On the 25th Anniversary of Edsa People Power

Today the Philippines (or probably just Manila) is celebrating the 25^th anniversary of the Edsa People Power.  We are commemorating the day when Filipinos regained freedom, this time from the 21-year tyranny of Ferdinand Marcos, and pegged our hopes for a better nation on Ninoy Aquino’s widow, Cory.  

The preparations lasted for days, and I must say that they did a wonderful job with the People Power monument as I saw it this morning on my way to work.  Traffic was not even as bad as I expected it to be.  I got to the office way earlier than I normally do.

Now this is one national celebration that I simply could not ignore (unlike Independence day and all these other “days” to commemorate historical milestones) as I was 9 years old then and fully aware of how the events unfolded quarter of a century ago.  I was too young to choose between the two opposing parties, all I knew then was the “V” sign was for Marcos and the “L” sign was for Cory and that if I support Cory, I should wear yellow.   But as I matured, I realized how important this milestone is to our nation.  And I am proud to have already been alive to tell and retell the story of Edsa, no matter how young or far I was from the real thing then.

All the social networking sites I maintain are filled with people’s thoughts and takes on the on-going celebration.  Most are happy, some are pessimistic.  There are even those who would say that Edsa People Power was a joke.  I really do not understand where these people are coming from, so I choose not to pay attention to what they have to say.  What strikes me with the oddest of emotions are those who, up until this time, commemorate the history of Edsa by hauling invectives in the general direction of the Marcoses.  

To these people (most of whom come from the media and show business) I ask, 

“What the hell is your point?” 

It has been 25 long years.  

There had already been four different presidents since that fateful day in 1986.  We had been given 9,125 days to live out the principles of katotohan, kalayaan, katarungan that we fought so hard for.  We have outlived the legacy of Marcos and have not allowed any of the four that followed him to even come close to telling us what we can and cannot do or say.

Is it not about time we start moving on and away from the REASONS why there had to be an Edsa People Power and start working out to effect the changes we cried out for 25 long years ago?  

Marcos is no angel.  It is alright to hate him and his memory.  On the same note, please be consistent on this hatred that you do not find yourself lining up in a mall to get a picture with Imelda Marcos or her children. 

Let us get off the Marcos’ backs and on with our lives!

I am saying this not because I am a Marcos loyalist, remember I said I was too young to make a choice then.  I am saying this as a member of that generation that supposedly “enjoyed” the fresh new start ushered in by the bloodless revolt.  

I grew up enjoying my freedom to express my thoughts as I am doing now.  I appreciate my freedom to roam the streets at night, with only my Dad’s curfew to worry about.  My parents sent me to UP without the fear of me ending up dead because I criticize too much or that I look like a drug addict with my torn jeans.  

And now that I am able to understand how I was given all these “freebies”, I recognize my responsibility to safeguard it and never let anything or anyone take it away from me.  And this, I know, I have to do conscientiously.    And by conscientiously I mean, keeping the lessons learned from the past, focusing on the things that matter, and working hard to protect the principles and values fought for in Edsa.  I know I cannot guard my piece of Edsa if I will keep turning my head back to Marcos’ busted bust.  I must look forward.  We all do.

Fighting with the Marcoses now is a futile task.  The oppressor is long dead.  We should stop pointing our fingers at them every time February 25 comes around.  And while we’re at it, I think we should stop pointing fingers at each other too.  All of us are equally responsible for the good and the not-so-good things that came after Edsa.  Remember, we asked for freedom.  No wait, we fought for our freedom!  And we won dramatically.  But after the reins have been cut, was there an account of the directions each of us headed for?  

I read from my Twitter live feed that Noynoy Aquino opened the celebration by lambasting the declaration of Martial Law in 1972.  This is just so sad.  We are supposed to be celebrating the victory of the Filipino people, I just wish he had the sincerity to do just that and not at the expense of history.   

 It is not bad to commemorate history, but at some point (and I think that point should have been February 26, 1986), we will have to treat it as it is – history.  Something that has happened, cannot be re-done, but with precious lessons that we all can learn from to create a better one for the future generations to talk about! 

We have all suffered enough.  And it is high time we start doing something about it.  We have taken the first step: we've regained our democracy.  We are, at this point, 25 years late of taking the next one:  Taking responsibility for the freedom we have been given.  

Happy birthday Edsa!   

Protesters were prevented from the Malacanang Palace by barbed wires.

Civilians guarded by loyalist soldiers in a grassy area in EDSA (this is where the EDSA Shrine now stands).  The POEA building was the only high-rise structure at that time.

Human barricades protected soldiers while they moved from Camp Aguinaldo to Camp Crame.  A rare moment in history when men in uniform relied on the power of the people for their protection.

It was also a moment remembered as PRAYER POWER.

Over our dead bodies!  Loyalist soldiers withdrew their tanks from the crowds not long after, completely ignoring Marcos' orders to trample on the people if need be.

All photos from Joe Galvez, then a staff photographer for Mr. & Mrs. magazine and the non-crony Philippine Daily Inquirer.

He is now the photo editor of GMA News Online and the president of the professional organization Press Photographers of the Philippines.