Skip to main content

32 Years of EDSA People Power


Please Juan, wake up from deep slumber!

I am a Filipino, and a darn proud one. Yet, I just could not get my head around what we, as a people, do. We seem to be a flock of headless chickens roaming endlessly around a barren and hopeless land. We fight against each other without a clear understanding of what we fight for. People in EDSA now are saying, “We are fighting for democracy!” To which I say, “Of course we are!” We all get it. We fought hard for it and got it 32 years ago, did we not? Where exactly did it take us today?

I am a firm believer of the idea that the greatest gift our forefathers left us is democracy. There are still societies to this day whose people who do not even know that people can now choose their leaders. We are given something many people can still only dream of. Yet there are those who say democracy failed us. Others just perennially blame the failure to the government. I think it is more a case of us failing democracy and a corrupt government (or series of governments) just simply capitalized on our failure.

Democracy is a very powerful tool. It empowers both the conformist mind and the maverick mind. Together, these components make for a brilliant, peaceful and progressive society. Democracy protects the conformists who respect the laws and the rights of the collective. Democracy allows for the mavericks to challenge the laws so they can be fashioned to better serve and protect the rights of the collective. The key here is the “collective”. Democracy only works when people, with the same mindset, the same vision for the future, and the same genuine concern for the collective join together as one to promote what they truly believe is best for the greater community.

The Filipino’s show of strength 32 years ago, at the hollowed grounds of EDSA was a thing of beauty regardless of where you stand in that debate. The detractors of EDSA would argue that the numbers that showed up in that historic event are not even a true representation of the Filipino majority. On the other hand, the proponents of EDSA would argue that it was a legitimate triumph of democracy over a dictatorial regime. Whether the driver behind the EDSA people power is a real and genuine concern for the welfare of the Filipino people or a selfish attempt to hand over (or perhaps shift) the power to a limited few, whether the numbers that showed up that time was a true representation of the Filipino majority or not, one thing is clear – there is strength in numbers and power in unity. In EDSA 32 years ago, a substantial number of the collective, seemingly united in mind and intent to find something different, showed up in numbers and put that power to the test. The “collective” won and they wrote history. EDSA was the “renaissance” of the Filipino mind – the awakening that to me, no matter how beautiful that event may be, will always be one I shall remember as the one that made us and broke us at the same time. We found strength in unity, and use it we did – over and over and over.

I was a mere 7 year old boy when EDSA happened. I cannot claim that I have seen nor have felt the effects of the Marcos era. This is why I cannot relate to the younger generations that go out to the street and profess at the evils and horrors of that time. Some of these youths are even more passionate than the generations that actually lived in those times. They believe so strongly on what they have read and what they were told that they so willingly pick up the baton and declare themselves the new generation of democracy fighters. But do they really understand what this “democracy” they are fighting for is? I look at these young ones and cannot help but think that these young souls are either misguided or manipulated. I am inclined to believe it is more of the latter.

In order to truly learn from the past, one has to look at both sides of the story. In studying both sides of the story, one must also keep in mind that history is always written by winners. Mindful of this truth, a true student of history would need to look beyond history books or biographies or autobiographies. To accept the facts written in these journals, without even asking what rigorous testing methods these written data were subjected to for them to be considered as facts, is no different than directly looking at the event through the lens of the winners. To focus solely on one side of a story is no different from indoctrination – and indoctrination, if we have learned anything at all in history, is a very dangerous thing. Sadly, this is what is happening right now. There are elements so bent at feeding the younger generations “facts” from our history, comparing them to any incumbent government, and drawing parallels to the “facts” written in our history.

I consider myself one of the lucky ones where my formal education is supplemented by education at home. Open-minded discussions and debates were always welcome when I was growing up, even between the young and the old. Of course there is that thin line between open discussion and “pangangatwiran sa matatanda” and it almost always ends up as the latter for me. For those transgressions, I get a major reprimand (at least until I came of age). Call it what you will – fake, phony, pretentious, or a straight up dictatorship at the very core of society – the family, I believe this turned me in to the thinking man that I am today, or at least I would like to think so. Now that I am older, and hopefully know better, I begin to question the way we currently educate our young. Are we really teaching our children to become critical free-thinkers, or are we in fact indoctrinating them? Do the materials we use in formal education really promote critical thinking, or do they serve “facts” and “information” on a silver platter for the kids to take in, memorize and master with no questions asked?

