It’s hard to imagine why there are Filipinos who still feel the need to celebrate the anniversary of the first EDSA or People Power revolution held in 1986. As I keep saying every year, not much has changed since former President Ferdinand Marcos left the building.
I was not there and I am glad I wasn’t because I do not share any of the nostalgia that seems to hold some people back from moving forward. I mean, it’s one thing to celebrate it but it’s another for Aquino propagandists to keep making it look like the family owns the copyright to the concept of street revolutions. When are we ever going to see the end of yellow paraphernalia when the EDSA revolution is celebrated? Enough is enough. The yellow color has become divisive to our society. Not everyone subscribes to the Liberal Party’s political views.
We cannot continue to pretend that it was Cory Aquino who was the only person instrumental to toppling what everyone keeps referring to as a dictator. Former President Fidel Ramos was actually quoted saying that “The spirit of the 1986 People Power Revolution belongs to the people, and politicians, political groups and religious personalities should not use it for their own interest.” So it seems even he is fed up with the way the Aquinos and their minions keep bragging — as if EDSA was their own exclusive victory.
The records show that former President, Corazon “Cory” Aquino wasn’t even out on the streets with the people and did not participate in the three-day rally at all. It’s a real mystery how she turned into the “people power” icon. The people who participated should give themselves more credit for the success of this so-called revolution. Likewise, they should also take the blame for putting in power a housewife who some say was just a front for an oligarchy that continues to benefit from the 1987 Philippine constitution. We all know them. They are the ones that apply a singular focus on protecting the interests of their stakeholders in the Philippines.
When you look at the gathering of what was said to number over two million Filipinos, you will realize that it was just like any other rally that preceded it except it was bigger. It was nothing more than a mob. Whether the first EDSA revolution was justified or not, the fact remains, the people who participated in toppling Marcos threw the rulebook out the window. And some of the participants there got addicted to the short-term gain from such impulsive behaviors.
As I keep saying in the past, there are grave consequences when using shortcuts. It’s no different to considering defying the law as an option for getting something done quickly. Most people have not realized it yet but removing an elected leader unconstitutionally the first time already set a dangerous precedent. It gave people excuse or reason to justify doing it again and again. Following “revolutions” that removed Marcos then Erap, rumors now abound of PNoy, his minions and other elements taking advantage of the situation and gearing up for another revolt — this time against the Supreme Court Chief Justice, Renato Corona.
I say good luck to PNoy in his plan to incite the gullible crowd into hitting the streets to demand for the resignation of the Chief Justice. It would be interesting to see how he can manage to muster enough people to follow his lead. Not even his Number One mouthpiece, Conrado de Quiros, writing in what some people refer to as the “yellow pages” of the Inquirer.net can convince us that “occupying the Supreme Court” is the ultimate solution to the ongoing constitutional crisis — well, maybe except for a handful of Aquino fanatics. But more and more people are getting disillusioned with the way the current government is meddling with the impeachment process of Chief Justice Corona.
Ironically PNoy, the son of the “people power” icon, is to blame for tainting the memory of the EDSA revolution. Prior to his win in the presidential election in 2010, some people were getting tired of the same old story of how his parents, Ninoy and Cory, made huge sacrifices for the country. Some were already questioning why they should remain beholden to them. Alas, PNoy’s lackluster performance in office and his vindictiveness towards his political enemies put an end to whatever indebtedness some old folks still felt towards the Aquinos. PNoy’s arrogance pushed a lot of people over the edge and erased whatever moral obligation or kindness that kept them from being critical. Some even regret ever participating in EDSA.
Twenty-six years after toppling “the dictator”, the incumbent PNoy is even being hailed as worse than Marcos thanks to his penchant for strong-arming his allies. I can agree with this because PNoy pretends to be fighting corruption but appears to be committing the same offenses with allegations of coddling incompetence among his staff and his habit of applying double standards to his appointed friends in government already well-known. Worse, a lot of Filipinos who look back at the memories of EDSA can’t help but wonder if the Philippines would have been better off if Marcos had stayed on. Some can’t help compare PNoy’s very unstatesmanlike manner to that of Senator Bongbong Marcos who appears to be a more skillful and respected impartial politician. The only son of former President Marcos recently wrote about his thoughts on the anniversary of EDSA revolution:
As for what took place in February of 1986, 26 years ago to this month, again, I am in no position to pass judgment that would be seen as impartial simply because of my obvious personal involvement.
