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Saturday, February 25, 2017
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THE EDSA People Power Revolution was the culmination of years of militant struggle of Filipinos. The real heroes of EDSA are the people – not just one political color, or one family, or the generals and politicians.
But despite the people’s victory at EDSA 31 years ago, the country remains beset by serious social problems. We remain mired in poverty, corruption, human rights violations, landlessness, and the trampling of our sovereignty. The mere changing of presidents – from Marcos to Aquino – is certainly not enough. Another proof that there has been no change is the continuing “rehabilitation” of dictator Ferdinand Marcos – by no less than the national government itself!
Rebellion continues because the roots of the armed conflict remain. Each president from the time of Marcos has brought his or her own version of “all-out-war” and all of these failed to crush the revolutionary movement. Military offensive is clearly not the only tack to address the insurgency. For as long as poverty and injustice remain, the cycle of violence will continue.
Rodrigo Duterte won the presidential elections based on a platform of change. After seven months in power, the people are still waiting for the promised reforms. For example, until now, ending labor contractualization remains an unfulfilled promise. The promise to free political prisoners in the spirit of pursuing the peace talks has not happened. Worse, the President abruptly and unilaterally cancelled the peace negotiations with rebels.
Social conditions pre-EDSA are fundamentally still prevailing. The EDSA Revolution and its failed promise of change taught us a valuable lesson – we cannot merely rely on government or any politician to achieve thoroughgoing change. But yes, collective struggle remains important. And we are capable of coming together as a people to assert our power.
We salutes the Filipino people who joined the EDSA uprising. We call on the current generation to uphold the lessons of “people power” and continue the struggle for genuine change.
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