Bantayog ng mga Bayani exec buoyed by SWS poll on EDSA relevance

Progressive groups commemorated on Friday the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution ahead of its 37th anniversary on February 25.

The All UP Academic Employees Union celebrated the “bloodless revolution” through street paintings, Bernadette Reyes reported on “24 Oras”.

The group said they continue to fight for academic freedom more than three decades after the peoples’ uprising along EDSA that forced the Marcoses to flee.

“Para tigilan ang lahat ng masamang pagtatangka sa paglabag sa karapatang pantao at pagpigil sa academic freedom,” said All UP Academic Employees Union former President Melania Flores.

(To stop attempts to violate human rights and suppress academic freedom.)

Meanwhile, several organizations in Cebu City stressed the importance of this year’s People Power anniversary as this is the time it was commemorated under the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

A recent Social Weather Station (SWS) study found 62% of Filipinos believe the spirit of the EDSA People Power Revolution is alive, while 37% do not believe it.

At least 57% of the 1,200 respondents said it is vital to remember the lessons of the revolution while 42% did not agree.

According to the Bantayog ng Bayani Foundation (BBF), the poll shows Filipinos understood the “basic lesson” of the People Power.

“Encouraging siya that Filipinos understand the basic lesson ng People Power Revolution...na di tinatanggap ng mga Pilipino ay silang sobrang inaabuso at kaya ng Pilipinong magkaisa,” said BBF executive director Mae Rodriguez.

(It is encouraging because it reflects that Filipinos understood the basic lesson of the People Power Revolution…it is not to accept exploitation and that we can unite.)

Rodriguez also said she agrees with the 47% of respondents who said some promises of the People Power were unmet.

“In a way that is a valid sentiment ‘yung di pa talaga tapos hindi naman natutupad ang maraming  pangako ng EDSA. Meron pa talagang hindi tapos na inaasahan natin makukuha natin sa EDSA,” she said.

(In a way it is a valid sentiment because a lot of promises of the revolution are yet to be fulfilled.)

“Halimbawa hinahanap ng mga tao ang katahimikan, magandang pag go-gobyerno...Hinahanap ng mga tao na sana hindi na magkakaroon ng nakakatakot na paggogobyerno... 'Yun hindi natupad lalong lalo na yung corruption,” she added.

(An example is for Filipinos to live in peace and benefit from good governance. We also long for an administration that is not oppressive and of course, the eradication of corruption.)—Sundy Locus/LDF, GMA Integrated News