Most of what we hear now from all sides are still within the ambit of propaganda.
But I certainly am concerned with the state of our country today, more than a quarter of a century since the experience of EDSA 1, as it has come to be known.
I have chosen not to indulge in the “blame game” and rather, invest my energy in helping move this country forward.
But if comparisons are to be made, and if there is a need to evaluate the road taken since then and what has resulted from it, it’s not difficult to arrive at answers, provided we ask the right questions.
Has poverty been alleviated? Is the wealth of the country more equitably distributed? Do we have more jobs available at home? Has there been a rise in the quality of our education? Are we self-sufficient in our daily food requirements? Is there less hunger? Crime? Insurgency? Corruption? Basic services? Health?
The same questions can be asked of other countries, our neighboring countries specifically, and see whether we can answer the same way they would.
China, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia can all point to the progress they have made these last 26 years but unfortunately, for the majority of our people, nothing much has changed and today, and just this morning, a survey placed our unemployment rate at 24% or close to 10 million unemployed adults.
The country’s economic performance last year sunk to a dismal 3.7% growth.
The problems we face remain daunting and there is still that need for Filipinos to unite and face these challenges as one nation, with a singular aim and direction, with a leadership that is willing to make sacrifices and capable of harnessing the talents of our people.
We have seen what our neighbors have been able to achieve in the last 26 years. There is no reason why we cannot at least match their achievements if not do better.
We need to change the politics of this country.
Whether you subscribe to Senator Marcos’s politics or not, you have to agree, the politics of this country needs to change. But it looks like we need to either wait for PNoy to change and adopt this mindset, or wait for the next election. Let’s just hope that those who harbor strong inclinations towards taking shortcuts can hold on for another four years. Otherwise, people might have to celebrate the EDSA revolution with a new date if, yet again, PNoy gets booted out by mob rule.
Are we worth fighting for? Not anymore.
Not when people choose to be stupid despite all opportunities to better themselves. Cases in point: Wowowee, the CBCP, and Lito Lapid as senator.
The First EDSA was actually a protest against the crude tampering of the results during the 1986 presidential Snap Elections held on Feb. 07, 1986 and the subsequent proclamation by the Batasang Pambansa on February 15th declaring Marcos the winner; but compare–
–COMELEC, Marcos (KBL) lead Cory (UNIDO) by over 1.6 million votes
–NAMFREL, Cory lead Marcos by over 700 thousand votes.
In fine, during the first EDSA, the Filipino people throughout the land merely wanted their votes cast to be counted!
Thus, the term “People Power,” as originally conceived, concerned the 1986 presidential snap election canvassing results, aptly describing the exercise by the Filipino people of a power they jealously retain and do not delegate to a government they create, a power the people as sovereign reserve for their own exclusive use in choosing those who would wield the political powers–legislative, executive–they entrust to government.
It is this reserved Power that proclaims: “The President and the Vice-President shall be elected by direct vote of the people for a term of six years.” (Art. VII, Sec. 4)
In fact, a reservation of the exercise of the Legislative Power they delegate provides that “The legislative power shall be vested in the Congress … except to the extent reserved to the people by the provision on initiative and referendum.” (Art. VI, Sec. 1)
And this reserved power the sovereign Filipino people retain and do not relinquish to a government they establish is the ELECTORAL POWER.
Thought habitually exercised as the Right of Suffrage, the Lockian U.S. Declaration of Independence is clear that “whenever any form of Government becomes destructive of these ends … it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it … it is their Right, it is their Duty to throw off such government and to provide new Guards for their future security.”
