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.
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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.
In life, things are not always what they seem.
I was just in grade one at that time…and i cannot forget what our teacher said “masuwerte kayong mga kabataan ngayon kasi wala na si Marcos, mas maganda ang magiging future nyo”…
I wonder where that “suwerte” is now…
Malas na ng kabataan ngayon kasi si PNoy na ang nasa Malacanang. Hinde na nakakasigurado sa magiging future.
Itinuro sa mga paaralan na dhil dito ay naging malaya ang bansa mula sa diktaturyang Marcos kaya hndi mo msasabing malas ang kabataan ngayon. Dpat ipagmalaki ang EDSA dhl sa Pilipinas ito una nangyari.
Dpat mgpasalamat ka kay Tito Noy dhl hnd ka mpaparusahan (torture) sa gnagawa mo, hnd tulad noon. Walang kalayaan at mawawala kn lang bgla. Ksalanan yan ni Marcos
Hey look, the deluded moron returns!
GTFO vincenzo, you still have nothing intelligent to say!
My answer:
Kumusta na?
Ayos pa ba?
Ang buhay natin, kaya pa ba?
E kung hindi, paano ba?
Ewan mo ba, bahala na.
TBH, you don’t actually want discipline. In fact, Marcos wanted this country to be like Singapore and in case you don’t know, the Communist Party of the Philippines is at large; even you’re false hero Ninoy is also a part of it.
Wala kang alam so please stop your nonsense. Your insanity is almost like Noynoy’s, right? 😛
Wanted to be Singapore? E bkt ayon sa Guiness sya ang pnakamaraming ninakaw sa lahat? Bka he want to bank his money sa Singapore.
Vincenzo:
Nagmumura ka na because what I’ve said is the truth. Why am I not surprised. You jelly?
Marcos was a crook because he was pointed as one by media pundits but lets not go after Cory for her crookery while in office and what her family has done as well because she is well loved by autists like you an everyone else because she bore the ‘Aquino’ name.
Because only fools are gullible enough to believe Aquino magic and hype, much like everyone with a last name has a label to them.
I said it many times yet you zombies never get it. You’re indeed insane.
Pebrero bente-sais
Nang si Apo ay umalis
Ngiti mo’y hanggang tenga sa katatalon
Napunit ang pantalon mo
‘Pero hindi bale’ sabi mo
‘Marami naman kami!’
Kahit na amoy pawis,
Tuloy pa rin ang disco sa kalye!
@Vincenzo,
I will not be surprised if you will say that you want the SOPA, PIPA and the ACTA to be enforced in the Philippines so that your Tito Noy can use them to crack down on us.
Bsta ba sa ikakabuti ng bansa, gagawin ni Tito Noy yan. Di tulad ni Gloria, alam na ng lahat na nandaya sya, hnd p rin gnwa ang tama na mgresiGn.
Vincenzo:
Wrong again. 😛
Please, that’s hearsay. Nakakahiya ka na, bord. XD
Tsk Tsk, when will you learn vincenzo?
You will never beat us in an argument if you keep on posting shitty comments like that, gunggong!
C’mon vincensus ignoramus just give up and shut up capisci? You can’t fool and brainwash us with your epic fail rebuttal anymore.
And for the mod who deleted my recent post to him, I apologize for the harsh words I posted.
I’m sorry but I’m really annoyed as how the mind of this jerk operates. Try using some intelligence when posting comments.
Another great article Ms. Ilda. I’m sick and tired of this people power crap. Nothing has changed because it just made it worst. When oh when will the pinoys realize that they’re celebrating a nonsense anniversary that they actually don’t have any freedom at all? And them praising cory and pnoy, who done nothing to improve this country at all but only for themselves, is like praising their “great” leader in north korea while they’re suffering from famine.
Thanks domo.
We won’t see the end of it until the Aquinos are gone from politics.
Unfortunately those damn yellow hordes are still delusional on praising their precious president. Take a look at this. The moronic flips are now calling Corona as an enemy of people power. It’s sad that they’re abusing their freedom too much. They don’t deserve to be free.
Protesters brand Corona an ‘enemy of EDSA Revolution’
I was watching gma7 interview one of the yellowtards, they compared corona to marcos….wait what???
