NOVEL NEXT Chapter 2: Chapter 2
Chapter 2: The Weight of History
As the morning sun climbed higher in the sky, Ferdinand Salazar found himself alone in the presidential office of Malacañang Palace. The weight of his newfound responsibilities pressed heavily upon his shoulders as he gazed out the window, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts and memories from two different lives.
The breakfast with the Marcos family had been a surreal experience. Salazar had played the role of the loving patriarch, all the while grappling with the strange dichotomy of his situation. These were not his children, not his wife, and yet he felt a deep sense of responsibility towards them. The genuine love and affection they displayed had touched him, complicating his already conflicted emotions.
As he turned back to his desk, Salazar's eyes fell upon a framed copy of the 1935 Constitution. He picked it up, running his fingers over the glass as he reflected on the historical significance of this document. In his previous life as a professor, he had studied and taught about this very constitution, dissecting its strengths and weaknesses with academic detachment. Now, as the president sworn to uphold it, the words took on a new, profound meaning.
"The 1935 Constitution," Salazar murmured to himself, his voice barely above a whisper. "The foundation of Philippine democracy, born in the crucible of American colonial rule."
He set the frame down and began to pace the office, his mind racing with the knowledge of what was to come. In the original timeline, Ferdinand Marcos Sr. had used the powers granted by this very constitution to consolidate his rule, eventually declaring martial law and ushering in an era of authoritarianism that would leave deep scars on the nation's psyche.
Salazar stopped in front of a large map of the Philippines hanging on the wall. His eyes traced the familiar contours of the archipelago, each island a piece of the complex puzzle that was Philippine politics and governance.
"I have a chance to change it all," he said to himself, his voice growing stronger with resolve. "To steer the country away from the darkness that lies ahead and towards a brighter future."
But even as he spoke these words, doubt crept into his mind. How much could one man really change? And more importantly, should he? The ethical implications of altering history weighed heavily on him. Every decision he made, every policy he implemented, could have far-reaching consequences that he couldn't possibly foresee.
As Salazar continued to contemplate his situation, his thoughts turned to the limitations imposed by the 1935 Constitution. The document, while progressive for its time, restricted the president to a single six-year term. Salazar, drawing on both his own knowledge as a political science professor and the ambitions of Ferdinand Marcos Sr., realized that six years might not be enough to implement the sweeping changes necessary to elevate the Philippines to the status of a major Asian power.
"Japan," he muttered, his eyes narrowing as he considered the economic giant to the north. "They've managed to rise from the ashes of war to become an economic powerhouse. Why can't the Philippines do the same?"
The answer, he knew, lay partly in the stability and continuity of governance. Japan's post-war economic miracle had been facilitated by decades of consistent policy-making and long-term planning. The Philippines, with its frequent changes in leadership, had struggled to maintain such consistency.
Salazar began to pace the room, his mind working furiously. He knew that in the original timeline, Marcos had eventually amended the constitution to remove term limits, a move that had been widely criticized as a power grab. But what if it could be done differently? What if he could lay the groundwork for constitutional change in a way that was transparent, democratic, and clearly beneficial to the nation?
"It's not enough to simply change the laws," Salazar mused aloud. "I need to prove to the people that such a change is necessary and beneficial. I need to show them results."
He returned to his desk and began jotting down ideas. Economic development would be key. He needed to focus on infrastructure projects, agricultural reform, and industrial growth. But beyond that, he needed to address the root causes of inequality and unrest that had plagued the Philippines in his original timeline.
As he worked, Salazar found himself drawing on his knowledge of the 1987 Constitution - a document that, in his timeline, had been crafted in response to the excesses of the Marcos era. While it was still decades in the future, its principles of democratic safeguards and social justice could serve as a guide for the changes he hoped to implement now.
"Balance," Salazar muttered as he scribbled notes. "It's all about balance. How to provide strong, consistent leadership without falling into authoritarianism. How to drive economic growth without exacerbating inequality."
He paused, tapping his pen against the desk as a thought occurred to him. Changing the form of government could indeed be a possibility for the future, as Marcos had considered in the original timeline. A shift to a parliamentary system, for instance, could provide the stability needed for long-term planning while still maintaining democratic checks and balances.
But such a drastic change would require careful preparation and, most importantly, the support of the people. Salazar knew he couldn't rush into such reforms. He needed to prove himself first, to show the Filipino people that he had their best interests at heart.
"Evidence," he said, underlining the word in his notes. "I need to provide clear, undeniable evidence that extending presidential terms - or even changing the system of government - is in the best interest of the nation."
With this goal in mind, Salazar began to outline a comprehensive development plan. He would focus on key areas: infrastructure development, agricultural modernization, industrial growth, education reform, and anti-corruption measures. Each initiative would be designed not only to drive immediate progress but also to lay the foundation for long-term, sustainable development.
As he worked, Salazar found himself constantly referring to his knowledge of future events. He knew the pitfalls that had led to economic crisis and social unrest in the original timeline. By addressing these issues early on, could he set the Philippines on a different path?
Hours passed as Salazar immersed himself in his planning. When he finally looked up, the sun was setting, casting long shadows across the office. He leaned back in his chair, rubbing his tired eyes as he reviewed his work.
The plan he had drafted was ambitious, to say the least. It would require careful implementation, skilled diplomacy, and a level of political maneuvering that he wasn't sure he was capable of. But as he looked at the map of the Philippines once more, Salazar felt a renewed sense of determination.
"This is my chance," he said softly. "My chance to right the wrongs of the past - or the future, as it were. To create a better Philippines not just for this generation, but for generations to come."
As night fell over Malacañang Palace, Salazar found himself unable to sleep. His mind was racing with possibilities, with the weight of the task ahead. He slipped out of bed, careful not to wake Imelda, and made his way back to the office.
In the quiet of the night, he began to draft a speech. It would be the first of many, he knew - a carefully crafted message to the Filipino people about his vision for the future. He would speak of unity, of progress, of the potential that lay dormant within the nation. But more than that, he would make a promise - a promise to govern with transparency, to fight corruption, and to always put the interests of the people first.
As he wrote, Salazar found himself grappling with the moral implications of his actions. Was it right to use his knowledge of the future to shape events? Was he playing God by attempting to alter the course of history?
But then he thought of the suffering that had occurred in the original timeline - the human rights abuses, the economic hardships, the years of martial law. If he had the power to prevent those things from happening, didn't he have a moral obligation to do so?
"The road to hell is paved with good intentions," Salazar muttered, recalling the old adage. He knew he would have to be careful, to constantly question his motives and the consequences of his actions.
As dawn broke over Manila, Salazar put the finishing touches on his speech. He read it over one last time, nodding with satisfaction. It was a good start, he thought - a roadmap for the journey ahead.
But as he prepared to face another day as Ferdinand Marcos Sr., President of the Philippines, Salazar couldn't shake the feeling that he was walking a tightrope. On one side lay the possibility of creating a better future for the Philippines, of steering the nation away from the dark days he knew lay ahead in the original timeline. On the other side lay the risk of repeating those same mistakes, of falling into the trap of power and corruption that had ensnared Marcos in the first place.
Only time would tell which path he would ultimately take. But as Ferdinand Salazar stepped out to greet the new day, he was determined to do everything in his power to create a brighter future for the Philippines - a future that would make the difficult decisions and moral quandaries he now faced worthwhile.
The journey ahead would be long and fraught with challenges, but Salazar was ready to face them. With the knowledge of the future as his guide and the welfare of the Filipino people as his compass, he set out to reshape history, one careful step at a time.