EDSA 1986 Revisited and the New People Power of 2008
Last year, I decided, for the first time to try and remember all that happened from my point of view in the first show of People Power in the Philippines.
- EDSA 1986 Revisted: The First Night
- EDSA 1986 Revisited: The UP Law Liberation Forces
- EDSA 1986 Revisited: Real Danger, False Alarms, Firm Resolve
- EDSA 1986 Revisited: Marcos Going, Going, Gone!
I am still trying to understand what when wrong in its aftermath, how this country failed to build on the gains that we achieved, how we were the ‘darling’ of the world for a brief, shining moment and how we plunged into the “Sick Man of Asia” category a decade later.
I am beginning to see how this ordinary ‘hero’ of EDSA, as we all were, failed her country. Because even if I did not decide to migrate to other lands like half my high school class, by staying in the Philippines I added to the country’s problems. By not working to raise the standard of living of EVERY Filipino, by not working to raise the level of education for EVERY Filipino, but not giving more of my time and myself to help build this country. By thinking I was too small to make any effective change.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is afraid of another show of People Power, because the two times the Philippines did this, presidents were changed. And now she, the beneficiary of the second, is worrying for her own survival, and is the only one warning that People Power 3 will not be good for our country.
Filipinos know by now that People Power is a tool we use to replace presidents. In People Power 2, we were hoping that Gloria would be a good president. It was easy for anyone to be more competent than Estrada, but we wanted someone who would be good — as in honorable and nice and patriotic, and someone who would place her country over self.
It turns out that our Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is evil.
But is People Power 3 the solution? Yes, but only if we do not merely replace the President but actually WORK to change the country ACTIVELY for the better, EVERYDAY afterwards. That means changing ourselves, finding our identity as a people and building good systems from there that will benefit all Filipinos without exception afterwards.
The problem with us Filipinos is that we leave the running of the country to others when we should all participate in running the country in our own small way as citizens. To find that strength and power in us as ordinary citizens to effect change. To be proactive not passive. To be disciplined not destructive. To stand for what is right and good for everyone and not just look out for our personal interests.
We might instead want to build a nation using People Power 3 … and not just replace an evil President.
And honestly, if the President of the Philippines is evil, it is WE who have allowed her to be as evil as she can be through both our actions and inaction.
So, Philippines, this is 2008. We have already seen a pattern of decline. Where do we go from here?
And where do we find the answers and solutions? Inside ourselves.
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As I was about to publish the post above, I received via email a copy of this wonderful Editorial by Nicanor Perlas (who conducted the first Baguio PAGASA Workshop last February 9 & 10):
The Philippines is known globally for “people power”, its non-violent method of deposing dictators and corrupt heads of state. First there was People Power 1 that ended the Marcos dictatorship in 1986. Then there was People Power 2 that toppled the corrupt regime of President Joseph Estrada. So the nation felt a surge of energy when Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, the President of the highly influential Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), even if he was speaking for himself, publicly endorsed the idea of a new kind of People Power. A key question remains, however. What are the ingredients of this new kind of People Power?
It is a wonderful article that gives us a new formula that can work to give Filipinos a better country. So please find the full article on the NEW PEOPLE POWER and tell me what you think.
error 404 - not found. this is what it says with the editorial of nicanor perlas, lisa.
Thanks Resty. Fixed na!
Yes so true, who do we replace GMA with? I see the protesters and they are the same old faces I wouldn’t trust to run the country with. Here again Erap volunteering to take charge muna daw. Wtf! Even if we finally find the ideal leader but the people running the various govt agencies are the same ones, you think we can eradicate corruption?
Resty, you must be really upset! “Wtf” from YOU?!
We learned during the Baguio PAGASA Workshop that all it takes is for one to change, and start the ball rolling. The answers are deep in our hearts, in our collective spirit, in what we want deep down inside.
If done right, answers will emerge that might not necessarily be the tried, tested and failed ’solutions’ of replacing one crook with a bigger crook. The Filipino is realizing that it is not a matter of competence but a matter of moral authority to govern.
Here is the sequence: when we reach the “God in us, ” our core, the field that unites the universe, our authentic selves will emerge, from there the system will change.
I believe the Filipino is ready. Hence my next post: The Truth. We start from there, then all else follows. No need to fear Noli de Castro even, IF WE WILL NOT LEAVE THE RUNNING OF THE COUNTRY JUST TO HIM like we did with AQUINO, RAMOS, ESTRADA AND ARROYO.
I will be the change I want to see. I will contaminate others. Others will contaminate others, until goodness, not greed becomes the norm.
Honestly, if we can change Presidents and systems we can change the lower level government people, too We can purge government offices if we want. If they’re all corrupt, we can build bigger jails. Hahaha.
The Filipino will be more aware, he will reject the old system of corruption everywhere, he will stand for what is right. We will overcome.
Notice how I have no longer been so agitated since attending the workshop? We can see the solutions, and even the process better now. Believe it or not, for Baguio, even the UB Fire is part of that change for the better.
That there were no fatalities was a miracle, that it’s the 3rd fire in 19 years is a wake up call. I’m sure Baguio is beginning to start being more safety-conscious, and more concerned for the children.
Even the fire department will be stricter, even whistleblowers can become heroes and need not be afraid anymore. The moral revolution is already beginning for the Philippines.
Join us, Resty…
MORAL REVOLUTION has a nice ring to it.
My only question is — how long will it take? Who will be the survivors? And will the Balimbings still live on?
Hmmm, Truth may have many faces, as Truth is what one believes in. Nevertheless, there is a Divine Spark in all of us. Tap it, and use the same language to communicate, and we’ll be okay.
Moving on…
Dear Prudence (cool! parang Beatles)
What matters is for the revolution to start and keep rolling. We may just be the snowflakes and the snowball will take time to get big enough to crush them social cancer cells. It may take generations but it will have to start somewhere.
What we believe in will manifest itself in its own time. At the moment, what we are seeing and experiencing is what we believe in. Gov’t is graft ridden and short-sighted, cities are crowded and dirty. Filipinos are apathetic and non-caring. The Philippines is doomed. I know this is hard to grasp…the outer world is a reflection of the inner world…and unless we change our world view…it will remain the same. It is amazing how our confidence can make underachievers excel and our distrust can spell doom for achievers. By changing our views of our country and its people, it will change in time…believe it.
“failure is not in the falling down but in the staying down” -not mine…forgot the name of the author. When we quit, its over. Perhaps the reason why the Philippines is the way it is because so many of us have given up.
“the only way for evil men to triumph is for good men/women (humans?) to do nothing” -also not mine. also forgot.
Be the snowflake that will start a snowball. Be the straw that will break the camel’s back. Be the spark that will light the darkness. Be a droplet that will lose itself in the ocean. Be the centavo that will make up a billion pesos. etc etc etc
END THE GREED!
I cAnnOt undErstand whAts going on with our country, im only 11 yrs. old i just want to say that our president must finished her obligations first in our country before she live her position as a president… tnx… thatz all
Thanks, Vina, for your comment. While it is good to complete your task, it is also one’s obligation to do it well and to do it right.
Our President has been by doing really bad things (stealing, lying, cheating and more) so we really should make her go because she’s a bad person and is harming our country.