They are clearly too delusional to think straight.
@domo
Those protesters must be into agitation-propaganda to brand CJ Corona as “an enemy of the EDSA revolution.”
I will say the truth… Mr. BS Aquino is the real enemy of the EDSA revolution. This boy president is a dictator and a real enemy of freedom and democracy!
I think that rally was organised by a communist.
When I heard that comment, I was sorely tempted to raise my right hand in a Nazi Salute, and if my stepdad wasn’t there, I would have done that.
*cough*Sieg Heil!*cough*
Ilda, for one who was not at EDSA 1 event you have quite an admirable insight and analysis of the results of that so-called people power. Yes, for our generation who are now senior citizens those were nostalgic times. However, so much deception has been made by the yellows such that they managed by propaganda to make of any good from that event attributed to the aquino clan. They had nothing to do with EDSA 1 I assure you. the real heroes are the people and Enrile and Honasan.
Honasan, Enrile and Ramos had done better in EDSA1 thaan the Aquinos….
Even though I was not there, I can see what it has done to our society.
I am not a big fan of street revolutions because the only reason we get to the point of hitting the streets is because the majority did not exercise their freedom during every elections properly. They also get too beholden to the people they elect and do not criticize them until it’s too late.
I always have doubts about these political processes. Street revolutions being one bring out the worst from the hoi polloi. We don’t deserve democracy, because what? The people do not understand what they’re doing or what they’re going for, and don’t know jack about politics or its ideologies. Look at Egypt, Afghanistan, Syria etc. All their demonstrations amount only to their own destruction. Chaos happens and such protestations take place because the majority of their people are stupid or deprived from good education and are therefore powerless. Guess they all want an Iranian-mode of state, because they’re asking for it. And if ever they cry foul about how things were better then than they are at present(except of course with Libya- cause he really was a global terrorist), then it is just themselves to blame (many Iranians regretted having ever decapitated their Shah, only to replace it with religious fundies who are far worst). I guess it would follow with the Philippines that sooner or later, with the rest of the populace as stupid as they are, will be overcome by religious fundamentalism that will not make everything in progress nor will they ever elevate from their poordom.
If you have read Margaret Atwood’s novel ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ or catch a glimpse of the film version in Youtube, you’ll find how chilling it would be when these holier-than-art-thou people dominate the education dept. as well as the psyches of the people. I don’t believe I can envision the Republic of Gilead in the USA, but I sure can so much see it in our country- in the future when global disasters ravage everything. You can check out the book if you have the time. Its storytelling is unconventional and her views may be feminist, but it’s still an interesting read.
The lack of planning and unity and the all too familiar “bahala na†attitude are to blame for why there was no structure after Marcos was ousted. Most of the players in EDSA 1 had their own agendas and ambitions to fulfil. No one wanted to put the country first before themselves.
Thanks for the suggestion on the novel. I’ll check it out.
pls join my group in Facebook as we strive to CHANGE FOR GOOD
http://www.facebook.com/groups/C4Gfoundation/241017692637039/
I’m pretty much sure that many participants of the fraudulent “EDSA Revolution of 1986” were gullible enough to believe that Marcos is the “bad guy” and probably didn’t know what they’re doing and just hopped in the bandwagon.
Good read, good read. 🙂
Most of them were students and were ignorant of the real issues. The players in that revolt had their own agendas.
Thanks
That celebration is becoming tooo mainstream.
BAD GUYS win in the end? Only in the Philippines.
We really have to view people who keep saying they are “good” with a bit more skepticism. They often turn out to be the bad ones.
If the ORANGE or the RED(with a cross) won the last election, imagine the improvement this country will get.
But too late now. We got the bad ending scenario.
Cory was aided by the rampaging yellow mob. Right beside her are the theocratic support of people led by a religious group who are into priestcraft who claimed to be authorized by a supernatural being for moral support. Completing the cast are the old resurrected oligarchy. Together, they pillaged and plundered the country anew by tweaking our constitution (read, hacienda luisita) and return for free major industries that has monopoly on power generation and media, created the PCGG to legalize thievery to a favored few whose mandate was to milk the business establishment of suspected cronies.It never was for the people. They were never considered in the equation. The real heroes were Ramos, Enrile and Honasan who risked their career and lives and maybe Marcos himself who opted to hold his guns instead of engaging in a bloody confrontation.
