Thirty-three
years ago, a corrupt dictator – Ferdinand Marcos- was deposed in a matter of
four days without bloodshed. It was an event that was totally unexpected. It
happened three years after the assassination of Ninoy Aquino which consequently
heightened the resistance against the dictatorial regime. It happened two weeks
after a snap election which was denounced by the CBCP as fraudulent. It was
triggered by bungled coup attempt and the call of Cardinal Sin for the people
to come to EDSA to prevent loyalist troops from going after the coup plotters
holed up in Camp Crame
and Camp Aguinaldo. It came to be known as the People Power revolution which
installed as president Cory Aquino – the widow of Ninoy Aquino.
For
many,
it was indeed a miraculous event. It was our Exodus. It was a manifestation of
God’s intervention in our country’s history. God was revealed as liberator, on
side of the poor, who “cast the mighty from their thrones and lifted up the
lowly.” It was time when we were proud to be Filipinos. EDSA was touted as our
gift to the world, a proof that it was possible to peacefully end despotic
regimes. Thus, it became an inspiration for non-violent resistance all over the
world. Several years later, we witnessed the collapse of the Iron Curtain, the
emergence of democratic regimes in Eastern Europe, in Latin America and in
South Africa.
Yet,
over three decades later, we look at our country and ask, was it really a
revolution? Did EDSA change and transform our country?
The
Marcoses
are still around around.
Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. has received a hero’s burial. Imelda Marcos is still
scot-free in spite of being convicted by the Sandigan
Bayan. It is believed that the Marcos billions financed the vice-presidential
candidacy of Bongbong Marcos and the senatorial candidacy of Imee
Marcos who is being endorsed by Rodrigo Duterte out of gratitude for
having supported his presidential
candidacy.
We
have
a president who idolizes the former dictator and has followed his example by
exercising hegemony and total control not just over the executive branch but
also the legislative and judiciary branches of government. He has imposed
perpetual Martial Law in Mindanao. He acts as if he is above the law and can
say anything he likes. The extrajudicial killings already claimed that lives of
over 30,000 people in less than three years – casualties on the so-called War
on Drugs and the counter-insurgency war. This has surpassed the EJK that took
place in 14 years of the Marcos dictatorial rule. Peace remains an elusive
dream in spite of the peace agreement with the MILF and the BOL. The peace
negotiations with the NDF/CPP/NPA which started 32 years ago have not prospered
and have once again collapsed and this has led to the escalation of the armed
hostilities. We continue to be led by corrupt and incompetent politicians whose
only concern is to enrich themselves and their families and perpetuate
themselves in power, making a mockery of the anti-dynasty law in the
constitution. The opposition has been intimidated and emasculated. Those who
dared to stand up to the president – like Leila DeLima
and Antonio Trillanes III have been harassed and arrested by false charges. The
media is constantly under attack while false news proliferate in the
cyberspace. The clergy – including bishops - continue to receive death threats
and three priests have already been assassinated. Meanwhile, majority of
the people remain poor. The prices of
goods continue to rise. The poor are victims of violence, injustice, violation
of human rights. They are the most vulnerable to calamities due to the
destruction of the environment and climate change.
Looking
back over the years after EDSA, we realize that there was no genuine
revolution. There was a restoration of democracy – but only in form but not in
substance. What was restored was elitist democracy – with a self-serving
political class motivated by wealth, power and privilege – perpetuated by an
electorate most of whom lack conscience and intelligence, easily fooled by
empty promises, that can easily be bought and that can be captivated by
candidates who are popular (boxers, entertainers, actors) even if they are
incompetent. Fifteen years after EDSA, there was another EDSA II which ousted a
corrupt and incompetent president. But things remain the same. Why is this?
We
lack
genuine selfless leaders who have integrity, principles and competence. We lack
compassionate and courageous servant-leaders, with vision and wisdom, capable
of inspiring everyone to work for the common good and with a program of
transforming our political and economic system and structures and bringing
about genuine justice, peace and progress. But we cannot blame everything on
the kind of leaders that we have. We deserve the leaders we have elected. They
reflect who we are – the worst version of ourselves. Change and revolution
begins in each one of us. What is required is a moral revolution. To be able to
recognize good and evil within and outside ourselves, to overcome our
selfishness and greed, to undergo a process of conversion, to reject all forms
and manifestation of evil, to become more honest and compassionate. We need to
undergo a process of purification.
I
believe
that EDSA was our Exodus – it was a moment in our history that we as a people
experienced God’s liberating intervention. But as the biblical story reminds
us, the people of God had to journey across the desert for forty years before
reaching the promised land. Why did it have to take that long? Because
liberation from Pharaoh’s oppressive rule was the easy part. The inner
liberation – the spiritual-moral liberation takes time. Structural revolution
or transformation has to be accompanied by moral, inner revolution and
transformation. The present authoritarian regime that came to power with the
promise of change – pagbabago
- will not last, it will surely come to an end. But unless we undergo inner
change as a people, we will have more of the same.
There
was
a time when we were proud to be Filipinos. Now many of us are ashamed to be
Filipinos. I hope that someday, we will be proud once again of who we are.
