From What Is Before (Mula sa Kung Ano ang Noon), Lav Diaz, 2014

From the Latin phrase “a priori”, used in Western philosophy as knowledge independent of all particular experiences, an argument/justification on the essentiality of truth that is easily gleaned even without empirical evidence. The Philippines, 1972. Mysterious things are happening in a remote barrio. Wails are heard from the forest, cows are hacked to death, a man is found bleeding to death at the crossroad and houses are burned. Ferdinand E. Marcos announces Proclamation No. 1081 putting the entire country under Martial Law.