Here’s my article about the 25th Anniversary of EDSA:
The truth about the 1986 People Power revolution .
Thanks, I just read it now.
I was still in grade 2 for the first EDSA. for much of my youth, I believed that marcos was the reason why the country was in a bad situation. but now, looking back, I can’t help but compare the situation today when I am an adult and the situation then when I was a kid. it seems people were better off then than now. education and a lot of basic services are surely lacking now. so, I agree with bongbong marcos’ observation. also, can’t help but be impressed with bongbong in the impeachment, he seems to be a really bright guy. I’m sure if he did’nt have that marcos name, people would be even more impressed with him.
I don’t know what kind of mentality some Filipinos have. They associate the children with the parents too much. PNoy was elected because of his parents and they don’t want to give BongBong a chance because of his parents. But you never know, the latter already made it to the Senate.
Despite the things that they say about the elder Marcos it can be said it can be said that he was more presidential and statesmanlike the Aquinos. Note that Bongbong never picked a fight with Malacanang even when he was steadfastly refused on the Marcos burial.Note how Bongbong politely he behaves in the impeachment trial. That is exactly how his father behaved. Non confrontational even with his enemies.
I don’t quite agree with the tagging of the commemoration of the Edsa Revolution as just being nostalgic or a propaganda tool used by the less scrupulous people in government.
Though there are people who remember it as being just nostalgic and there are people who abuse the memory of it, the main purpose was to defend a group of people who symbolized / represented the opposition at that time. Everyone knew that deadly force would be used against the opposition and so the people took to the streets to try and prevent that from happening through peaceful means.
The people you mention as “nothing more than a mob” are the reason that a lot of people in the Philippines can talk and write the way you do…freely. You mention throwing the rulebook out the window…I wonder if you would have flourished at a time when that very same rulebook was in effect.
You may be against what the current crop of politicians are doing to take advantage of the Edsa Revolution, but please do not belittle the ideal and the very people who took to the streets with noble intentions and caused the toppling of a rule that lasted more than 2 decades (which goes against the rulebook too).
Nuff said.
“The road to hell is paved with good intentions”
Be that as it may, does it mean we stop having good intentions?
No, but the thing is good intentions have a tendency to be the twisted by those who think of them. Robespierre and the French revolution started with good intentions, but ended up horribly wrong. It more of the person instead of the idea, but the thing it was the starting point and the person just rode along with it until his good intentions went sour.
@Blues
Your statement confirms what I wrote: “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.” and “The people who participated should give themselves more credit for the success of this so-called revolution.”
People Power was nothing more than a short-term solution but like I said, there are grave consequences when using shortcuts because defying the law then set a dangerous precedent. Now people like Conrado de Quiros use it to justify calling for civil disobedience just to get what he wants. Never mind if it’s not what the majority wants.
Do you really think people are “free” to say what they want nowadays? How many of your friends participate in discussions about politics? I have maybe one or two. Most of them are tight-lipped about what they really think. They are scared of “offending” people who may be supporters of the Aquinos. Would you call that democracy? You don’t know how many times we’ve been called paid hacks of GMA just because we are critical of the government. Just look at what they did to CJ Corona. They conducted an illegal investigation into his accounts just to destroy him. Is that an improvement from the Marcos years? This administration even prevented GMA from travelling. A sure sign that we are already in a dictatorship.
Sorry to say but due to the lack of improvement, I really don’t think the 1986 EDSA revolution is still relevant today. A low key celebration would suffice. We shouldn’t really spend much on it.
The fact that what broke the military might of a dictator were the people who didn’t have to hurt others is what matters. I’m not looking to negate your comments about Cory at all. As far as I’m concerned, she entered politics and is fair game for any criticisms sent her way.
You say that People Power was nothing more than a short-term solution only highlights the fact that a solution was needed. Whether or not someone else uses the same form of support / protest with an ulterior motive should not demean what was first achieved with People Power.
The fact that you believe that people are not free nowadays to express their views should put the people you so conveniently called a “mob” in better light. Why? Because of the very fact they stood up for what they believed in just like you are now. They acted on what they believed in and not just talked about it. They made the change happen. It’s not their fault that the leaders who then succeeded were either ineffective or had their own ulterior motives (or both).