“People Power” is, therefore, the exercise of that supreme “Electoral Power” the sovereign retains and reserves. And it is this “governing activity” Locke alluded to as “antecedent and paramount to all positive laws of men”–or to constitutions–the Filipino people as Sovereign reserve to choose or remove those they entrust to wield their delegated powers, to promulgate or rewrite a Constitution they ordain to govern them, and, if only to provide “new Guards,” to create or dissolve a government they had earlier ratified.
Thus, the “historical” relevance of that 1986 event is that, by converging “peaceably to assemble”–notably, without appealing to arms–not only at EDSA, but at major urban areas in the entire Republic, the Filipino people dutifully wielded their reserved ELECTORAL POWER to bestow “sovereign legitimacy” to Aquino’s assumption to the Presidency as the winner in the snap election and her subsequent dissolution of the 1973 Constitution, demanding that Marcos vacate the office forthwith and make way, having mocked the sovereign will in the votes they cast.
So, isn’t it time the Title to Article V—“Suffrage”–which rightly precedes the Articles on the powers the sovereign delegate–be amended to read “THE SOVEREIGN ELECTORAL POWER”?
People have tried amending the constitution for one reason or another, all for good purposes. Tough on us, anybody wanting to amend it is instantly demonized without being heard out. I’ll add that the theocratic CBCP would have you prayed to death for even suggesting that sovereign electoral power rests in people, not a supreme celestial being.
Don, some semi-guys (and that includes PNoy) really need to have their heads CBCP “amended.”
“I’ll add that the theocratic CBCP would have you prayed to death for even suggesting that sovereign electoral power rests in people, not a supreme celestial being.”
Isn’t that what “Vox Populi, Vox Dei” is supposed to mean? Sovereign electoral power rests in the people, hence “Vox Populi.”
I’ll quote Rigoberto Tiglao on this:
“The Philippines’ People Power Revolution was a boon for humanity: it inspired democratization movements against all forms of dictatorships all over the globe. However, we paid dearly for it.”
“People power in 1986 was an awe-inspiring event that should strengthen our cohesion as a nation. But ochlocracy – the rule of a shouting, frenzied mob, which the ancient Greeks, who invented democracy, already criticized 2,500 years ago – is a depraved, mistaken interpretation of the Edsa revolution.”
The powers that be have learned from Marcos’ mistakes.
Lesson 1: You do not have to declare Martial Law to be a dictator. In fact, the mere mention of Martial Law will now alert everyone to your intentions, so it is counterproductive to any post-Marcos Philippine dictator. Martial Law is not a requirement for dictatorship, there are other ways to achieve total control of government that are undetectable by the masses.
Lesson 2: Wield the power you are most assured of full control. Military power is not the only power around. If you are unsure of your soldiers’ loyalty, if you are aware of disgruntled sectors in the military, it is prudent to not use them. On the other hand, if you have the persuasive powers of the mass media at your command, you may use this to vilify your opponents as well as sway the masses to your side.
@Peste
Yes, PNoy and his minions are very good at ignoring criticism, which is good sign that he is running a dictatorship. He forgets that his power comes from the people.
His greatest weapon is the media empire owned and operated by his family and friends. Anyway, he is one major crisis away from being proven to be a great pretender.
EDSA was used by the Aquino and the Cojuangco families to hold on their ownership on the Hacienda Luisita. It’s the same way , they are using it again; to impeach Corona, who rendered a ruling for the distribution of this land…this is the root cause of the Corona impeachment. People are used by these families in power, just to satisfy their Greed of lands. They are already Filthy Rich. However, they want more…and more…and more….while their Farmers/Serfs were massacred by government troops, they ordered.
Our lives did not improve, after EDSA. The Aquino and Cojuangco families, and their business partners: their businesses improved at exponential level…so, don’t be used again by these Greedy Feudal Oligarchs…they will not give you anything for your efforts…nor, will they give you a portion of their wealths…
I think Edsa is a failure. What is happening now is now we expected. We must learn with our mistakes. Baguio City
Pano ba naman pinagpapatay nya ang mga media na may ayaw sknya noon? Tlgang mgagalit sila. Buti nandyan si Tita Cory na nagligtas sa atin sa diktaturya.
