Remembering the EDSA revolution
Has it really been 22 years already?
My memories of the People’s Revolution at EDSA are still crystal clear. The events beginning with Ninoy Aquino’s assassination, my parents horrific reaction of that and the months to follow, the elections, the revolt, and what I was doing and feeling – I can still bring back the memories. And I was only a teenager then. I was only a spectator.
Others, much older than I was, were part of the battle. This ABS-CBN exclusive recounts the days surrounding the ouster of deposed President Marcos, from the eyes of Irwin Ver, Marcos’ commander of the guards and the son of General Fabian Ver. He says Marcos and his father were wrongly blamed for Ninoy’s death. Fabian Ver was acquitted by the Sandiganbayan and Cory Aquino’s administration.
I was brought up believing otherwise. I grew up believing that a better future for the Philippines was long overdue. I grew up believing that a people that was once fearful and self-absorbed can rise up against a tyranny and effect change that lasts. Twenty two years later, I still remember the power of EDSA over our country. Unfortunately, I also remember the many other times hence that our country has see-sawed between glory and corruption. Sometimes, by the same names that stood up and fought for freedom that day at EDSA.
How easy it is to forget.
“Ironically, Filipinos have always found it easier to die for our country — than to live for it. Times of peace and social stability we seem to fritter away in bickering — in quarreling like crabs caught in a bamboo trap — with each one pursuing his or her self-interest.”
Around the world, the Philippines included, there are new tyrannies in the form of self-serving leaders, immoderately greedy autocrats, and cliques of corrupt officials that we must still confront. History might yet call us to come together again — to offer our lives and fortunes on the altar of our civic ideals. There are oligarchies, dynasties, opportunists we are yet to banish from our political and economic life.
We won important victories at EDSA in February 1986 but its highest outcome was the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to infuse our people with a new purpose.
The spirit of EDSA compels our unswerving opposition to injustice, greed, corruption, and apathy. Its most dramatic moments have passed — but there remain many decisions/actions by leaders and ordinary citizens on which depend the ultimate shape of the Philippine future.
- President Fidel V. Ramos (EDSA People Power Commemoration Week” at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City February 22, 2008) [ABS-CBN]
7 Comments
I am at EDSA 1, looking back and after gaining some sense, the Philippines I think was better off during Marcos time, specially the 70’s. Filipinos are disciplined then.
EDSA showed how the rule of law can be turned by mob rule. The 1st, perhaps, is admirable, but the 2nd one, we became a laughing stock of the democratic world. A 3rd one is too much.
A culture of mob rule, in the guise of democratic process, IMO should be corrected. The law and the constitution is sufficient to navigate us during this time.
It is unfortunate that when we are experiencing economic growth, we are shooting ourselves in the foot. We have never learned. I feel sorry for the next generation who will grow up seeing their Philippines left behind. I hope they will not immigrate to another country.
disclaimer: am no fan of GMA and I did not vote for her.
I can still remember the “Ninoy, hindi ka nag-iisa” writings on many walls when Ninoy was assassinated. It’s a testament that when push comes to shove, the Filipino will stand for truth and justice.
The main problem is that we have a very illegitimate democratic system. Our voters elect only those people who are popular and not if they are capable. The big dilemma if GMA is ousted, the VP will take over who was elected PURELY because he’s popular with the masses, and not because he’s capable to lead the nation. Our economy has never grown this much, I don’t want to take the chance by entrusting it to someone solely popular with the masses.
To prevent this transfer, no matter how believable Lozada initially is, his credibility is now being questioned. He admitted that a certain level of corruption is acceptable to him. Questions have arisen whether he was kidnapped, because his celphone was not confiscated, he dined in Outback restaurant, and he was able to go to the place he wanted to go all along, that is, La Salle Greenhills. I even read he committed a sin of omission regarding his consultation with the wife of Sen. Joker Arroyo. He didn’t correct the impression in which it appeared the wife invited him to her house to urge him not to testify, when the fact of the matter is (based on what I read) Lozada was the one who contacted the wife around September before Joey de Venecia testified, and he was crying and that he doesn’t want to testify. So the wife invited him to her house, and told him she couldn’t lawyer for him due to conflict of interest since her husband is a Senator, while he was then president of Philforest. She advised him then, since he was so distressed, that he doesn’t have to testify if he didn’t want to. Since this was one of those ordinary free consultations, she didn’t bother to tell Joker about it. So Joker was surprised when his wife was mentioned.
gusto ko lang malaman kung dito lang ba nangyari sa pilipinas ang people power revolution?
