People power is key to prosperity for all
Last Sunday’s 38th anniversary of the 1986 People Power Revolution was commemorated with much less fervor compared to the years immediately following that shining period in our nation’s history.
But no matter how the historic event is celebrated—whether ceremonies are grand and superb, or simple and quiet, or with a declared holiday or not—there shall always be in Filipinos the EDSA spirit, the willingness to unite, rise up, sacrifice, risk one’s life for love of country.
With the military joining forces with various sectors of Philippine society and getting their act together, those four days in 1986 gave the Philippines one of its proudest moments as people of all ages and all walks of life trooped to the vast stretch of highway between Camps Aguinaldo and Crame to heed the call of then Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin.
Even without text messaging, X (Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, and other social media tools then, the jubilant EDSA crowd swelled as people went to EDSA not only to protect a small breakaway group of military mutineers, but to express immense support for restoration of freedoms lost.
The widespread euphoria in 1986 ushered in so much hope for our country’s future. Yet, nearly four decades after, the promise of significant and positive change is still being awaited. And many are asking why the EDSA spirit seems to have withered or lost its luster over the years. What has happened—or not happened—since 1986 that has failed so many expectations?
The freedoms regained in 1986 failed to achieve freedom from widespread hunger and poverty. Our country has failed to exploit the opportunity to make good use of people power to relentlessly pursue the degree of excellence in governance that could have brought about drastic results in the struggle for more equitable distribution of wealth and an end to grinding poverty.
The continuing grip on the economy by big landlords, capitalists, political dynasties, and others comprising the ruling elite has caused disillusionment. Some say that what transpired in 1986 was merely “changing of the guards with a different faction of the ruling classes taking power.”
But just as there are many who have become disillusioned, there are still enlightened Filipinos who can contribute a lot to nation-building. This enlightened citizenry must reach out to touch the lives of fellow citizens and help them transcend their desperate situation. The enlightened few must be agents of change to influence and lead the people to use the power of the electoral process to transform and uplift the nation.
It’s lamentable that our nation’s problems—for which I’ve fought for solutions while a student activist starting at age 17 who almost died as bullets killed three people beside me during violent rallies in the 70’s—remain basically unchanged.
The statistics are still so glaring. We all know how many Filipinos go hungry every day. We all know how many Filipinos just die without even seeing a doctor or getting medication. We all know how many of us just want to go abroad, find more rewarding work, and live a better life in greener pastures.
But this is not to say that the present administration is doing nothing to improve our country’s situation. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has his heart in the right place. His efforts to steer away the country from so much divisiveness that has plagued Philippine society for decades are laudable. So are his efforts to uplift the lives of the people.
But despite the best intentions, the administration just cannot do it alone. The same spirit of EDSA which has bonded Filipinos towards the pursuit of common goals ought to be tapped in addressing the daunting challenges plaguing our country, particularly chronic malnutrition especially during the first 1,000 days of the Filipino child’s life when the impact of poor nutrition can be long-lasting and even irreversible.
Our leaders must rise beyond politics and above parochial interests to pursue the 1986 aspirations for the country to its logical conclusion. People power, or the capacity of Filipinos to unite, rise up, and sacrifice in the pursuit of common goals must be harnessed anew.
I firmly believe that prosperity for all Filipinos lies in establishing a strong, organized, united and enlightened citizenry, willing to fight systemic corruption and grinding poverty, and helping government that will be instrumental in achieving this vision of prosperity for all.