WITH Presidents Cory Aquino and Fidel V. Ramos gone, and Juan Ponce Enrile not in the mood to celebrate, the only remaining holdouts who believe that the spirit of EDSA ‘86 is still alive are members of the Aquino family, led by Cory’s grandson, Kiko Aquino Dee. It is a pity that Ninoy and Cory’s celebrity daughter, Kris, is too sick to participate.
Just like last year, President “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. was civil enough to send flowers at the EDSA People Power Monument near Camp Aguinaldo and had his speechwriters in Malacanang eke out a mandatory message of peace and reconciliation.
In other countries like Iran, China, the United States and France, their revolutions are the most important socio-political events, befitting the most elaborate and expensive celebration.
Here, it is noticeable that Marcos did not even declare February 25 as a non-working holiday — it is good that it fell on a Sunday this year, hiding the spite, but such a declaration would have honored the day with some measure of significance.
‘One reason for this is that Filipinos had trusted Cory to implement a total overhaul of our social and political systems, the way revolutions should be, but were greatly disappointed.’
The EDSA People Power event has been losing its luster along with its fans and believers through the years following the Cory administration. One reason for this is that Filipinos had trusted Cory to implement a total overhaul of our social and political systems, the way revolutions should be, but were greatly disappointed. What happened was that her administration only removed the dictator Marcos from power, and restored some semblance of democracy with the usual oligarchy and elite class dominating all aspects of society — government, business, culture, education, and religion. The masses were left behind.
Even Kiko Dee accepts the fact that fewer Filipinos are joining the commemoration of EDSA, and it is not far-fetch to surmise that soon, only the remaining members of the Aquino family and their close friends will see each other holding hands, waving yellow ribbons, singing, or doing the FVR jump.
Dee, however, is adamant with his belief, which he said is validated by an SWS survey, that “many believe that the spirit of EDSA is still alive” and they support its declaration as a holiday.
The Aquino clan led a freedom rights event on Ayala Avenue in Makati City, and another program in Club Filipino to relive the swearing-in of President Corazon Aquino after Marcos fled. In the evening, there was a program called “EDSA Kahit Saan” at White Plains Ave. near the People Power Monument.
Cory’s grandson also said that their group has not forgotten the role played by the yellow ribbon in the country’s long and tortuous fight against dictatorship and authoritarianism. He said their supporters have again displayed thousands of yellow ribbons all over the country to honor Ninoy Aquino, who made the supreme sacrifice for the country.
On the part of the Marcoses, however, we note that it is hard for the son, now the sitting President, to honor the day that his father was unceremoniously booted out from office by a faction of the Filipino people, with assistance from the Americans.
Just like last year when these dubious days in the last week of February come along, President Bongbong can only wish the nation well, with a message of peace, unity, and reconciliation. Bongbong can never be away from what is right with this statement, although the coldness is appalling.