@Nutzi Vincenzo
I was there at EDSA 1986. Your tita Cory did not save us from any dictatorship. She was powerless to do so. She was not even there when it happened. Mr. BS Aquino and Kris were too afraid to make a difference.They were not there. The real heroes who stood for freedom were the silent majority. History records the leaders who were there. JPE, FVR and Gringo Honasan. I saw the EDSA anniversary hakot crowd on channel 4. Someone was shouting a repeat chant… noynoy! noynoy! noynoy! His miracle of black propaganda never ceases to amaze me! Is your tito Noy likened to tita cory? The entire crowd did not even join in the repeat shouted lies. Was your EvilNoy ever an EDSA hero? He must have thought that the mostly hakot crowd would be mesmerized into believing a lie. The baldy traditional politician cum dictator has perverted the original people power. I call it his used people mob power. The ends justifies the means. A new tool for promoting his dictatorship and to save his happy, funny farm.
The big picture: the Lopezes went against Marcos due to an incident caused by the Lopez patriarch himself. Most of the opposition are composed of the leftist and Communist insurgency, at least Doy Laurel is very noble compared to the anarchists that I’ve mentioned.
Cory as savior? You’re delusional. She governed as a dictator, worse than Marcos. Her chief propagandist did a very good job on covering her blunders, and with the addition of ABS-CBN, she made fools like you to believe that everything on the Cory regime is good.
Guess the joke is on YOU then. HAHA.
Tita cory saved us my ass. She was in Cebu when “people power” occurred. Pinaasa na lang nya sa mga niloko nya na katulad mo. Epic fail again Wile E Coyote now get lost.
i was thinking
i fought for freedom in iraq and afghanistan
my relatives fought for freedom in WW1 and WW2 and filipinos think a stroll on a sunny day gives them some badge of courage.
quite the opposite. they have retreated into their natural state of cowardice – wear yellow shirts and pretend you have achieved something.
wrong. you have failed on so many levels.
join the US marines and see what tough men are really all about.
hahaha!…spell the word man…because some idiots might not get it right
Cheers jay. I know what you mean. Many have been through the most stressful, tension filled environment. Combat. USMC training hardened you to do what had to be done. I agree with you. A stroll on a sunny day does not confer a red badge of courage or a badge of courage.
There was also a lot of non-yellow people at EDSA 1986 who were not political fanatics of the Aquino family. It took a lot of moral courage to make a stand in blocking armored vehicles with their engines revving. Many knew the threat of air strikes, mortar and howitzer bombardment. Many knew what a direct fire weapon can do to the human body. They also served the country at that time of national crisis. They served well without arms. They were armed only with their faith and courage. Heroes all!
My mom said people came to the “revolution” because there was food and music. It didn’t sound like there was much danger involved in coming to revolt, or if there was danger most were unaware of it.
my filipino relatives said similar. they thought it was more like a party. no real threat. history has tried to make it more than it was.
watch the footage.schoolboy banter and toy soldiers. a saturday night after a manchester united game is more dangerous!
the union riots in the uk were 10 times as bad but achieved something. edsa failed because those involved were just passengers without conviction. a template of how not to do it.
@jay
I assure you it was not a party. The threat of division and fighting between armed forces personnel was prevented because none of the professional soldiers fired a shot. The men on the other side of the fence did not fire on unarmed civilians in accordance with issued orders by President Ferdinand E. Marcos. The brotherhood and unity of the armed forces was intact. It was the NPA that failed not the event. School boy banter and toy soldiers? The ground forces of the Armed Forces of the Philippines are the most experienced combat veterans in counter-insurgency in southeast Asia. The guys have been fighting for decades. Many from both sides were elite forces. They had conviction and purpose. The objective was to stop people from killing each other. Besides the event caused a ripple effect all over the world. We were all proud to be there.
@Combuzz
Your mom was wrong on both counts. I should know. I was there inside, around and outside Camp Crame. Believe… there was clear and present danger of death from above, high angle fire weapons and direct fire weapons. The squad assigned to secure my position was heavily armed. It was a miracle and a tribute to the troop leaders that none of them fired a shot.
