The Philippine Online Chronicles

Last Friday, the nation celebrated the 25^th anniversary of the EDSA Revolution. For those who don’t remember, it is the people power movement that ousted then President Ferdinand Marcos out of Malacanang and propelled the housewife Cory Aquino into a reluctant presidency. It is oftentimes recounted as one of the glorious moments of modern Philippine history since it is a bloodless revolution that brought about a major change in government at that time.

Twenty five years later, there are still some Filipinos that still look upon EDSA with nostalgia, especially since our sitting president is no other than the son of former President Aquino, one of the most beloved presidents in modern history. In fact, PNoy’s presidential win can be owed to the same people power movement that brought his mother to power.

Last Friday, a sculpture was unveiled commemorating the contribution of the Late Jaime Cardinal Sin and his instrumental role in the whole Revolution. The day was declared as a no-school holiday, though people still flocked to EDSA in yellow shirts waving yellow and white banners.

This celebration comes amidst the corruption hearings of top military officials at the Senate Halls. At about the same time, the sentence on a Filipino congressman detained in Hong Kong for a drug trial was announced. Also, the country was them preparing to file an impeachment case against the Ombudsman’s office, the very office that is supposed to monitor corruption in government.

So, what’s changed?

Since EDSA, there have been four presidents. Two of them have suffered from coup attempts, similar to the government overthrow of the first EDSA revolution. In Estrada’s time, the coup attempt was brought about by the plunder case against him. In Arroyo’s case, several coup attempts were made, all of which were unsuccessful in unseating her from power despite massive allegations of corruption under her rule.

The decade rule of the Arroyo administration has been likened to the Marcos regime, in that there seemed to be a prevailing feeling of impunity. Despite extensive Senate hearings, testimonials and finger pointing, no one in the last administration has been sanctioned or has faced any criminal charges due to corruption, plunder or even electoral fraud. All three branches of government don’t seem to have any integrity, especially since the entire system seems to cover up for each other.

Since 1986, the country has suffered ups and downs in the economy, although today, there are poor and hungry Filipinos more than ever. The rich are richer and the poor are poorer. Despite this, the country has survived the Asian financial crises as well as the worldwide recession that struck two years ago.

In the last 25 years, the same 100 political families that have ruled the nation are still in government. Only now, they are the sons, grandsons or nephews that are in high ranking positions. In the meantime, the younger generation is being groomed, having positions as city councilors or junior government officials. So even if there are no two set political parties, political clans still abound.

The country’s economy is strong largely due to the billions of dollar remittances of overseas Filipino workers. Domestically, the telecom industry has emerged as an employment powerhouse, thereby changing the lifestyle of young urban professionals.

Culturally, everyone is now connected either via online or through text, making the Philippines the world’s largest and busiest population of texters.

Also, thanks to the Internet, people now can access the latest news not only through newspapers and media television, but also through online news. However, it is still not easy to say that there is complete press freedom, especially since the Maguindanao massacre, as well as the Philippines being in the top, ranking as the most dangerous place to work for a media newsman due to the high incidence of media killings.

If you look at things, it doesn’t seem like much has changed, at least for the better. There are just more Filipinos, increased migration and more corruption.

It’s a wonder we even still celebrate February 25 as a holiday. The people who were instrumental in people power have already been elected as senators, became president or have already died. Whatever lessons or feelings of pride that were developed during that time are long gone.

Obviously, the government officials and generals embroiled in scandal show they have no sense of delicadeza or shame. Certainly, there’s no love for country, if you can manage to steal half a billion pesos from government coffers leaving fellow soldiers without shoes, guns or bullets in the field. There’s obviously no love for country in a former president that can create midnight appointees after a decade marred by corruption allegations and leave both your sons in congressional positions, one of which is under a questionable party list.

Children don’t even know what we are celebrating now, other than it is another day in the long list of no-school holidays.

If you ask the common Juan what EDSA means, he’ll probably tell you it’s the most congested traffic artery in the metropolis, where pink fences, blue boys, number coding, errant buses and taxis, MRT lines, jaywalking pedestrians, bottleneck overpasses and thousands of private vehicles all come together on a daily basis. It certainly doesn’t seem to be the site of a historical peaceful revolution.

The Cojuanco-Aquino family has certainly enjoyed massive popularity after the EDSA revolution. They have produced one national hero pre-EDSA, and two Philippine Presidents, the incumbent included. Presidential daughter and sister Kris Aquino has enjoyed massive fame as a celebrity. The family still owns control of Hacienda Luisita, in spite of land reform laws instituted by the first Aquino administration.

Shame on us for letting this happen to our nation!

Shame on us for voting the same officials over and over again, under different guises, party lists, or family members. After such as golden opportunity for change brought about by EDSA, here we are 25 years later, worse off than when we started.

At least the years immediately after EDSA, the Filipino could hold his head up high and be proud to be Filipino. Today, our foreign policy is being questioned. Our sovereignty is in question and we don’t get any respect. We have to go send appointed envoys to Taiwan and Hong Kong to plead mercy for our nationals. Our women are treated poorly, our intelligent work force is outsourced to become yayas, maids and workers in other lands where they are abused or maltreated.

February 25 is just another date in the calendar because whatever event that led to this historic event, whatever feelings of national pride, anger against injustice and corruption are long gone.

Now, we are left with a feeling of stupor, much like a bad hangover after a long night of partying.

What shame!

Photo by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado. Some Rights Reserved