Edsa ’86 was a revolution of the entire Filipino nation

This refers to Amando Doronila’s column titled “Aquino’s

attempt to revise Edsa revolt saga” (Opinion, 2/28/14), where he wrote: “The shift of the venue of the Edsa anniversary celebration to Cebu marked an attempt to emphasize Cory’s role in mobilizing mass protests in unseating Marcos. This interpretation ignores and downgrades the military’s role in unseating Marcos.”

In bringing this year’s celebration of the Edsa anniversary to Cebu City, President Aquino was only trying to correct an impression, apparently propagated by Marcos loyalists, that the Edsa revolution was confined to residents of Metro Manila, when in truth it was a revolution of the entire Filipino people against the Marcos dictatorship.

In a talk with reporters in Cebu, the President said: “Those in Edsa were not the only ones who joined the revolt … There were those in Cebu, Davao and so many other places. It’s … time to recognize others’ contributions after 28 years.” (Front Page, 2/26/13)

In his speech in front of the Provincial Capitol, he said: “Edsa displayed to the world the might of the Filipino people. We became a wellspring of inspiration for other similar people power uprisings throughout the world. And this is where it all started, because we chose to start it. There is right and wrong, there are causes worth fighting for and forces to be fought against. And all of this grows from love of our fellowman.” (English version of the President’s speech in the Official Gazette)

The President is correct. The People Power Revolution at Edsa was not just a street revolution or a Metro Manila revolution; it was a national revolution, and also part of a worldwide revolution against dictatorship and for the advancement of democracy. The purpose of the President in going to Cebu was to unite the entire Filipino people behind his program of “daang  matuwid” and poverty eradication. There is no need at that point to mention the role of sections of the military, which is already well known.

In the interim parliamentary elections in 1978, I was a member of the Laban opposition slate headed by former senator Benigno Aquino Jr. that challenged the dictatorship. While our leader, Ninoy, was confined in prison, we campaigned nationwide. Our party, which lost in a fake vote counting, received enthusiastic support from all parts of the country where we campaigned. Even at the height of the dictatorship and its repressive rule, the cause of democracy was supported courageously and fervently by the entire people.

Eight years later, the People Power Revolution at Edsa toppled the repressive regime. Now we must unite once more in the struggle against corruption and poverty, which was the core cause waged by Ninoy and Cory Aquino in their valorous careers of service to our country. P-Noy is only carrying on his parents’ crusade. His 80-percent popularity rating in polls shows that the Filipino people are behind him.

—MEL LOPEZ JR.,

mayor of Manila (1986-1992)