“ ’86 “
EDSA PEOPLE POWER
REVOLUTION
A
”Change
of MAN not in MEN”
A
BRIEFER
 |
| Ka Leon Estrella Peralta Founding Chairman |
After 21 years of the Marcos Regime, 14 years of which is purely
cold dictatorship, the Filipino People agreed that Marcos said self-styled form
of governance had reached its saturation point and cried TAMA NA! SOBRA NA! The vast majority of the people decided that
he must be removed from office; hence, the People Power Revolution of 1986.
The assassination of former Senator
Benigno Aquino in August 21, 1983 actually started Marcos’ downfall,
followed by the Marcos rigged SNAP Election in February 7, 1986, wherein the
people believed that “CORY” won the SNAP Election and thus, should be declared
as the “11th President of the Republic of the Philippines.” Call for nationwide
civil disobedience by the opposition followed suit but this did not jolt Marcos,
if not for his “falling out” with his Minister
of Defense, Juan Ponce Enrile, who learned that he and his RAM BOYS led
by Lt. Col. Gringo Honasan
will be arrested for plotting to launch a military coup against the “DICTATOR.” Apparently, the military coup hatched by
Enrile and his boys did not intend to install “CORY” but to install them in
power, if not for its discovery by Marcos that made them so weak. By faith or
by chance if not for the People Power called by the late Cardinal Sin, when he exhorted Filipino to aid the rebel
leaders which he broadcasted at 9:00 PM on February 22, 1986 through Radio
Veritas, they probably would be crushed by Marcos loyal troops to surrender.
The People Power Revolution of 1986 is a genuine “People Revolt”
for we (People) wanted genuine change, a “Change in MEN not of MAN”,
wherein the new breed of Political Leaders must put NATIONALISM AND PATRIOTISM in their political beliefs, aspirations
and principles.
The then late President
Corazon “Cory” Cojungco Aquino actually had done the ultimate right thing,
the restoration of democracy in our country. After the revolutionary government
that was immediately installed preceding the successful “People Power
Revolution”, she convened the Constitutional Commission (CON COM) which drafted
the 1987 Philippine Constitution and was subsequently ratified by the majority
of the people in a national plebiscite.
We (People) faithfully have believed that the gained “Fresh
Democracy” is a “Cure All” in the aspect of Political, Economic and Social
Order. This consequentially fired up Nationalism and Patriotism in the
hearts and minds of the Filipino People led us to believe that Filipinos are
now ready for an “Open Democracy”-- a democratic principle of “We agree to
disagree”; where everything or anything is debatable within the context of Nationalism and Patriotism.
The series of military coup attempts that subsequently followed,
most of these were led by now Senator
Honasan, the virtual “falling-out” between the then late President Corazon “Cory” Cojungco Aquino
and the then late Vice-President Salvador “Doy” Laurel
and the then Secretary of Defense and now Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile are “too early” significant
events that had done great disservice to the aforesaid democratic principle of “We agree to disagree” within the context of Nationalism
and Patriotism. The obvious “too
early” actuations and aspirations of the said “Key Players” of the “ ‘86” People Power Revolution, except
for the then late President Cory, apparently displayed the wrong side of this
democratic principle “We agree to disagree” within the context of selfish political
survival, seemingly, under the disguise of Nationalism
and Patriotism.
After 26 years of “Open Democracy,” these kind of “flock” grew
tremendously in the Political Arena wherein Politicians and their allies
wrongly and selfishly applied the democratic principle of “We agree to
disagree” under the context of Selfish Political Survival. Apparently, this said “Flock of Politicians” “agree” once their personal gains are
assured but “disagree” once their
political survival is at stake or no personal gains are assured of.
Hence, 26 years after the People Power Revolution, Political
elites now reign supreme. They disregard
the rule of law and the aforesaid democratic principle for their selfish
political survival priorities. The seat
of government is too far for most of the Filipino People to attain thus alienating
them from governance -- taking out their inherent rights as government
stakeholders. Oligarchy re-emerged and is now in control of basic services. It
even makes BIG MONEY from electricity, water and fuel, which onerous prices
continuously cripples the people. The problem of unemployment is still rising
and contractualization of employment is at its worst which deprives our local
Filipino workers the security of tenure and other labor benefits as provided by
pertinent laws. There is widespread
graft and corruption, crime and violence and social injustice.
After 26 long years of apparent wrong application of “Open
Democracy,” majority of the Filipino People is now re-crying “TAMA NA! SOBRA NA! ANG MALING PULITIKA DITO
SA ATING BAYAN!”
I do remember myself and my
companions, only amongst a few then; arriving in front of Camp Aguinaldo almost
immediately after the late Cardinal Sin called for “People Power” on or about 9:00 P.M. of
February 22, 1986. We went there in order to shield the rebel leaders who were holed
up inside the said camp. We stayed in EDSA until Marcos left for Hawaii late in
the evening of February 25, 2006. I did
learn my lesson, and in the event there will be any similar “PEOPLE POWER” in the future, I won’t
hesitate to go and participate. However, this time, I will actively campaign
for “People Power” that would ensure a “CHANGE IN MEN AND
NOT OF MAN.” And this must start
now! . . . . Within ourselves . . . . .
By: Leon Estrella Peralta
Founding Chairman
Political and Human Rights Advocate
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