THIS year, the commemoration of EDSA 1 holds more meaning, not just for celebrating its 25th year, but also because of its special significance to the global community at large – particularly in Middle Eastern countries, where citizens are presently fighting against a tyrannical rule, to rightfully claim their democracies.
In the Philippines, key personalities behind the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution – Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, former President Fidel V. Ramos and Senator Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan – have expressed a unanimous statement: “No regrets.”
For Honasan, “it was a shining moment for [the] people.” Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, he said that the decision they made 25 years ago “was meant to initiate reforms and systemic change for Filipinos.”
Enrile, who acted as minister of defense during Marcos’ presidency, said that “any upheaval was a setback” but that he never regretted withdrawing his support for the former strongman.
Former President Ramos, who was then AFP vice chief-of-staff, believes that there is still much to be done “so that the gains of People Power I would not be wasted” and that Filipinos should be intolerant of corruption among its government officials.
The dynamic trio, along with President Benigno Aquino III, recently converged in an all-too-rare occasion, to mark the 25th anniversary of the bloodless uprising.
Senators Enrile and Honasan and Pres. Ramos returned for the first time to the conference room of the Department of National Defense in Camp Aguinaldo where it all started. It was here where they made the historic decision to withdraw their support from Pres. Marcos on February 22, 1986.
PNoy formally inaugurated the refurbished conference room to become a mini-museum, bearing memorabilia which were donated by Enrile, Ramos, Honasan and other participants of EDSA 1.
And although Enrile had a falling out with PNoy’s mother, former President Corazon C. Aquino, during her term and Honasan instigated a number of coup attempts against her administration via the Reform the Armed Forces Movement (which, by the way nearly killed PNoy – one of five bullets he took is still embedded in his neck to this day), the singular reunion proved that time heals all wounds, and that a collective goal for change was enough to let bygones be bygones.
PNoy gave a fitting tribute to the pivotal role played by the defense establishment and the military in People Power I, saying that “it was the time when they followed their conscience, in light of the problems that they saw, that they will no longer serve just one person or one group. It was already time to serve the people.”
But after the euphoria has died down and everyone has sobered up from the excitement of this celebration, what comes next?
As Ramos said, the fight is not over yet. There is still much work to be done, especially at this juncture in PNoy’s presidency, where the saga of unraveling the once-concealed trail of corruption among government officials continues.
While EDSA 1 is one of our most memorable key moments in history, it should also serve as a reminder – that as ordinary citizens, we are still capable of inciting change in our day-to-day existence. Each of us should remain vigilant in guarding the democracy that we’ve worked so hard for.
For those who bore witness to this monumental victory in EDSA 1, let it be your task to pass on this historic legacy to future generations, so that it will never be forgotten.
(www.asianjournal.com)
(LA Weekend Feb 26-Mar 1, 2011 Sec A pg. 12)