I have no quarrel with you. I just want to be clear with that. It’s just that on one hand you say that the people who were actually there should give themselves more credit and on the other, you tag them nothing more than a mob.
If People Power wasn’t relevant for you whether because of your political views or for other reasons, do not disparage the people who actually were there and stood up for who they believed were right and for what they believed was right. They based their action on the prevailing adversities they encountered at that time and were successful in making a change happen. As such, if it is to be commemorated / celebrated, I say let them.
If you feel that another change, a better one, is needed and should happen, then I’m all for you going that route and making the Philippines better in whatever non-violent manner you see fit. Good luck. You’ll need it, as so many of our compatriots from People Power have learned.
But that’s what they were – a mob. They were a crowd of angry people. The term “people power” was just a way of romanticising their actions. In fact, as I mentioned earlier, the people should also give Marcos some credit for the peaceful outcome. He did not use force or violence. He did not prolong it unlike Gadaffi or Mubarak.
Thing is, even if EDSA did not happen, Marcos could not have lived forever anyway. He was already sick. There would have been another election – another chance at exercising their right to choose a leader.
Since there is very little progress after 26 years, it highlights the fact that there was nothing significant about the so-called “people power†revolution that happened in 1986 to begin with.
The solution is simple. We as a people need to uphold the rule of law and respect our institutions. It’s not perfect but we just need to be patient enough to make it work. If there are loopholes in the system, we need to ask our legislators to plug it. It’s a long process but that’s how most people in advanced societies do it.
Please read my previous article to help you understand what I’m trying to say: Filipinos cannot progress if they cannot follow even simple guidelines
If we lived during those days, writers as critical as yourself would have been one of the first ones dumped in jail to say the least.
Did you hear about what Joker Arroyo said during the trial of CJ Corona? It seems Malacanang might be conducting illegal investigations on PNoy’s political enemies or those who are critical of him similar to what AMlC did to Corona’s bank accounts. It looks like a subtle way of getting rid of his critics. Not so different from the scenario you are talking about. Ingatz. 😉
It is a tyrant’s signature move and ironic that the hero’s son has become the monster that he fought against.
He Who Fights Monsters indeed.
Actually, the scenario I’m talking about concerns the nabbing of ordinary yet outspoken individuals like yourself. I doubt PNoy’s Malacanang would resort to something like what Marcos’ Malacanang did.
But if ever speculations over those illegal investigations on PNoy’s critics are true (and if this also covers everyday Filipino citizens), then you and everyone here in GRP should be the ones to take care. 🙂
That sounds like a threat. But it motivates me even more to continue writing. 😉
The records show that extra-judicial killings have not improved during PNoy’s time. So there you go. Not much has changed since Marcos left the building.
I didn’t mean that as a threat, sorry! But although I don’t always agree with what you guys write, my last statement was meant to be a complement 🙂
Thanks.
Let him make his stupid moves sooner or later he will loose the support of his people and that will be his moment
Yes, this form of harassment by police and military is too obvious. They would rather use the media and blast propaganda to demonize their opponents to the public. This is their style. Peenoy may be the dumb front man, but the powers that be are cunning and know how to learn from history and from others’ mistakes. I have expounded on this in my comment below.
tama na, sobra na, O.A. na!
also, the L sign should rightfully be flashed on the forehead.
LOL!
That made my day!
What has EDSA done? It emboldened people with the squatter mentality and their twisted idea of rights.
It forced out one big dictator who ran a country, and replaced him with many smaller ones who run their own fiefdoms in the country.
Crony capitalism was replaced with … crony capitalism.
Imelda left, Kris came in.
I’m willing to venture that it’s worse than Marcos’ time.
this is from a friend of a friend’s wall:
People Power Picked a Pack of Pakshet People
A Pack of Pakshet People People Power Picked
If People Power Picked a Pack of Pakshet People,
Where’s the Pack of Pakshet People People Power Picked?
Still in Power, People.