Facts are important in any decision-making. The problem we currently face is not the lack of facts, but rather the skewed perception of facts. A fact is a universal truth. An inch being equal to 2.54 cm is a fact. The force of gravity, the speed of light, the weightlessness of space, these are facts. Marcos a “dictator” or Ninoy a “hero” are labels. They are not facts. A label is what we use to classify things, events and people. Labels are perceptions of truths based on either personal or handed-down experiences. Sadly, labels are a free but powerful commodity that is irresponsibly thrown around nowadays. The day we accept labels a facts is the day we surrender our right to critically think for ourselves. The day we accept labels as facts is the day we become mere tools and servants to propaganda artist. Do not get me wrong, I am not in any way proposing that Marcos is a hero and Ninoy is not as heroic as he is portrayed to be. I am merely suggesting that in this day and age where information flows untethered and unregulated, we have to be very careful not to mix up labels and facts. Facts are tools for progress and evolution. Labels are, well, something else.

After the EDSA people power in 1986, we were suddenly elevated to the international spotlight. We were the first nation in history to ever conduct a bloodless “coup” and successfully topple a “dictator”. There were already so many coup that happened before our EDSA revolution. Most of them, bloody. This is expected since by definition of a coup or a revolution, any incumbent government is expected to fight any violent takeover, where bloodshed is almost always expected. There is one peculiar thing about the EDSA Revolution that turned it into the bloodless coup that it is now famously known for – Marcos did not give the order to engage. Had he given the order to his loyalists to engage, the history of the bloodless coup we, and the rest of the world, know would be a completely different story. If one is to rely on mere definitions alone, one can write an article for EDSA Revolution in a completely different light:
Today, the Philippine Government was illegally taken over (i.e. the coup) by protesters and President Marcos (i.e. the dictator) did not fight the hostile takeover in order to protect human lives.

Of course such a headline is so wrong in many ways. But had that been the headline that spread across the world that day, the result of the war of perceptions could have been completely different. After all, the generations now (with very strong opinions of that period in our history) can only rely on what is written about that period. I do not wish to change history nor do I wish to go into a lengthy debate that the pro and the anti-Marcos will surely be entangled in for many, many, years to come. What I am merely trying to point out is history can be bent and molded easily by just a mere creative phrasing of a few words. The reality too is that the majority of the information readily available to us, common men, tends to only show one side of the story. And in each story, a label is thrown here and there, free of charge. We just have this automatic need, a systemic urge to label just about anything. Then when the labels resonate to a good number of people, it suddenly turns into a fact. This is very true with most our history books and very much true with the articles from the mainstream media as well. Sadly though, our current education system uses these very same materials to educate our next generations about our history. I have been at the receiving end of such education and I have experienced first-hand how that famous event in our history is depicted in the classrooms. This clearly explains why we now have the youths that go to EDSA every year to “remember” – and remember they do, with so much resolve and passion that it almost looks like they were direct victims of that phase in our history.

You need not look very far to understand exactly how what is written today shapes the history that will be read and reread tomorrow for and by the next generations to come. Here is a recent report that has been spreading around the globe just a few days ago.




Source: https://www.rappler.com/nation/196525-united-states-intelligence-agencies-duterte-regional-threat


Now here is the actual wording of the Intelligence Report as pointed out by Mr. Bobby Tiglao.



Source: http://www.manilatimes.net/us-intelligence-estimate-praises-duterte/382088/

There is nothing in the intelligence report that explicitly or implicitly states that Duterte is indeed a threat to democracy. Maybe there are other damning documents that independent investigative journalists out there are not sharing with us (perhaps confidential or classified reports directly from the source?). But as of the time of writing this, I have yet to see an actual report that says exactly what the mainstream news headlines are currently spreading.

Now this is an academic example of how history is written. Two different sides of a story, shown from two different viewpoints, driven by two different interpretations, thrown out to the public domain for “discussion”. Then the discussion is steered by those who make the louder noise. The side that gains more traction and grows the greater following wins by numbers. This is followed by calls to action (or actions) necessary to make the winning viewpoint a reality. The “reality” happens. The victor then writes the history according to their own "true" accounts, with the matching labels of course. True accounts become facts and the rest, they say, is history. This has been the modus operandi from long before we were all here – one that has been widely popularized during the Vietnam War, and sadly one that is still being used to this day to great effects.

