The Facing Glory of EDSA Revolution
Posted on Tuesday, 1 July 2014
The
Fading Glory Of
EDSA Revolution
By
Apolinario Villalobos
The
EDSA Revolution gave
the Philippines eminence
as the
initiator of a peaceful
struggle to overthrow
a dictatorship.
The Philippines
became known as
the birthplace of
the People Power.
Other countries that
were in similar
situation emulated
the peaceful democratic
effort. The Filipinos
proved that a military
takeover, or even a People’s
Council was not
necessary, but instead
proceeded with the
next phase such
as the proclamation of
a new President,
Cory Aquino.
Her taking
over the helm
of the government gave
so much expectation among the
Filipinos, however, as
the saying goes,
“you cannot please
everybody”. But those
who were not pleased by
her administration had
more than one
reason to be
dissatisfied. They averred
that her ascension
to power did
not check the
developing elitist
politics in the country.
With the Marcos
clique gone, a
new group came
in and some
even claim that
the new group
was even worse
as it exploited
her neophyte and
amateurish capability based
on charisma, being
the wife of
Ninoy Aquino. Not
even the shadow
of Cardinal Sin
was enough to
shelter her from ridicule
and insults.
After
Cory Aquino came
Fidel Ramos, Joseph
Estrada, Gloria
Arroyo. All of
them tried their
best in maintaining the
image of the
revolution as an
important turning point
in the lives
of the Filipinos.
Every year ceremonies
were held at
the “significant” portion
of the longest
highway in Manila.
The ceremonies are designed
such that they
spill over the
length of Ayala
Avenue, the swank
commercial district
of Makati. The
avenue would get tainted with
colors of the
“new” revolution -
yellow, blue, white,
t-shirts worn
by the
elite revolutionists who
hail from the
exclusive subdivisions. Gone
from the picture
were the red
flags of the
real “new” revolutionists, students, and
the faces of
those from the
depressed areas. Noticeable
too, was the ever dwindling
number of attendees.
To bloat
the number of
the crowd, included
in the count were
mere curious spectators.
Today,
year 2014 is
witness to the
commemoration of this
“revolution” in the far-flung city
of Cebu so
that it can
be celebrated in
the midst of
victims of natural
disasters from that
area. In Manila,
a pathetic of
handful led by
one some of
the “original” participants was
shown on TV.
The newscaster revealed
that some of
those who joined
the photo opportunity were
caddies from the
nearby golf course.
Obviously, those who
are claiming to
be “original” members
of the revolution
were not invited
to Cebu and
were left on
their own to
gather themselves in
EDSA. But who
will call the people
who are now beginning
to realize their
past mistake when
they gave their
full trust to
those intelligent guys
who are now
being investigated for
anomalies? The new
administration inherited the
“half-cooked” policies that
lawmakers seem helpless to
undo. Not to
be forgotten too,
are the privatization spree
of the past
administrations.
With
the Commission of
Audit reports claiming
that anomalies
had been going
on even right after
the Marcos administration, Filipinos
are shocked. All
the while, as
they thought that
everything was alright
with the dictator
gone, the plunder
of people’s money
was going on,
left unchecked by
the trusted and
committed by the
same people who
propelled the government
towards a new
direction, purportedly, that
of progress.
Ever
wonder why some
of those who
strut on the
aisles of the
Senate in their
expensive attire during
SONAs, are very
silent now? My
guess is that
guilt is seeping
in to their
person or they
are afraid to
let out even
just a single
word of comment
as the focus
of attention will
include them and expositions
will also be
made on
their own kind
of well-kept anomaly.
For
the unfortunately trusting
Filipinos, the
late realization took
its heavy toll …
the raped Philippine
democracy is
now impregnated with
more nasty findings
that see the
light one at
a time. Will
the pork barrel
and other issues
be resolved before
the current
President packs up
his luggage? I
am afraid to answer
that question, especially,
while imagining the
doggish smile of
those being investigated. How
about other investigations, such
as , the
Maguindanao massacre? the
rice smuggling? those
involving the Bureau
of Customs? the
mishandling of relief
goods? the Zamboanga
incident? My unsolicited answer
might just erase
the smile from
those who are
enjoying political shows
on TV. But
I suggest, they
count days to
realize that the
administration of Pnoy
has barely two
years to deliver
promised comforts.
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