Below is a transcript of a supposedly wiretapped conversation between Joey and Jun I got from a website. Judge for yourself if Jun Lozada is indeed deserving to be treated a hero, but of course after ascertaining if this is genuine.
usapang udifuta
________________________________________
TRACK 3…
http://www.patriots4truth.blogspot.com
Joey (allegedly, Joey de Venecia): Hey Jun.
Jun (allegedly, Jun Lozada): Hey Joey.
Joey: Jun, can you hear me?
Jun: Yeah. Go ahead.
Joey: Yeah, where are you to put Chair (Abalos)?
Jun: Ang formula ko doon is kuha ako ng points dun sa 130.
Joey: Uh-huh…
Jun: Di ba? Kasi saan ko pa kukunin di ba? (laughs) Itong mga …
Joey: Kaya lang pare, we need to get some… at least from… something from them, di ba?
Jun: Yeah.. from both sides. P*t@ng!na…
Joey: Pare.. start from the thing.. Because he’s the gatekeeper of the votes. P*ta. I can understand, but not that amount.
Jun: Oh yeah. that’s too big, right. That’s too big.
Joey: Pare, let’s develop a plan to talk to him.
Jun: Yeah, yeah, yeah. So…
Joey: And you know what he told me, between you and I. When we were in Hong Kong… in Shenzen. Don’t quote me ha. Sabi niya kasi, marami akong…… Tinanong ko bakit ba ang laki-laki? Singkwenta.. Sabi niya marami ako kelangan bigyan. Pati yung NEDA. He said the word NEDA ha. P*t@ngina. For your information pare.
Jun: Information? I would understand that… He’d like to look at…
Joey: Maybe, wait, you can quote me and say, sabi ni Joey meron daw… sabi mo sa kanya may NEDA dun. (laughs) Di ba? He told me pare. (laughs)
Jun: Sige, sige…
Joey: P*t@ng!na, baka magwala na naman yung… (laughs)
Jun: For some reason, I have this chemistry with him. Sabi ko Chair… In fact, sabi niya, Jun, ikaw na mag-referee bukas ha. Sabi niya, I want you to be there. Ikaw na mag-referee, ikaw na magsabi kung papaano. Sige po Sir, ako na ang mag-aano sa ano… (laughs)
Joey: Well anyway, so that’s where I’m looking at right now. .. ought to get you.. And then, uh, think of a strategy for Ben (Abalos?), and if you need me to back you up, I’ll be there.
Jun: Hey Joey, regarding this Chinese embassy thing. I think I struck a motherload no? I’ll put them in Roxas Boulevard. P*t@ng!na, di ba?
Joey: In the Reformation? (Reclamation)
Jun: No, p*t@ng!na, that’s not prime. We’ll put them in the CCP complex.
Joey: Yup, got it.
Jun: P*t@ng!na. Yeah, that’s, wala.. I can ??? that ??? agreement. (I can swing that gddam deal pare)
Joey: You mean, owned by the Central Bank?
Jun: Yeah! Can you imagine? P*t@ng!na, same stature as the American embassy, better pa, di ba? The Japanese Embassy is in Roxas Boulevard. The American embassy is there. So p*ta, I just arrived that we put the Chinese embassy right in the midst of it all, di ba? Joey: Yes, yes, of course. That’s ??? to hear. That’s foresight. (That’s perfect)
Jun: … don’t mention my name. I think he knows me well.
Joey: Gaano kalaki, pare?
Jun: P*t@ng!na, as much as 15 hectares. (laughs)
Joey: P*t@ng!na. Tapos siguro kumuha rin tayo dun. Pero we need 10 finances. (10 financers)
Jun: No, no, no, no. P*t@ng!na. I cannot just tell you all the things that I’ve been asked to do. But that one I think, I can ??? for ourselves.
Joey: I’ll talk to the…
Jun: Talk to him right away.
what are the different causes of edsa revolutions?
hello!!!!
medyo ayos nam,an ang gawa dito