Pakshet.
lol 😉
Yes… I was a part of the one and only EDSA revolution. I entered Camp Aguinaldo on an early Sunday morning. The gate at the Bonny Serrano side was closed. I had to climb through the sentry embrasure. I reported for duty as a volunteer reservist at the Department of National Defense building. There were other reservists there and we were assigned to the food brigade. The task was to feed the troops and the support civilian elements. Why did I go? Because of principle. It was a matter of honor for flag, country and people. I was unarmed and in civilian attire. We were there to stop people from killing each other. I personally did not like the AFP to be divided since the NPA’s were very strong at the time. To be candid, I did not hate the Marcoses like the communists did. I am glad that no blood was spilled. It was a generally peaceful and bloodless revolution except for a random sniper who had to be killed on top of a television tower. On that momentous Sunday afternoon we crossed over to Camp Crame. I marched with the troop columns. I witnessed a lot of people in tears and profusely thanking us. I served in Camp Crame in a food distribution point until Monday morning. There was one point in time when a squad locked and loaded near our position because of the presence of an unknown vehicle. I advised them to stand down. The vehicle was just a garbage truck. Truth to tell, many stood down. Even the late president Marcos ordered the troops to stand down. That is to his credit. He cared enough to stop a bloodbath. The rest is history. After the event I went back home to help out in the family farm. I never joined the EDSA anniversary street parties. I never liked the political expediency of yellow politicians who wanted to grab credit for the event. By the way, I saw a lot of Philippine Flags being waved in and outside the camps in the highway. We were there for principles. We made a difference. Am I for the Aquinos? No! I am for the Republic of the Philippines, its Constitution, flag, country and people! Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!
Quite a story. The people should give Marcos some credit for the peaceful revolution.
After all, Marcos gave the most important statement of the time (deliberately swept under by the yellow propagandists): “Do not open fire.”
Marcos’ order not to attack the crowd was the only reason of credit why that revolution was peaceful…
I enjoyed the article. Nice quotes from Mr. Marcos. But it’s not the politics that needs to change. It’s the character. And the ever-present question about change is “how?” That’s where people seem to draw a blank, or get into an argument. In truth, no one has any idea.
Why thank you, Mr Joe.
It all boils down to the people. Like what I said in my previous article, the people do not realize that it is their lack of attention to how public servants do their jobs that is the reason why public funds gets mismanaged. In other words, people’s apathy and indifference to how the country is being run is the real cause of corruption and not Marcos, GMA or Corona. They have to stop being beholden to their public servants and start the performance appraisal as soon as possible. There should be no need for a honeymoon period. If the public servant cannot take the heat, he has the option to resign.
OMG! We agree!
History of EDSA. People fought a dictator. Won
EDSA leaders did not protect the economy. Failed
EDSA is now being ABUSED by scrupulous influential families whose businesses once feared the clout of a dictator.
EDSA now after 26 years did more harm because only one president stood up and save our economy BUT then later on jailed.
Who will save the majority of unknowing public from the abusive yellow HEIRS who is now using EDSA principle for their selfish endeavor?
Hacienda Luisita will always haunt the nation of what EDSA really is.For real.
For one shining moment in Philippine history there was unity of purpose and action. I saw no selfishness there. Total strangers were helping each other. Food was pouring in from all points of the compass. Even the criminals were inactive. There were no reports of thievery or robbery in the area. The national character is still intact as far as i am concerned. The spirit of bayanihan lives in us. Is our character damaged by all the evil examples of our present dictator? The answer is a resounding no! It is said that the people rise to the occasion in times of national emergency and crisis. The heroes in true leaders and followers is there among the mass of our countrymen. I say believe in what EDSA stood for. Believe in God, our country and our people. Hypocrites come and go. The people will always prevail!
But the people need to have a plan beyond forcefully removing someone from office. Bahala na attitude just won’t work. There are too many selfish people out there.
Remember that the Marcos family was successfully evacuated by U.S. forces and flown to Hawaii. Turning to the present… The lack of a strategic development plan is an omission and the fault of Mr. Aquino. His I, Me, Myself style speaks for itself. His obsessive focus on his perceived enemies as shown by his ruthless, vindictive, style reveals his sad mental and emotional state. After all, a bad dictator always sets the bad examples for his subordinates to emulate. He speaks of a straight(and wide) path while he tolerates and protects his cronies. He dares to use the EDSA anniversary as a black propaganda, trial by publicity platform to incite mob rule leading to sedition, rebellion and/or a coup against his own government. It is not the selfish people I am worried about. It is the docile sheep without spines or principles that kneel to the tyrant Aquino that troubles and worries me. What is lacking is moral courage and doing the right thing.
