Claiming the Spirit of People Power

Today our country marks the 24th year since the historic bloodless revolution known as the People Power Revolution. From this the Philippines was freed from the clutches of a dictator. Our people got to know what true democracy meant and to live freely.

I was blessed to grow up in the time of that freedom. I was able to study in the University of the Philippines and not worry about anything because we had been granted the privileges of a free people. However, just because I personally did not grow up or live through (at least being old enough to know what it meant) martial law, this doesn’t mean I should take it for granted.

Today I am reminded of the fight my parents, and many of our parents, fought. I am reminded of the cause taken up by a simple housewife dressed in yellow, who fought to end the rule of the Dictator and to seek justice for the senseless killing not just of her husband, but of countless victims of extra-judicial killings, many of whom were never found. Today I am reminded of the sacrifice taken by many who marched down EDSA with arms linked, unfazed by tanks and arms that sought to stop them from gaining freedom.

However, as I recall with pride our people’s success, I feel saddened that even after all that, it seems that we as a people still have not learned our lesson. We still allow corrupt officials to govern us, just take a look at all the campaign paraphernalia all around asking for the voters to “bring back” or “return” old faces to power, despite knowing their track records. I feel appalled when I recall how that in the face of evidence of anomalies and inappropriate behaviors, we still allow these people to seek public office.

What do we need for us to learn our lessons? Isn’t that what history is for?

I may not be an expert, but isn’t it that that’s what the People Power fight was all about? To break the chains of old politics to usher in a new dawn? At the rate we’re going, it sort of feels that we are once more being chained into our old practices. And the sad part of this: we are not chained by tyrants unwillingly but we allow ourselves to be chained by our bad decisions.

We may be living in a “free” world today, but sometimes, I don’t believe the word free means the same thing anymore. Just take a look at the current situation of our country. We have the Maguinadano Massacre and the Morong 43, we have countless human rights violations, threats to our basic freedoms…all in the face of a supposed democracy.

As a people, we really need to claim the true Spirit of People Power.

There were so many heroes of EDSA. Let us honor them by keeping their fight alive.

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