We have already established that there is power in numbers. We have also established that Information is power. You combine these two elements and you have a powerful weapon that can shape the world. He who controls information and he who has the ability to reach a larger number with his “information” wins – and ultimately writes history . This gave rise to social media. Unlike history books and the mainstream sources, social media is one that is really actually owned and written by the collective, at least until the traditional “owners” and promoters of information catch up on social media. This rise of the social media, for me at least, is like the EDSA Revolution – but a more powerful and a much more inclusive one. Unlike EDSA with the physical and logistical challenges, the social media revolution does not need money, plane/bus tickets, food distribution networks, streamer & placard printing, etc. What one needs to be included is just an internet connection, a keyboard, and a mouse and you are good to go. Sadly though, this too may end up just like the original EDSA Revolution. The signs are already showing. We already have two clearly divided sides, the pro-Duterte and the anti-Duterte, and neither is willing to listen to what the other has to say regardless if the other really does make sense. Both sides are using all available tools to bang their own drums. Both sides are bent on writing their own version of history seen in their own sets of eyes. We do not know yet which side will win on this one, but this I can tell you with finality – one of them will definitely win. Question is can we, as a collective, really claim victory?

As curious beings we are naturally attracted towards where the noise is strong. Our opinion space is very noisy at the minute. This is a very good thing. This means there is much more engagement and much less indifference. Like what I have always said, The Filipino nationalism is at its highest it has ever been in recent years. The challenge is which side’s beating drum do we follow? Do we follow the pro-government, or do we follow the anti-government? Do we follow the pro-DDS, or the anti-DDS? Do we follow the Yellows, or do we follow the other colors? Do we follow this label or the other label? I say we wake up from this deep slumber and follow neither. We choose a side, any side, and we lose. We will look back to today, 30, 40, 50, 60 years from now and realize once again that much like the EDSA 32 years ago, we have not made progress – We gained nothing.

It is time to wake up and put an end to this nonsense. We must break away from our usual programming. We must no longer allow any of these sides to win us over and use us. We are Philippines, we are the voice, and we are the government. We do not need any of those sides to represent us. We must not allow ourselves to be used as a number in their tug of war for power. We have, for 32 years now, tried to do things the exact same way over and over and over – on this day every single year we go out in numbers, we condemn the ills of the current government, flag our current leaders as creeping dictators, attempt to overthrow our current government and claim another victory for democracy. Every single time democracy wins, we lose. We remain as unprogressive, as poor, and as divided as we have always been. It has been 32 years of doing the very same thing and expecting a different result every single time. To put it bluntly, it has been 32 years of pure and utter stupidity.

This EDSA, I really hope we all decide for ourselves to do things differently. Let us go out in large numbers, as the real government, and tell those we elected as administrators of our government what policies work for us and what policies we do not approve of. Let us go out in numbers not with the goal of overthrowing a government. This EDSA our goal should be to try and unite in support of (or against) the policies, ideologies and principles rather than the groups, parties or people. Let us go out there and provide this government direction and support rather than try to destroy it. We give this one a try and maybe, just maybe, this EDSA will really finally fulfill its true potential as a true display of peaceful “People Power Revolution” towards real, meaningful and tangible progress.

Let us keep the memories of EDSA alive and let us learn from our past, this time, for real.



Comments

What people are reading...

Impeachment Complaint Filed vs Duterte

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/16/rodrigo-duterte-impeachment-papers-filed-in-philippine-congress The impeachment complaint filed by the opposition lawmaker Gary Alejano in the House of Representatives today, May 16, 2016, is the glue that pieced together what seemed in the past as dispersed efforts to destabilize the current administration. The opposition would vehemently deny that this is an act of destabilization.  Most of them would say that their mere intention is enlighten the public and to ensure that the truth is known to all Filipinos.  To put things into perspective, let me define what “destabilization” really means.  Oxford defines destabilization as, “The process of upsetting the stability of a region or system, especially of government.” With this internationally accepted definition, I can only conclude that impeachment, although considered as part of the democratic process and embedded within the laws of our land, is nothing more...