So there was no food and music that attracted the massa?
Ang tatapang ninyo! Specially yung nakatago ang tunay na name. Ang gagaling ninyo din. Kaya ninyong sabihin lahat ng nasa puso ninyo. Pero useless din kasi, parang nage-espadahan na walang tao involved. Walang panalo nor talunan man.
Sana magkaroon kayo ng prisipyo that when you say something in public, let it be know that it came from you.
Kung maari lang. Pero kung ganyan talaga kayo, sanay sa lokohan at tarayan, wala na akong magagawa.
Cheers.
And your point is?
Galit ka yata sa mundo… Tulog mo lang yan.
Another moron who calls us lowlives while he is an ignorant buffoon who only care for himself.
Why do you need to seek us out because of our opinions?
that’s why it’is called a “pen name”, even our national hero had lots of it. people here are just sharing their point of views about the topic so just better shut up if you feel offended. you don’t belong here
Lest we forget:
“Panahon na ng pagkakaisa”
Man those lyrics are so horrible.
DESHAY DESHAY BASARA BASARA
DESHAY DESHAY BASARA BASARA
DESHAY DESHAY BASARA BASARA
DESHAY DESHAY BASARA BASARA
@ DaidoKatsumi,
So if you’re playing the Riddler, who’s the Joker?
The PNoyquin lives!
That’s a symbol of impending CHAOS.
Magkaisa…
Magkadalawa…
Magkatatlo…
At dumami ang mga kurakot…
I was 18 back that time and I was in the street for few days and joined the Filipino people to bring down ex-president Marcos from his pedestal. The 1986 Edsa Revolution was genuine. If not because of that peaceful revolution, all of you who says negative feedbacks about the present government or about the Philippine economic status in general would have been in jail by now because freedom of speech was supressed at that time. One of the greatest achievements of that event was restoring the Freedom of Speech. You are now enjoying one of its greatest benefits, so please, when you remember this significant event, be grateful to the Filipinos who sacrificed their lives to regain democracy in our country.
Yeah right. That freedom and democracy you are talking about aren’t real. There is still massive cheating during elections and that includes the 2010 election; lots of journalists are still being murdered (Ampatuan massacre, anyone?); in fact, I heard that the number of extra-judicial killings during PNoy’s time will likely surpass that of GMA’s; illegal investigations just to get rid of political enemies are still being conducted; and etc, etc.
Real democracy means everyone can enjoy the same rights accorded by the constitution. At the moment, even the well-connected members of society can’t enjoy their individual rights with GMA prevented from travelling prior to filing of the charges against her and Corona being given a trial by publicity.
No real freedom, sir.
I would like to see the conquered bow well movement 188 act like principled statesmen. Not like puppy dogs salivating and whining for more pork dole outs and additional consideration.
I would like to see the controlled prosecution of Mr. BS Aquino act fairly, with real justice and reject supersonic case railroading, black propaganda, trial by publicity and fabrication of evidence.
I would like to see Senate Judges loyal to principles and ideals. That they reject all influence, consideration and orders from the dictator Aquino.
I would like to see proper medical treatment given to Mr. Aquino to cure him of his obsessive focus, ruthless and vicious attacks in using and abusing even the machinery of state by way of destroying characters and reputations. I would like to see him cured of his double standard of protecting, insulating and favoring his cronies who are above and beyond his government reform program. I would like him cured of his favorite distractions that make him lazy and blind to his duties, responsibilities and functions.
I would like to see Mr. Aquino cured to keep his dictatorial distance and hands away from occupying the Supreme Court by force. I want to see him prevented from installing his own puppies in the High Court.
Finally, I want to see the restoration of a strong, vibrant and genuine democracy untainted by political expediency and freed from the political tyranny of a mad dictator.
Just to get back freedom of speech, we sacrificed economic freedom.
