On its 39th year, groups call on Filipinos: Don't let EDSA's story end

Several groups on Tuesday called on Filipinos to continue fighting for what is right and make the leaders accountable as they commemorated the 39th anniversary of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution.

Francis Dee, a grandson of former president Corazon "Cory" Aquino and senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., said the story of EDSA should not end with those who experienced the atrocities of the past.

"Kung ipapaubaya lang natin ang pagkuwento tungkol sa Martial Law at sa People Power sa mga nakaranas nito, darating at darating ang panahon na wala nang magkukwento," said Dee, co-convenor of the Buhay ang People Power Campaign Network.

(If we will just rely on the narrative about Martial Law and People Power from those who experienced them, the time will come that no one will tell us the stories.)

"Kaya po tayo nagkakaisa ngayon, at sa ating pagkakaisa, binibigo natin ang masamang balakin ng mga abusado," he added.

(We are united now, and in our unity, we foil the evil intentions of abusers.)

The February 1986 uprising ousted the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and installed Cory—a rallying figure in the People Power revolt—as president.

Ferdinand Sr.'s son, incumbent President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., has decided not to declare this year's People Power anniversary a special non-working day—a move which Malacañang defended from critics on Tuesday.

Marchers trooped to the EDSA People Power Monument to voice their indignation against alleged injustices and corruption in the government—then and now.

'We failed EDSA'

Mother Mary Mananzan of Movement Against Tyranny said the commemoration of the EDSA revolution is a reminder that the fight is not yet over.

"Bakit tayo nandito ngayon? Dahil ang pangarap ng EDSA, hindi natupad. But I'm telling you, EDSA did not fail us, we failed EDSA," she said.

(Why we are here? Because the dream of EDSA was never realized. But I'm telling you, EDSA did not fail us, we failed EDSA.)

"A revolution can never transform society by itself. Kailangan ng mamamayan na patuloy na magsasabi na palitan natin ang sistema... Kaya ang panawagan ko sa atin, huwag tayong matakot. Ang diktador noon ay nagpatalsik hindi dahil sa dahas kung hindi sa ating People Power na tinatawag. Itaas natin ang ating mga tinig, ipaglaban natin ang EDSA, ipaglaban natin ang katotohanan, ipaglaban natin ang bayan," Mananzan added.

(A revolution can never transform society by itself. The people should continue to call for a change in system… So, my request to all, let us not be afraid. The dictator was ousted before through People Power and not through violence. Let's raise our voices, fight for EDSA, fight for the truth, and fight for our country.)

For all Filipinos

For her part, Flora Santos of the Clergy and Citizens for Good Governance, who was arrested for holding protests during the Martial Law era, said the memory of EDSA is not just for the elite, but for the masses as well.

"Noong EDSA, ang maralita ang isa sa malaking nag-mobilisa at nag-martsa mula sa Malacañang at hanggang EDSA. Kaya hindi ako naniniwala na ang EDSA ay elitista lang. Ang ating iba't ibang sektor ang namuno sa laban na ito. Kaya lahat diyan, masakit man, pero kailangan natin ituloy," she said.

(During the EDSA revolution, the poor were among those who mobilized and marched from Malacañang up to EDSA. So I don't believe that EDSA is just for the elites. Various sectors were part of this revolution. It might be painful, but we should continue the fight.)

"Kaya nananawagan ako at hamunin ang mga kabataan na ituloy ang laban ng mga matatanda na nagsimula noong 70 at 80 […] Kaya ba ng kabataan 'yun? Kailangan kakayanin para makamit ang tunay na lipunan na naglilingkod sa atin."

(I call on and challenge the youth to continue the fight that we have started back in the 70s and 80s […] Can they do that? We need to be strong to achieve a society that will serve us.)

Never forget

While Marcos did not declare a special non-working day on February 25, Malacañang insisted that it would not hinder any activity commemorating the historic event.

Several schools took it upon themselves to suspend classes or hold alternative learning sessions Tuesday to commemorate the EDSA People Power anniversary.

Students from the University of the Philippines, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, University of Santo Tomas, De La Salle University, Adamson University, among others, also joined the march to People Power Monument.

For his part, Bayan President Renato Reyes said that declaring February 25 as a holiday instills into people's memory the significance of the EDSA revolution.

"It's very important na mag-commemorate tayo kasi 'yung ginagawang pag-downgrade ng EDSA, ng significance niya, I think that has a long-term effect sa collective memory ng tao… Ang gusto talaga nila ay i-downgrade ang EDSA People Power hanggang sa makalimutan," he told GMA News Online.

(It's very important to commemorate this because the downgrading of EDSA's significance, I think has a long term effect in the people’s collective memory…They really want to downgrade the EDSA People Power so everyone will forget about it.)

"One thing na takot na takot 'yung nasa puwesto, is that people will unite and do another People Power. Doon talaga sila kinakabahan. If you forget EDSA, that will probably enable them to remain in power longer than they should. So 'yun ang danger diyan. So we are against forgetting," he added.

(One thing that they are afraid of is that people will unite and do another People Power. They are afraid of that happening again. If you forget EDSA, that will probably enable them to remain in power longer than they should. So that's the danger in that. So we are against forgetting.)

Meanwhile, the group Kapatid deplored the alleged anti-people policies on the 39th anniversary of the EDSA People Power.

Composed of families and relatives of political prisoners, Kapatid said activists continue to languish in jails because of the slow progress of their cases and the lack of legal assistance

Kapatid also said political prisoners suffer from severe congestion in their cells and lack of food and medicine.—With Jiselle Anne Casucian/ VDV, GMA Integrated News