WHAT A powerful, factual article “What was Edsa?” by Vicente Rafael was (Opinion, 2/25/16)! Indeed, isn’t it a fact that it was the oligarchs, not the people, who benefited more from the so-called Edsa I or People Power Revolution? And, that Edsa “was really a restoration of political dynasties side by side with new economic elites,” as Rafael pointed out? True, Edsa I got rid of martial law—thanks, in part, to then US President Ronald Reagan’s advice for Ferdinand Marcos to flee the country rather than cause bloodshed; and to former US senator Paul Laxalt for convincing the dictator, after much-repeated urging, “to cut and cut clean.” But, other than winning back our democracy, what did the people really gain?
I was living in the United States at the time of the Edsa Revolution but I kept myself abreast of the unfolding developments then. I was cheering for the people as they took to the streets and confronted the loyalist soldiers and their tanks. I was sure a big change was in the making—all for the benefit of the country, in particular the long-suffering Filipino people.
What a disappointment! Coming home many years later, I still find a wide divide in our society—between the very few dirty rich and the thousands, if not millions, of the very poor. Thousands, perhaps millions, are jobless because hardly enough jobs are available in the country mostly due to limitations imposed by the post-martial law Constitution, which make it almost impossible for foreign investors (who could provide jobs for the people) to do business in the country. As always, well-positioned politicians don’t give a hoot because… well, they’re already well-positioned to lead the easy life they covet.
And the jobless? Sadly, they either have to endure family separations as a result of their having to work overseas (where many suffer abuse at the hands of their employers), or keep on praying for better days—this, even as the government keeps crowing about this country’s impressive economic gains! Yes, impressive in figures, but just where are the gains? A lot of the downtrodden are still living on the streets, many children are out of school because their parents cannot afford to pay for their education, while more are starving and remain vulnerable to the many devastating calamities that visit this country year after year. Worse, corruption is rampant everywhere. Every level of government —from the very top to the very bottom—is plagued with corruption, robbing the poor of a chance to enjoy life a little better.
On top of corruption, the citizenry has to endure unbelievable incompetence in practically every branch, department and unit of government. It’s heartbreaking! And it’s sad that our leaders don’t seem to feel that pain.
As Edsa I traverses its 30th year, it would do the nation well to think hard of what exactly, other than restoring Philippine democracy, Edsa has accomplished for all, not the least for the average Juan de la Cruz on the street. This is a question Filipinos should ponder before they choose their next leader come May.
—JUANITO T. FUERTE, jtfuerte@comcast.net