I have to admit that during the 1987 EDSA Revolution, my family was sympathizing with Marcos, despite my mother’s disdain for Imelda’s excesses. I was in fifth grade and my parents said this while we were watching the EDSA rallies on TV that “history would prove Marcos right.”
But i was schooled in a Catholic institution run by nuns and priests who viewed Marcos as a human rights abuser and dictator. I was once scolded by my 5th grade adviser (who is a nun) when i mirrored by parents’ call for restraint in lambasting the Marcoses. I was scolded heavily for my views and made an example to the rest of the class of how blind some Marcos loyalists have been. But my parents weren’t loyalists. My mom taught economics and my dad was a chief engineer. They only wanted to people to take a more balanced view of the political landscape of the time.
The bank runs, the peso plunging, the rise of communists who craved for freedom of speech but at the same time wreaking havoc and derailing progress in the countryside was happening. The US were trying to protect their interests and continued presence in the Philippines had shown signs of supporting the opposition due to the deteriorating health of Marcos. At the same time, freedom of speech was muted, the military was more aggressive and ambitions for succession were rife. My parents knew something had to give. But at whose expense?
26 years after, the EDSA revolution saw the fall of one dictatorship only for another to rise. Marcos’ dictatorship was brutally honest about martial law, at least. The one that followed was more latent and it is in this hidden, secret, pervasive oligarchic dictatorship that we should fear more.
I now understood why my parents cautioned me then against supporting the anti-government movements. Now that we see the result, there was a lot more than meets the eye. And my parents knew that.
Nilangaw yata ang celebration nila kahapon. Wala pa yatang 5k ang pumunta.hehe
Hi Ilda,
Looks like you’ve outdone yourself yet again with this piece. I must say, even if you didn’t build up the article like you did, the answer to the titular question was already very evident from the start.
I was too young to be in the 1986 event, and I also passed on the year when Erap was the target. I have regretted nothing.
The 1986 EDSA revolution, unfortunately, proved useful to certain Filipinos to do some of the many “questionable” things they do very well:
1) Taking things out of context and twisting them to suit their own desires.
2) Misinterpreting the significance/meaning of comments, events, etc.
As for PNoy, well, he’s a living example of someone who blames everyone but himself for his own shortcomings/character flaws. Plus, I wonder how much longer he can paint himself as the white knight saving us from the dragon he thinks Corona is. He definitely looks to be on the straight path to becoming a “benevolent dictator”.
On an unrelated note, it’s interesting to note that the phrase “yellow journalism” exists in English, and is very appropriate to what is being practiced here in the philippines.
Thanks, FallenAngel
Hopefully when PNoy is finish with his term, we’ll see the end of the EDSA celebrations. We shouldn’t really celebrate until the country has improved.
Which begs the interrogative:
Will the country improve under PNoy, or will the Yellow Emperor run it to the ground, sacrificing almost a decade of efforts to revive its economic might for his vindictive agenda?
he doesn’t mind running the country deeper into the ground as long as he’s among those who’re better off then most everyone else.
isip bata talaga.
for him to save hacienda luisita, the country will pay an unholy price.
noynoy probably believes the filipino is worth dying for, because he doesn’t mind the poorest pinoys dying while he wreaks havoc on the economy just to retain hacienda luisita.
typo: than, not then. sheesh
This “Revolution” is a betrayal of the people who are still crawling in poverty 26 years after this supposed “change”. the oligarchs are living in monopoly in controlling the minds of the youth. The media sells their story to the stupid people. The clergy are a bunch of corrupt thieves. It is time to reform our culture and our government.
Posters on this thread are societies rejects and losers probably dependent and still living with their parents and doing nothing to change their freaking lives. And you all wonder why the Philippines is a big f..king mess. Take the high road and do what Pacquiao, Charice, Arnel P. and Manuel Villar have done to change their lives. I can see the hatred for Charice, a millionaire at age 20.
And to those of you whose post are coming from the western United States as shown on your post’ timeline, move your asses off your parents computer and be productive citizens. I can bet these people are probably unemployed or working in some freaking retail job.
and what have YOU yourself accomplished, exactly?