This year, the traditional self-appointed “owners” of the 1986 EDSA “people power revolution” — often referred to as the Yellowtards — again stood aghast as yet another anniversary celebration fizzled. The really surprising thing about this is that these folk were surprised to begin with, because, in truth, this erstwhile commemorated event has been following a trajectory of decline for some years now.
Some thought leaders at least acknowledge that this “revolution” that some still insist was the seminal event in which Filipinos “won back” their democracy needs a new narrative. Indeed, for the longest time, the key outcome of the EDSA “revolution” has always been made out to be a rebirth of freedom in the Philippines. But, echoing a tweet issued by Get Real Post author Paul Farol, a really important question has now come to light…
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Have Filipinos used the freedom supposedly won in 1986 wisely?
For that matter, did Filipinos come to understand what that freedom entailed? Take Apo Hiking Society singer Jim Paredes, for example. In a video that has since gone viral, Paredes is seen severely berating an activist expressing support for Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. It seems Paredes regarded the hallowed grounds of the EDSA memorial as off-limits to anyone not associated with his Yellow Camp. The prevailing mindset surrounding EDSA after all has long been around the notion that husband-and-wife “national heroes” Ninoy and Cory Aquino are the sole central figures around which the current EDSA narrative spins.
The Aquinos and the Yellow Camp political clique that surrounds them have, since 1986, been regarded as the owners of this revolution and its artefacts. Suffice to say, for 30 years, the Aquino-Cojuangco clan did not shrink from what started out as an organic distinction bestowed on them by Filipinos in the early days. They nurtured the notion and proceeded to secure their lofty place in the EDSA narrative to the point where their family names became virtually synonymous with it. Rather than uphold the EDSA “revolution” as a Filipino revolution, the Yellow Camp marketed it as Ninoy’s and Cory’s Revolution for three decades. They achieved this by employing the vast resources and network of businesses at the disposal of the Aquino and Cojuangco clans to mount an awesome messaging campaign spanning those decades to create the deeply-rooted mythology and cast of political deities that now surrounds EDSA.
It seems the Philippines is now in the midst of a collective effort to dismantle this traditional mythology of yellow ribbons and “L” hand gestures and take back EDSA to its rightful owners — the Filipino people. Long overdue of course, but, as the cliché goes, better late than never.
benign0 is the Webmaster of GetRealPhilippines.com.
EDSA was Fake news. It became a Fake History. The Heroes and Saints of EDSA were Ninoy Aquino, Cory Aquino, the Aquino Cojuangco political axis, etc…as marketed by their co-conspirator Media: ABS-CBN, Inquirer, etc…
The EDSA coup d’ etat was planned by U.S. / C.I.A. operatives in the Philippines; with the assistance of their paid hacks in the Philippines. The U.S. State Dept. under the direction of former Sec. of State, George Shultz, oversaw and directed the operation.
The gullible Filipinos swallowed the EDSA bait: hook, line and sinker. Until now, the YellowTards, the Aquino Cojuangco political axis, celebrate this event , yearly, as a “Holy Event”…they have even a Shrine for it…
We were never been a Democracy…we were, up to now a: Feudal Oligarchy. If not, a “Kelptocracy”…
So, it is ridiculous to celebrate such Fake historical event. The only ones profiting from it, are the: Aquino Cojuangco political axis; their KamagAnak Inc.; the Feudalist; the Oligarchy; the Kleptocrats; the Liberal Party; the Drug Dealers :like Leila de Lima, Mar Roxas, Aquino, Ronnie Dayan, Chinese Triad Mafia, etc… Kleptocrats and Hacienda Luisita Swines, like Porky Drilon ; Trillanes,; Pangilinan; etc…are also very happy to celebrate EDSA !
The U.S./CIA operation led to the demise of the U.S. Facilities in the Philippines. They installed Cory Aquino and instead of gratitude, she kicked out the U.S. Facilities. That’s what U.S. got for politically meddling.
