The story of his personal struggle, in the context of the wider struggle, is now recounted in his book, "Martial Law in the Philippines: My Story," which is being launched this afternoon at the Manila Hotel.

The book-launching could not have come at a more opportune time, what with the present preoccupations over the unabated warnings about terrorism, coups from the Left and the Right, and the slaying of journalists and militants.

This has led some sectors in media to monitor rumors/reports on the probabilities of another martial law plot. As one editorial put it, Marcos, up to the declaration of martial law on 21 September 1972, kept denying that "martial was coming to town."

To his credit, Senator Aquilino Pimentel, Jr. has not joined the chorus of martial law jitters. One who has survived its ordeal must have decided in the manner of good veteran warriors that he would hold his shots until he saw the whites of the enemy’s eyes.

Words of warning may not work but experience does. He who had learned to resist and dissent even at the risk of being called a subversive is going to do it again. But as of now, people are weary of the noises about martial law although they are certainly wary of the continuing assaults on human rights and civil liberties.

To be fair, Malacañang has adamantly denied these assaults, its spokesman boasting of its human rights record. That’s fair in a democracy, but to borrow the words of one official, its accuracy is a different story.

Two types of readers of Pimentel’s book will come away with two words in their minds: "Never Again!" The first will rather fight than let martial law come this way again. The second will not, because it’s life-threatening, choosing to live a slave than be buried a hero.