THIRTY-SIX years is, indeed, a long time and people have short memories.
Many were disappointed with what happened after the EDSA People Power Revolution of February 1986. After that shining moment, new oligarchs emerged, new grafters sprouted, new bureaucrats took advantage of the government.
Still, we will continue to remember EDSA. We will also continue to remember the events that brought forth EDSA – the brutal Marcos Martial Law years, the dictatorship that abused and plundered our country.
So today is a day of remembrance. This is meant for us to recall the darkest period in our contemporary history and how we got out from it. People were willing to sacrifice their lives for freedom and democracy.
The EDSA People Power Revolution happened 36 years ago. A new generation has sprouted totally unaware of its significance. So let us remind them – the peaceful revolution was one moment in those most crucial days when Filipinos were one in the spirit of real nationalism.
Never in our history has an event like that happened, and despite the strength and apparatus of dictator Ferdinand Marcos’ Martial Law, the people who massed at EDSA never showed fear.
May EDSA continue to inspire us to value our freedom and democracy. Never again to tyranny. Never again to official thievery.
