Emem ering the People Power e olution
It has been almost 30 years since a million of us Filipinos gathered along EDSA in February, 1986, to defend our democracy and freedom – and, by so doing, bloodlessly ejected an abusive and plunderous dictatorial regime. Every year, we celebrate the People Power Revolution with a gathering of leaders, soldiers, policemen, and ordinary people (“salubungan”) at the EDSA People Power Monument and a wreathlaying ceremony at the Libingan ng mga Bayani to honor fallen warriors, law-enforcers, veterans and national “eminents.”
BUT, BEYOND THAT, DO WE REALLY TRY TO REMEMBER WHY THAT TRANSCENDENT, GOD-INSPIRED EVENT HAPPENED?? AND DO THE YOUNGER ONES, PARTICULARLY THOSE BORN AFTER 1986 WHO MAKE UP A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF OUR POPULATION TODAY (AND MANY OF WHOM ARE NOW PARENTS THEMSELVES), EVEN UNDERSTAND WHY THE EDSA PEOPLE POWER REVOLUTION TOOK PLACE??? Raising Awareness among the Youth
Our Ramos Peace and Development Foundation (RPDEV), chaired by FVR, has embarked on an educational project to help enlighten our youth (hopefully to include the cynical, the complacent, and the unrepentant) on why we rose together as a concerned citizenry to defend our rights and rid our country of a dictator.
This eight-month-long roadshow series which started in June, 2015, will take us to at least 25 colleges/universities around the country. Designed to reach out to younger Filipinos in whom the mantle of national leadership may someday repose, our EDSA@30 Roadshow has three essential components: a lecture on the historical perspectives of the EDSA People Power Revolution by Dr. Victoria Narciso Apuan of Miriam College, a showing of the documentary film “Laban” produced by Sally Go Bellosillo, and a dialogue with three EDSA veterans – Maan Hontiveros, Raffy Alunan, and FVR.
We are now at our sixth university, and the response so far has indeed been very encouraging and positive. However, we have discovered that there appears to be very little knowledge, much less appreciation, among the youth about this important transformation in world history – one that was about peaceful, non-violent regime change which became an inspiration to other nations.
WE ARE NOT FULLY FAMILIAR WITH THE HISTORY CURRICULUM TODAY IN OUR HIGH SCHOOLS, COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, BUT IT WOULD SEEM THAT THERE IS STILL A SAD LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF OUR EDSA PEOPLE POWER REVOLUTION OF FEBRUARY 1986. THIS DOES INDICATE, HOWEVER, THAT FILIPINO PARENTS, OUR DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (DEPED), COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION (CHED), INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS COUNCIL SECRETARIAT (IMCS), NATIONAL BOOK DEVELOPMENT BOARD (NBDB), AND OTHER CONCERNED GOVERNMENT AGENCIES HAVE STILL MUCH TO DO IN THE WRITING AND TEACHING – POLITICS ASIDE – OF THIS CRUCIAL PERIOD OF PHILIPPINE HISTORY. Historical Perspective and “Laban: The Meaning of EDSA Revolution”
We have been lucky to have Dr. Apuan, chairperson of Family Studies, College of Arts and Sciences of Miriam College. Dr. Apuan’s approach is one that the youth can relate to – she lightheartedly shares her own experiences during the years of martial law of angry student protests, militant rallies and demonstrations, underground movements, and curfew restrictions.
Amusing as some of these events may seem to the students of today, the underlying thought of human liberties being tightly curtailed emerges quickly (as for instance, the use of a cellphone – which is everybody’s precious companion these days.) If we look at our freer condition today, it may seem difficult to imagine the days of martial law – when the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus was suspended along with most of our human and civil rights as Filipino citizens. But these did happen and there are still many of us today who can very vividly remember those dark days.
is a comprehensive documentary that not only revisits the evolution, the dramatic four days of the “revolution” that could have exploded to protracted civil war (as is happening now in some Middle East countries), and the liberalizing aftermath of the non-violent (but do-or-die) resistance and courageous opposition that ended the 20-year dictatorial rule of President Ferdinand Marcos. It also contains insightful personal accounts of the principal players. Produced and directed by a talented and young Filipino, Sally Jo Bellosillo, the documentary presents most of the major decision-makers of that process of transformation – particularly Presidents Cory and FM, Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile, Jaime Cardinal Sin, General FVR, former First Lady Imelda Marcos, and Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM) Col. Gregorio Honasan, Fr. James Reuter, plus many others.
Bellosillo, a UP graduate, completed the docu-video as part of her MA in Trans-Atlantic Studies at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom, where she was the only Filipino International Scholarship recipient in 2004.
PRODUCED IN TIME FOR THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE EDSA PEOPLE POWER REVOLUTION IN 2011, “LABAN” IS NOT ONLY A FACTUAL DOCUMENTARY OF THAT TRANSFORMATIVE SERIES OF EVENTS IN OUR CONTEMPORARY HISTORY, BUT A THOUGHT-PROVOKING NARRATIVE THAT LEADS THE VIEWER TO ASK: “WHY DID THE EDSA REVOLUTION HAPPEN AND WHY PEACEFULLY ONLY IN THE PHILIPPINES???”
Student Reception and Reaction
As mentioned earlier, our project EDSA@30 has been very well received at all venues so far and more schools have been getting in touch with our RPDEV head office in order to get scheduled as part of this educational roadshow.
After listening to the lecture of Dr. Apuan and watching the documentary of Ms. Bellosillo, the student audiences at our various host colleges/universities appeared to gain deeper insights into those developments that led to the four-day “revolution,” the feelings of anguish and despair concerned Filipinos felt against superior odds during that critical time, and the imaginative, innovative, but peaceful ways the concerned citizenry fought back. This finding is evident in the questions they asked of our EDSA veterans, who responded honestly and truthfully – even to some slightly embarrassing questions posed.
