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On this day President Ferdinand E. Marcos had placed the Philippines under Marshal Law by signing Proclamation No. 1081. A week before Marshal Law was placed Marcos had a plan to take over government and rule it with absolute power. Marshal Law was lifted January 17, 1981 as a result of it violating human rights.

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Marietta Ponce was born at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Cebu City, Philippines. Her parents were Carolina Ponce and Pedro Ponce and she had 6 siblings in total. Three brothers and three sisters, she was the second from the youngest among her siblings.

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Abba's "Dancing Queen" was released and played on the local Cebu City radio. Despite Marietta not moving to the United States until 2000. She remembers when she first heard the song in their living room as her father was trying to fix their old radio. "Dancing Queen" had became her favorite song to this day.

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Marietta Ponce graduated from the college of Southwestern University PHINMA with a Bachelor's of science in Computer Science. Marietta and her research group was awarded for their outstanding thesis research on the analysis on computer programing. With this she went on to work with Data Software company.

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Ever year on the 3rd Sunday of January the Catholic church holds a annual religious festival called Sinulog Festival. The festival is mainly a dance festival that holds a dance ritual in the streets that tells the story of how Filipinos accepted Christianity. Marietta and her family finally had enough money to have her participate as one of the dancer during the ritual.

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After working with Data Software Company for a couple of years. She was offered a position as an Accountant Executive in their America branch. She accepted was give a H1B1 visa and made her move to the United States.

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Two planes were flown into the twin towers while the third was flown into the United States Pentagon and the fourth outside of Shanksville in a field. Marietta was at home recovering from a car accident that had occur a few days before. As a result of the attacks later crashing the Stock Market which Lawrence and Marietta Gardner lost their house and had to move in with her mother in law.

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While Marietta was living in the Philippines she met my father, Lawrence Gardner, who lived in the United States through pen pal. Coincidentally Lawrence also lived in Los Angeles , so once she moved to Los Angeles they moved in together. Later getting married on December 20, 2001. Later having Kirsten Gardner, myself, June 13 2002 and my younger two sisters on March 2005 and September 2007.

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Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast of the United States categorizing it as level 3 affecting southeastern states like Louisiana and New Orleans. Marietta, Lawrence, and Kirsten Gardner were visiting a family friend in New Orleans for a week. During the middle of their stay they were notified about the hurricane and were quickly evacuated. Their family friend lost their home and was invited to stay with the Gardner's for a month to get back on their feet.

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Today Marietta Ponce Gardner is a Facility Account Manager for Fujitsu. Once a years Marietta organizes outreach events with the Red Cross organization working with blood work to help donate blood to people in need.