Her Fuhrer Noynoy Aquino, used the same tactic, as Nazi Fuhrer Adolf Hitler of Nazi Germany…remember the Nazi Rally Marches at Nuremberg, Germany? Remember, how propaganda Minister Goebbels twist the truth to their advantage…remember the Red colors, with Black Swaztikas? Remember the Nazi salutes of Heil Hitler?
as a martial law baby i’ve lived through the “dark ages” and the euphoria of the “new age of democracy”…and i have learned that the only constant thing there is in this country: the oligarchs. HIS oligarchs, HER oligarchs, closet oligarchs(aka parylist reps), pseudo oligarchs and those oligarchs for all season.
then there are the wannabe oligarchs…that’s us who don’t belong to any of the aforementioned.
sigh. i wanna be BS’ friend so i can help save the government money by being “incognito” in macau.
thank god i do not see the world through yellow-tinted lenses. i agree with what you said that edsa is an “addiction” to short-term gains, hence BS won.
regards ilda! thank you for that beautiful dream that is your last sentence. 😀
It is very tempting to wish for it but we’ll just be trapped in this cycle of street revolutions. It’s never going to end. We need to be more patient and pray that he’ll just resign on his own.
every night! and i kid thee not. 🙂
LOL, “i wanna be BS’ friend so i can help save the government money by being “incognito†in macau.”
Are you referring to Aquino’s PAGCOR lackey, Naguiat, who is being investigated by U.S. SEC for accepting bribes from Okada. As I was reading this comment I was watching CNBC business news and heard about a Filipino gaming regulator accepting bribes. Okada was quoted saying “conducting business in the Philippines was all a matter of ‘hiring the right people’ to pay other people”. I guess that pretty much sums up that Philippine officials can always be paid off.
exactly! 😉
thats it! a country’s claim to fame – one failed revolution from a generation ago that now is a marketing campaign.
…anong klaseng pagbabago, saan, kelan, kanino?
-Sayaw Sa Bubog
Hacia abajo con tirania! Viva democracia! Viva libertad!
Well, I was born way past EDSA but I grew up in the notion that Ninoy and Cory were the good guys and the Marcoses were the bad guys. I first met Ninoy as a 500 golden yellow bill, and I always wondered why he was that look on his face.
As I grew up, whenever there are the Aquinos, there were the Marcoses. Both families were almost always pitted against each other, like two families of Montagues and Capulets.
Perhaps, yes, we might thank EDSA for bringing up the democracy that was suppressed that day. Many people were happy that Marcos was gone but perhaps too happy enough that some relish to the sins of the Marcoses themselves – being corrupt and being out of touch to the people.
That only difference between today and now is how people tolerate it. Now, people can be manipulated by noble-sounding but empty words. And majority of the time, people actually fell for it.
Yes, we are now a democratic society in paper but perhaps, it is only a guise of dictatorship that the people once abhorred.
I cannot answer the question of Ninoy – are we worth fighting for?
Yes, people seem to have a huge tolerance for mediocrity. Our media is to blame for putting most of our compatriots in some kind of trance. They are somewhat entertained by the showbiz government.
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 POWERâ€?
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.
Tama kayo dyan Mam ^^ 1986 people power is a Big Mistake kahit sang Angulo nyo Tingnan, eto na nga Resulta Naghihirap ang Pilipinas. Meron pa tayong Last Hope at ibabangon ulit ang Pilipinas BBM2016!
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
I don’t think Filipino’s learn from their mistakes – look at our government. We vote and re-vote the same politicians or their cronies over and over again.
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.
You’re right that he really suppressed this freedom of yours
But you must admit, you might not be alive today just because some old dictator refused to fire at you and your folks
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?
we haven’t improved as country since then….i believe we were ahead of singapore during marcos regime….now?..we’re far behind singapore…the only thing that is improving in this country is corruption…
Look what good it did them, they gained nothing just further slavery