Freedom, equal human rights, poverty alleviation, and Fight against corruption, these were some of the things that was promised by the Edsa revolution to its citizens. But 25 score years later, The Filipino people still suffers in Poverty; more Crocodiles are getting in to the high positions of the Government; people abusing their freedom; and the rich just keeps on getting richer, while the poor is more likely to get depressed. As someone part of the generation not born from the era of the Edsa Revolution, I understand that I would not be able to fully realize the feeling of those times; however, I am very ambivalent that we are feeling the success and promises attained during those times as told by our elders and politicians. Because of this I come to a question if this present situation that our country prospers today is the same as the time of Marcos? Probably it does, however not as Gargantuan as today. People Power should have brought change and bring forth a constitution that will be in favor of everybody. But this is our situation now 25 years after.
After 25 years, we now reflect on how the country is doing today. The desire for freedom of the revolution was the drive that kept the people fighting during those struggles from the Marcos regime, and the unfair treatment of Filipino employees when a widespread of jobless Filipinos were observed amidst the success of Government friends and family and Foreign associates.[1] Apparently our country has not improved from situations of unemployment as people still goes abroad to look for a decent life, and leaders still abuse their privileges through corruption. Nevertheless, despite of this poor performance and hopes of being a country like Singapore like Bong Bong Marcos said. We still should be thankful because if it was not for those times, we could have ended up like Libya with their blood thirsty revolution as President P-Noy indicated;[2]
In 25 years, the president stated that nothing has changed in the country since Edsa I. According to him, the government still was not able to provide enough for the people because of the corruption that was rampant.[3] But if there is anything that we have achieved, it is the Democracy of the country, especially the freedom of press. [4] The News Media back on Marcos time was very limited but powerful. The people of the Philippines would believe anything the media says, but all the media can do is say what the government tells them. Now, with the same extent the fourth estate celebrates the 25 years of Edsa with great pride claiming the success and achievement of the democracy they felt in light of the success of that revolution.
EDSA I have taught us so many lessons. It did not only open the eyes of the Filipino, but sent a remarkable message all through out the world. That when the People unite, there is nothing that we can not achieve. But it is sad enough to say, that our country engulfed in poverty still suffers the injustices that the EDSA revolution promised to remove. The life according to the stories back then, could have been much better than it is right now, but the thing for sure that we enjoy today is the gift of Democracy. And right now, we are still anticipating what the yellow ribbon of that significant event wants to represent, Equality, Freedom, and a better life.
Our President Benigno Aquino III quoted in one of his speeches a saying that we Filipinos could learn from: “As Senator Ted Kennedy said: ‘The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die” [5] the quotation explains itself and when it is related to the revolution, It would simply mean that though our situation today seems worse than before, we should not give up aspiring for our dreams and never letting anything hinder our hopes for the future.
[1] EDSA and the economy: 25 years after, 24 February 2011, Sonny Africa, IBON Features [online] Available at: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/insights/02/24/11/edsa-and-economy-25-years-after [Accessed 1 March 2011]
[2] P-Noy to Bongbong: We might be the same as Libya, 26 February 2011, Earl Cebedo, ALL VOICES [online] Available at: http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/8308747-pnoy-to-bongbong-we-might-be-the-same-as-libya [Accessed 1 March 2011]
[3] Philippines marks 25 years of 'people power revolt', 23 February 2011, Dona Pazzibugan, Norman Bordadora, Philippine Daily Inquirer [online] Available at: http://www.asianewsnet.net/home/news.php?id=17564&sec=1 [Accessed 1 March 2011]
[4] PINASISM6,2011, PRES. NOYNOY AQUINO VS. SEN. BONGBONG MARCOS: PHILIPPINES COULD HAVE BEEN SINGAPORE NOW? [Video Online] Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xATQ1JLOmM [Accessed 1 March 2011]
[5] Aquino vows to fulfill Edsa promise, 2011, http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20110226-322377/Aquino-vows-to-fulfill-Edsa-promise
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