24 years and worst than ever
I was already 10 years old in 1986. I was a bumming grade-schooler when the chaos started at exactly the 7th of February during that year. It was Election Day and majority who exercised their right of suffrage complained the whole day. Days had passed and a lot of surprising events led to what we generally call People Power Revolution or EDSA Revolution.
Before 1986 I was contented even with a mere peso in my pocket. Would you believe you could spend that with gulaman, a piece of monay, and a couple of candies? They say that life was hard but jeepney fare was below 1 peso.
In 1965, the president then was a visionary. He built roads and bridges throughout the country including a generator with an electric power capacity of one million kilowatts (1,000,000 kW), and water services to eight regions and 38 localities. Twenty years after, the man was merely reduced to a decrepit, corrupt, and power-hungry dictator, struggling to keep a failing economy and besieged by the opposition group for his numerous atrocities and human right violations.
If there was a legacy to remember in 1986, it should be the resilience of the people to have a united front fighting for hope, sovereignty, and nationalism. Everyone was proud to be a Filipino, irregardless of class and distinction. The rich were rubbing elbows with the poor at that grand celebration in EDSA because we have shown to the world how to lead a revolution without even firing a single gun.
And 24 years after that fateful day, we are worst than ever. We simply do not have anything to celebrate anymore. There is another economic crisis intentionally hidden by the government itself to deceive people that our country remains strong. Our network of roads are either dilapidated or leads nowhere except to the lands of the oligarchs. Our one and only railroad network became at one time a dumping place for unnecessary trash and human shits inside plastic bags. Our tollways, power lines, water lines, and basic services are owned by big private corporations. Instead of the government providing basic services to the people, the people are at the mercy of those scrupulous corporations, who have indirectly influenced and dictated the country’s policies after 1986. After EDSA, our military personnel became great businessmen, our businessmen became influential autocrats, our showbiz entertainers became adequate politicians, our politicians became great entertainers, and our leaders are procrastinating and just waiting for their Return of Investments hidden on some secret deals somewhere with some investors.
When Fidel Castro and company won the Cuban Revolution, one certain revolutionary shouted “We won the revolution! Let’s go home!” to El Commandante Che Guevara. Che then answered with a straightforward reply: “No, you idiot! The revolution begins now…”
24 years after EDSA, where are we right now? What is there to celebrate in EDSA? Do we still hope for the better for this country even while doing nothing? Or do we still hope that we experience another EDSA Revolution-like scenario? I believe it is too late.
Today we are celebrating EDSA day. We are reminded of the spirit of EDSA 1986. Yet, since 1986, EDSA is the most pissed main thoroughfare in the whole world, one of the dirtiest street, and one of the most smoke-belched street in the world. What is there to celebrate for???
Before 1986 I was contented even with a mere peso in my pocket. Would you believe you could spend that with gulaman, a piece of monay, and a couple of candies? They say that life was hard but jeepney fare was below 1 peso.
In 1965, the president then was a visionary. He built roads and bridges throughout the country including a generator with an electric power capacity of one million kilowatts (1,000,000 kW), and water services to eight regions and 38 localities. Twenty years after, the man was merely reduced to a decrepit, corrupt, and power-hungry dictator, struggling to keep a failing economy and besieged by the opposition group for his numerous atrocities and human right violations.
If there was a legacy to remember in 1986, it should be the resilience of the people to have a united front fighting for hope, sovereignty, and nationalism. Everyone was proud to be a Filipino, irregardless of class and distinction. The rich were rubbing elbows with the poor at that grand celebration in EDSA because we have shown to the world how to lead a revolution without even firing a single gun.
And 24 years after that fateful day, we are worst than ever. We simply do not have anything to celebrate anymore. There is another economic crisis intentionally hidden by the government itself to deceive people that our country remains strong. Our network of roads are either dilapidated or leads nowhere except to the lands of the oligarchs. Our one and only railroad network became at one time a dumping place for unnecessary trash and human shits inside plastic bags. Our tollways, power lines, water lines, and basic services are owned by big private corporations. Instead of the government providing basic services to the people, the people are at the mercy of those scrupulous corporations, who have indirectly influenced and dictated the country’s policies after 1986. After EDSA, our military personnel became great businessmen, our businessmen became influential autocrats, our showbiz entertainers became adequate politicians, our politicians became great entertainers, and our leaders are procrastinating and just waiting for their Return of Investments hidden on some secret deals somewhere with some investors.
When Fidel Castro and company won the Cuban Revolution, one certain revolutionary shouted “We won the revolution! Let’s go home!” to El Commandante Che Guevara. Che then answered with a straightforward reply: “No, you idiot! The revolution begins now…”
24 years after EDSA, where are we right now? What is there to celebrate in EDSA? Do we still hope for the better for this country even while doing nothing? Or do we still hope that we experience another EDSA Revolution-like scenario? I believe it is too late.
Today we are celebrating EDSA day. We are reminded of the spirit of EDSA 1986. Yet, since 1986, EDSA is the most pissed main thoroughfare in the whole world, one of the dirtiest street, and one of the most smoke-belched street in the world. What is there to celebrate for???
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