at home, you

Know, where father brings his work,

Where he doesn’t look strange

Still wearing his green uniform

And colored breast plates, where,

To prove that he works hard, he

Also brought a photo of his boss

Whom he calls Apo, so Apo could

You know, hang around on the wall

Behind him and look over his shoulders

To make sure he’s snappy and all.

Father snapped at me once, caught me

Sneaking around his office at home

Looking at the stuff on his wall—handguns,

Plaques, a sword, medals, a rifle—

Told me that was no place for a boy

Only men, when he didn’t really

Have to tell me because, you know,

That photo of Apo on the wall was already

Looking at me around,

His eyes following me like he was

That scary Jesus in the hallway, saying

I know what you’re doing.

Into the office

Apo on the Wall is a poem written by, writer and journalist, Bernard Julian “BJ” Patiño. It is a Martial law snippet through the lens of the persona, who is a son of a Martial law soldier. The persona being a child of a soldier can be confirmed from the lines two (2) to six (6):

“ Of my father’s office at home, you

Know, where father brings his work,

Where he doesn’t look strange

Still wearing his green uniform

And colored breast plates, where, ”

Who is Apo?

The father’s office at home was described as having a photo of his boss whom he refers to as “Apo”. According to the persona, the reason of his father for doing so is to prove that he is staying sharp and working hard even at home. This motive is evident in the lines seven (7) through twelve (12):

“ To prove that he works hard,

Also brought a photo of his boss

Whom he calls Apo, so Apo could

You know, hang around on the wall

Behind him and look over his shoulders

To make sure he’s snappy and all. ”

Despite not being stated clearly in the poem, Apo is actually the late president Ferdinand Marcos. He was known, mostly in environmentalist circles, as “Apo Lakay.” In fact, he founded the nationwide organization APO Hiking Society.

Sneaking around...

There were belongings in the office that suggest the father being a soldier, and the Martial law. The lines fifteen (15) and sixteen (16) mention these things:

“ Looking at the stuff on his wall—handguns,

Plaques, a sword, medals, a rifle— ”

The handguns, a sword, and a rifle are all weapons that soldiers use in combats, battles, or disputes. This can also signify the violence that took place during that period. On the other hand, plaques and medals are tokens of appreciation for a soldier’s achievements or notable service.

Behind the walls

Many people today are aware of the human rights violations, and abuse of power that happened during the Marcos regime. In Apo on the Wall, the writer recounts Martial law on a different perspective. Instead of the common narrative of the oppressed, the viewpoint is shifted to a soldier’s way of life—how it was like back then for people like him who were serving under the administration, and for people like his son who lived in fear.

Apo on the Wall exhibits the power of influence that the Marcos regime have over its citizens, which can be observed displaying their immense loyalty and dedication to a point of even idolizing the reigning leader. This great supremacy is seen in the lines twenty (20) through twenty-four (24) where the author used simile:

“ That photo of Apo on the wall was already

Looking at me around,

His eyes following me like he was

That scary Jesus in the hallway, saying

I know what you’re doing. ”

Jesus, also known as the Son of God or God Himself, is proclaimed by Christians as omnipotent. The persona compared “scary” Jesus to Apo for his substantial dominance. He considers him an all-seeing being who knows what everybody thinks and does.

Aside from this, machismo and patriarchy are also apparent in the poem from the lines thirteen (13), and seventeen (17) to eighteen (18):

“ Father snapped at me once, caught me

Told me that was no place for a boy

Only men, when he didn’t really ”

Living in a patriarchal society, men hold greater power and privilege than women in different aspects and situations. Machismo is also prevalent wherein men are expected to be “masculine enough” in order to be strong and reliant.

Keeping the door open.

Apo on the Wall presents yet another side of the Martial law. Whether it is positive or negative, the best thing to do is to learn from it. Use the past to improve the actions for the present and the future.

Never hesitate to look back.

Keep the door open.

Sources:

https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/96968198198375805/

https://esquiremag.ph/politics/news/look-back-at-the-philippine-free-press-marcos-era-editorial-cartoons-a00207-20170925-lfrm

https://superficialgazette.wordpress.com/2016/09/15/1960s-marcos-founds-apo-hiking-society/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/govph/21019443824/sizes/l/

https://themindofthegarrett.wordpress.com/2017/05/02/martial-law-in-the-philippines/

https://www.martiallawchroniclesproject.com/look-back-at-the-philippine-free-press-marcos-era-editorial-cartoons/

https://www.rappler.com/voices/imho/opinion-reconstructing-memories-apo-lakay-ferdinand-marcos

#ApoOnTheWall #21stCenturyLiterature #apo on the wall

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