New Year Resolutions

Another year is over. Before the hands of time struck the final minute of 2012, we all had a clear vision of what we wanted for our 2013 -- the so called "New Year Resolutions". Some made a promise to live healthier e.g. lose weight, stop smoking, etc. Others have more abstract resolutions like, "will be happier", "will smile more", "will be more sensitive", etc. And there are others like me with a very simple resolution, go on a "no rice diet". In the business lingo, this goal makes a lot of sense because it is SMART (S=specific, M=measurable, A=attainable, R=relevant and T=timely). There is no way this cannot succeed as it makes for a perfect goal. However, there was a big flaw in the plan -- as the clock struck twelve, I had my right hand flexing its muscles with a spoonful of rice. Need I say more? To make long story short, I was doomed to fail from the get go. And so I welcomed 2013 with a broken promise.

#WeArePhilippines

Recently, we have seen a lot of political disorder in the Philippines that has literally divided, and continue to divide, our nation.  Majority of the government officials, who the Filipino people have chosen to represent their best interests, have misused the trust and the authority that the people have given them to further their individual (and that of their party’s) political interest.  This observation is not only directed at one person or one political party.  Parties and individuals have been hell-bent on criticizing anyone who sits on the other side of the fence.  Privilege speeches and press conferences, under the guise of “at the interest of the Filipino people” have been used to either discredit another official or to defend a “personal attack” directed at them by a member of the opposition.  This has fueled the nation’s divide and has distracted the Filipino people’s sight away from the positive things that currently unfolds right in front of us. O...

The Last Cab Ride

A true story by Kent Nerburn Twenty years ago, I drove a cab for a living. One time I arrived in the middle of the night for a pick up at a building that was dark except for a single light in a ground floor window. Under these circumstances, many drivers would just honk once or twice, wait a minute, then drive away. But I had seen too many impoverished people who depended on taxis as their only means of transportation. Unless a situation smelled of danger, I always went to the door. This passenger might be someone who needs my assistance, I reasoned to myself. So I walked to the door and knocked. “Just a minute,” answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor. After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 80′s stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940s movie. By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it ...

Desiderata

The word "desiderata" is the plural form of the word "desideratum", a Latin word which literally means "something desired". I came accross this beautiful work as a teenager and it has greatly influenced and shaped how I see the world.   *** DESIDERATA by Max Ehrmann, 1927 Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender  be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly;  and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant;  they too have their story.  Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.  Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession...

A lesson on parenting: Father and son tread water 15 hours overnight in the Atlantic with help from Buzz Lightyear

Father and son tread water 15 hours overnight in the Atlantic with help from Buzz Lightyear This is an inspiring story about parenting.  Time and time again, as parents we are caught up in the tide of life.  Sometimes the tide gets too overwhelming that we begin to lose faith.  Tides come in different forms, it could be stress of parenting itself or a work/financial problem, and there are those tides of real physical danger much like in the news above. If you were the parent in this news, yourself and your son - two tiny specks in an infinite pool of deep blue and dangerous waters, to see your son slowly drift away while you just stare in utter helplessness would break your spirit faster than you could blink your eye.   Most parents in the same dire situation would swim themselves to death and possibly hold on for as long as humanly possible to provide an anchor or a floater for his/her kid til help arrives.  Even ...

Funny Pinoy Jokes

Here is a collection of funny Pinoy Jokes all over the net.  This post will be updated as regularly as possible, with the latest jokes showing at the top. Learn Useful French Words in Minutes 1. TURN - le coup 2. LITER - le true 3. BEHIND - le coud 4. ALMS - le mousse 5. FIVE - le ma 6 . FLY - le pad 7. DEAD SKIN - le bag 8. CONFUSED - le tou 9. NO LONGER A VIRGIN - les pag 10. UNFAITHFUL HUSBAND - cou ma le wah 11. CITY - ce vou 12. DRUGS - sha vou 13. GOODBYE - va vou 14. MUSICAL BAND - com vou 15. BALD - cal vou 16. CAUGHT IN THE ACT - na vou coup, na coup!! 17. FEATHERS - valahe vou 18. UNCLEAR - ma la vou 19. SINK - lah va vou 20. COCONUT - vou coup 21. OPEN WIDE - vou camou 22. CIRCUMCISE - vou ratattoule 23. ALWAYS UP - va yagriah 24. YOU'RE HOT - le voug mou 25. WASHROOM - coup vaetta 26. JAIL - coup lou ngan 27. SUPER BOOBS - la que zouosu 28. BOOGER - coup la ngout 29. BIG SCAR - va coup cangh 30. BIG MO...

The Law of the Garbage Truck

By David J. Pollay One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly. So I asked, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!' This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck'. He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you. Don't take it personally, just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take th...