Agreed!
year after year, that edsa1 shrine will be forgotten with a narrative of, the victory of the aquinos against the farmers…which failed. let it stand there forever so the unborn will remember a memory how their ancestry was brainwashed with the help of cardinal Sin. 1957 where it all started the greed and betrayal of the aquinos to the pilipinos for hacienda luisita.
The question is NOT:
“Have Filipinos used the freedom supposedly won in 1986 wisely?”
The question is and should be:
Are all Filipinos free and do all Filipinos live in complete freedom?
Maybe we differ about the definition of both words (free & freedom) but there is only one answer. And the answer is no. And that makes Mr. Farol’s question obsolete/useless.
Bob.
You seemed to be lost in translation. The article is about the freedom that Filipinos supposedly achieved during the EDSA 1 revolution, whether that freedom was used wisely, as asked by Mr. Farol and further expounded on by benign0 . It isn’t about whether the Filipinos are free and live in complete freedom. Who among the people of the earth are free and living in complete freedom? Am I? Are you? The retaking of the EDSA narrative is one way to translate that freedom into something that all Filipinos can relate to instead of allowing the Aquinos and the LP taking credit for it. After all, without the participation of the people the EDSA 1 revolution would not have been successful.
Sky,
The word ‘supposedly’ implies that there is no freedom. So how can one use something (wisely) that is not there?
@Robert Haighton:
Don’t talk about “Freedom”, if you are talking to Filipinos. Freedom is alien to them like the Extra Terrestrials. Freedom to them is violating all the laws; enacted by the government. Look at the traffic situation in any Metropolitan City in the Philippines. Look at how they drive ! Look at how they discard their garbage !
Freedom to any Filipino politician is stealing from the National Treasury and becoming a “New Rich”…
Freedom to the Aquinos is scamming the Philippine government , by illegitimately owning the Hacienda Luisita; and stealing the Gold Reserve of the Philippine government…
Freedom to Leila de Lima and her cahoots, is dealing in illegal drug Shabu, and becoming a multi billionaire. While using “Human Rights” issues, as a shield, if you are caught !
There is no Freedom without Responsibility !
Hyden,
my definition of freedom is as civilian/individual having a choice between at least 2 options in/by law and in culture.
I do know the traffic situation in both Manila and Cebu City and its terrible. You dont want to be found dead there (well at least not me).
Those in power are elected by the people. Maybe its about the Philippines change the system how to elect the – ‘supposedly’ – good people. But when someone with only just barely 39% of all the votes can become president then in my humble view, something is really wrong. You are talking about a landslide victory. Where, I am talking about the majority not voting for that president. But hey that is water under the bridge.
How come that Duterte didnt change any laws yet that will make the lives of the Filippinos much better? Instead he is killing thousands of drug users, pushers. Now that will bring me a real job, huh and some prosperity?
Yes freedom goes hand in hand with responsibility. But whose job is it to teach that? Correct, the parents. So who fails in this equation? And when one argues with parents, its regarded as ‘disrespectful’. So where does this go? Right, nowhere. And this is something a president cant solve.
So ultimately someone has to start to rebel. But who dares to do that? PH parents are seen and treated like the holy pope. So eventually nothing will change. Catch 22; Prisoner’s dilemma?
What EDSA Revolution? No such thing. What happened was an EDSA Restoration that was basically the return of the predominance of the pre-Martial Law oligarchic structure. ‘Revolution” has a more catchy tone to it than ‘Military Rebellion’ which was how EDSA 1986 actually started out.
@Robert Haighton:
I had already explained to you, that Pres. Duterte won the majority of votes.
In the Vice President, Leni Robredo won thru HOCUS PCOS and SMARTMAGIC. The Aquino Cojuangco political axis, made her to win the Vice Presidency , to cling to power. The Filipino people did not elect her. It was the HOCUS PCOS voting machine, that elected her.
It will take many years, to make the Filipino people , responsible people…where the leaders go…the people will follow. We never had a Democracy. We were ruled ever since, we became independent as a U.S. Colony by Feudal Oligarchs and “Kleptocrats”…
I am still wondering why we have not improved.