If, even in a small way, this modest non-government project has opened the minds of younger Filipinos on how important it is to stand up for our constitutional, human, and political rights, then we the producers/partners/sponsors will have done our small part in the pursuit of true liberty, equality and fraternity in our beloved Philippines.
Of course, we could not have done this alone. RPDEV’s corporate partners/sponsors have in many ways contributed to our continuing successful advocacy of people empowerment – particularly the San Miguel Corporation as project partner, and Metrobank Foundation and Megaworld Foundation as project presentors. We also have our university sponsors – the Institute of Creative Computer Technology (ICCT) Colleges, Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corp. (PMFTC), Western Mindanao Power Corporation (WMPC), Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC), Marubeni Philippines Corporation (MPC), Marco Polo Hotel Davao/Linden Suites, Cokaliong Shipping Lines Inc. (CSLI); and Filinvest Corporate City Foundation (FCCF).
TO DATE, WE HAVE LECTURED AT THE ICCT COLLEGES, ARELLANO LAW SCHOOL, SAN BEDA COLLEGE, LYCEUM OF THE PHILIPPINES UNIVERSITY, PHINMA UNIVERSITY OF PANGASINAN, AND JOSE RIZAL UNIVERSITY. WE ARE SCHEDULED TO VISIT THE FOLLOWING SOON: CENTRAL LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY, PAMANTASAN NG LUNGSOD NG MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINE NORMAL UNIVERS I T Y, S A N C A R L O S U N I V E R SITY CEBU, CENTRO ESCOLAR UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST, MIRIAM COLLEGE, MAPUA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, ATENEO DE DAVAO, DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY, EMILIO AGUINALDO COLLEGE, ATENEO DE MANILA UNIVERSITY, LYCEUM OF BATANGAS, AND PAMANTASAN NG LUNGSOD NG MAYNILA. WHY DID THE 1986 EDSA REVOLUTION HAPPEN?
MANY STILL WONDER: “WHY DID EDSA IN FEBRUARY 1986 HAPPEN? WHY DID MORE THAN A MILLION PEOPLE, ARMED ONLY WITH THEIR CONVICTIONS, DEMOCRATIC FAITH, AND GOD’S PROTECTION, COME OUT IN DEFIANCE OF OVERWHELMING ODDS – THE THREAT OF TANKS, ARTILLERY, HELICOPTER GUNSHIPS, AND COMBAT TROOPS – MOST LIKELY TO SUFFER SUDDEN DEATH OR GRIEVOUS INJURY?”
THE ANSWER SIMPLY IS THIS: WE GATHERED AT EDSA AND MADE OUR STAND AGAINST DICTATORSHIP BECAUSE WE LOVED FREEDOM, AND WERE TIRED OF THE COUNTRY WE HAD BECOME. WE WANTED A BETTER FUTURE FOR OURSELVES AND FOR THOSE AFTER US.
THE SPIRIT OF EDSA EMANATES FROM THE FILIPINOS’ ACT OF UNSELFISH CARING AND WILLING SACRIFICE – OF BELIEVING THAT SIGNIFICANT CHANGE COULD BE ACHIEVED THROUGH PEACEFUL BUT COURAGEOUS ACTS AND DECISIONS. OUR PEOPLE POWER REVOLUTION AT EDSA COULD HAVE ENDED IN MASSIVE BLOODSHED. BUT, BY GOD’S MERCIFUL WISDOM, THE EDSA CRISES WAS RESOLVED PEACEFULLY – AND TRIUMPHANTLY – RESULTING IN BLOODLESS REGIME CHANGE THAT RESTORED OUR DEMOCRACY AND SUPREMACY OF CIVILIAN AUTHORITY.
THE SPIRIT OF EDSA TEACHES US THAT EVERY CITIZEN – POOR OR RICH, YOUNG OR OLD, LOWLY OR ELITE, SCHOOL DROPOUT OR HARVARD PH.D., CAN MAKE A VITAL DIFFERENCE BY RESPECTING THE LAW, PAYING THEIR TAXES, RAISING A PROPER FAMILY, AND HELPING THOSE IN NEED.
AS FILIPINOS, WE DO BELIEVE THAT THE BEST WAY TO PROMOTE THE SPIRIT OF EDSA IS FOR EVERY ONE OF US, AS CONCERNED CITIZENS, TO PULL TOGETHER, UPLIFT THE COMMON LIFE, AND RAISE OUR COUNTRY TO A POSITION OF DIGNITY AND ADMIRATION THE PHILIPPINES DESERVES IN THE COMMUNITY OF NATIONS (WHICH WE ONCE OCCUPIED).
IF WE FILIPINOS OURSELVES LEARN, INCULCATE, CHERISH AND PRACTICE ALL THE PRECIOUS LESSONS EMERGING FROM OUR STRUGGLES TO BE TRULY FREE, THE PHILIPPINES CAN INDEED BECOME A GLOBAL ICON IN GOOD GOVERNANCE AND IN BEST PRACTICES UNDER THE RULE OF LAW. WE SHOULD LEAD THE WAY IN THE INTERNALIZATION OF DEMOCRATIC VALUES IN THE FAMILY OF NATIONS TODAY SO THAT THE WORLD’S PEOPLE COULD FINALLY ENJOY ENDURING PEACE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.
AS ENVISIONED BY THE UNITED NATIONS, IN TERMS OF A BETTER FUTURE FOR ALL, THIS WOULD BE THE GREATEST LEGACY OUR BELOVED PHILIPPINES COULD BESTOW UPON HUMANKIND!!!