EDSA Reflections

Last week, the PCIJ (Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism) held a mini-exhibit in Glorietta. They showed photos and profiles of the people who played major roles in the EDSA revolution 20 years ago. The personalities included the usual suspects... FVR, Enrile, Honasan, Cory... and also included a few behind-the-scenes operators.

Maybe, to spice things up and to serve as a social barometer, they added up message boards for people to write their thoughts and comments on the anniversary of the revolution. Reading through the comments brought mixed emotions for me; majority of the comments were very indifferent and callous. A lot of the comments (I'm guessing, from the younger generation) were pilosopo and nang-iinis... mga hirit na: "EDSA? Traffic dun!" or "Wala namang kwenta yang EDSA eh!"

There were a few positive comments, but I was really disappointed with what I read... I decided to contribute something to the boards... I wrote something to the tune of something like this:

   "The mere fact we're here and able to discuss things openly and whimsically is testament to our victory in EDSA, let us not forget this fact, and take it for granted. The battle for democratic freedom is one thing, while the battle for economic and social freedom is another, and is something that does not take a week to win."

So siyempre, I was feeling good about myself for writing something with sense on an otherwise half-full, yet terribly empty board... Of course, dahil mahaba yung sinulat ko, napuno na siya... I turned back and saw a couple of people nodding in agreement, tapos a woman came over (I'm assuming na siya yung nagbabantay sa exhibits) and took down the board I wrote on and put it on the floor, she got a new board, and posted it on the panel... She grinned... puno na eh...

Wow pare... ganun ang democracy... you write something with sense... tapos you get taken down to make way for others .

I was there during the first revolution... I was sitting on top of my dad's shoulders with a yellow ninoy t-shirt on, and a yellow bandana around my 3-yr.old skull. Of course I couldn't remember much about it, but I was there, along with a whole sea of people and kids from my generation.

I was also there during the second revolution... this time, tightly holding on to my 2 sisters while we awaited news about Erap's ouster.

Its frustrating because these past events and attempted power grabs and destabilization attempts were all enacted by the same people who were in EDSA1 and EDSA2, the same people... from Cory, FVR, Enrile, Honasan, Imelda and Imee, JV, Jinggoy and Erap, heck even the nuns and priests, the soldiers... all the same!

Why can't they just leave it at that? Maybe because they are afraid that their reputations and legacies have been tarnished, and that everything has been for naught. The truth is, history will be the judge of that.

As for the battle for social and economic freedom, sad to say, they are not equipped for that... because they are now part of the status quo.

Its been said that the best comedians and speakers had one thing in common... they knew when to end it. Thats a lesson that these veterans have to learn.

As for me, I'll end it narin... tama na... you guys did your part, leave the next battle to us, take it from me, you'll all do history and yourselves a favor.