Indonesia was ruled by the Dutch…I don’t think, they are better than us !
Poor Philippines…so near to Uncle Sam…yet so far, from God !
Hyden,
“I am still wondering why we have not improved.”. That is really good question. And you must know the answer to that. Well, you should know the answer to your own question. For me its clear, but hey, who the fuck am I, right?
“where the leaders go…the people will follow.”
So if and when Duterte jumps off a cliff, you mean to say that 100 million Filipinos will blindly follow? Sounds like a cult to me.
I will watch you jump but I am not holding your hand when you go down.
Pls stream it live on Facebook !!!
I think it is unfair to judge the Filipinos. There was no alternative media at the time so it was easier for the Oligarchs to push their false narrative and brainwash the Filipino people. At worse the Filipinos are victims to the machinations of the elite.
To add, the elite had a couple of decades to indoctrinate the Filipino people so I can’t blame them if it is hard to shake off. It is only these past few years people have been waking up. In the terms of the Matrix, more and more people are taking the red pill.
@Robert Haighton:
If you jump to the Cliff first…I will follow…it seems , you are leading me…
It is a deal !
No way, I will follow any President of the Philippines…I have a mind of my own and have grown up !
Hyden,
“… I will follow any president of the Philippines … I have a mind of my own and have grown up!”
I think (but pls correct me when I am wrong) that Duterte said that civilains are also allowed to kill drug users and pushers. You yourself just stated that you follow any president. So you picked up a gun and killled a few?
Based on your statement, you will also follow Robredo if/when she becomes president??!!
Okay forget about what I wrote above. I dont get it in what way, I should/must follow my own prime-minister. He doesnt do much. Bills are written and some are passed as law(s). But that doesnt mean I have to change my behavior as being a mediocre citizen. No law tells me how I must behave (yeah yeah except for being a law abiding citizen) but I can still behave and think in dysfunctional manners.
My point is that a president/prime minster has little to no power over my mindset and behavior. And when I say ‘my mindset’ I mean all people’s mindset. Change has to come from within an individual. There are no laws that punish dysfunctional people. Being stupid is not a crime. Not even in the Philippines.
But what I do believe will work, is when Duterte (or any president of the Philippines) will hold a speech on live TV saying that the Philippine people should stop procreating – especially the poor ones – to improve their own lives. Or when he says that Filipinos should use any form of contraception more and more. That less (kids) is more (financial space to live). And that he must repeat that in every interview and speech.
Oh, one other thing: when I am about to jump off a cliff, I will wear/use a chute.
My definition of a free society is a society where it is safe to be unpopular. Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves.
@Robert Haighton:
I had written : “No way, I will follow any President…” You remove words in my blog, to make me look bad in what I had written…
Is that what the Dutch do to their opponents ? That is a very bad “Dutch Treat” …!
Hyden,
I interpreted it in a different way. Thats all.
Edsa was pure ‘myth making’ propagated by the massive spin machine of the displaced ruling oligarchs. It was not a revolution. It was a power grab. It was the popular mass movement against the US backed Marcos dictatorship that has educated, organized, and launched massive protest actions that has created a critical mass that culminated at Edsa. Sad to say, the real unsung heroes coming from a cross-section of sectors were left biting the dust. The unsung heroes that tirelessly and fearlessly sacrificed their own lives in the name of justice, freedom, and equality. The unsung heroes that wants a fundamental change in Phil. society. The unsung heroes who were arrested, imprisoned, tortured, killed, and salvaged across the country. The unsung heroes who were stripped of their basic human rights by the Marcos dictatorship. The so-called ‘Yellow Revolution’ is nothing but a fleeting shower of confettis floating in the air, desperately seeking to stay aloft forever but can not escape the reality of gravity and the truth. Then slowly falls on the ground to be unceremoniously trampled by foot, run over by cars, soften by rain into pulp, and baked by the scorching sun into dust.