Espiritu, Castro, Casiño highlight EDSA revolution significance

Some senatorial candidates pointed out the importance of commemorating the 39th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution after Malacanang did not declare February 25 as a special non-working day. 

Labor leader Luke Espiritu said that commemorating EDSA is a reminder to Filipinos that they need to rise up against injustices in the government. 

“Kailangan natin ma-commemorate ang EDSA dahil kailangan ng Pilipinas ng isang rebolusyon. Kailangan natin baguhin nang tahasan ang ating lipunan. Kailangan natin kumpletuhin ang hindi nakumpleto sa EDSA,” he told reporters.

“Unfinished ang 1986 dahil hindi naparusahan ang mga mamatay tao at mandarambong…Ang naging resulta, dahil hindi natin nabuo ang rebolusyon ng 1986, nagkaroon tayo ng elite rule na naging political dynasty," he added.

(We need to commemorate EDSA because the Philippines needs a revolution. We need to change our society We need to finish what was left behind in EDSA […] The 1986 revolution was unfinished because we failed to punish murderers and the corrupt….The result led us to having an elite rule that became a political dynasty.)

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. did not declare February 25 a special non-working holiday. But to the Palace’s defense, Marcos would not hinder any activity commemorating the historic event.

“Again, iyan na naman ay kanilang mga opinyon sa mga balak na tumuligsa sa Pangulo at sa pamahalaan. Unang-una, isipin po natin, mayroon po bang pinahinto ang Pangulo na anumang activity na patungkol dito sa commemoration ng EDSA People?''  said Palace press officer Undersecretary Claire Castro earlier in the day. 

(Again, those were their opinion as regards the President and the government. First, let's recall if the President has canceled activities pertaining to the commemoration of EDSA People [Power])

ACT Teachers partylist Representative France Castro said that such a move from Malacanang undermines the significance of the people’s revolution that put an end to the dictatorship of Marcos Sr. 

“Nakakdismaya ang ginawa ng administrasyon na hindi ginawang holiday na parang hindi mahalaga ang significance ng People Power uprising. Bale pagbabalewala ito sa mga hirap ng mamamayan natin noon na lumaban sa diktadura, para labanan ang economic crisis, kahirapan, human rights violations ng diktaduryang US-Marcos noon,” she told GMA News Online. 

(It’s disappointing for the administration not to declare it a holiday because it undermines the significance of the People Power uprising. It disregards the efforts of those who fought against the economic crisis, poverty, human rights violations by the dictatorship of the US-Marcos at that time.) 

Further, she commended schools that decided to suspend classes to commemorate the historic event. 

“Tama lang yung defiance ng mga eskwelahan na nagpa-participate dito sa rally at nagko-commemorate ng espiritu ng EDSA People Power uprising.  Mahalagang matimo sa ating mga estudyante ang kahalagahan ng EDSA People Power, at mahalagang makita rin nila kung paano binabago ng kasalukuyang administrasyon na anak ng diktador na si Marcos Sr., kung paano nya binabago ang kasaysayan na kailangang mabalikan ng mga estudyante,” she said. 

(I support the defiance of the schools who participated here in the rally and who commemorated the spirit of EDSA People Power uprising. It’s very important for the students to remember the importance of the EDSA People Power and they should witness how the present administration, run by the dictator’s son, tries to revise history that our students should look back to.) 

However, the Palace defended earlier that there’s no intention from the administration to erase the history of EDSA. 

''Sabi ko nga po kanina (As I said earlier), if there is the intention to erase the memories of EDSA People Power, ibang klaseng pamamaraan ang gagawin (a different measure will be used). As a matter of fact, we declared it as a special working day but it is considered just a regular working day,'' said Castro. 

Several schools have announced suspension of classes to commemorate the occasion. 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. 

Former Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño said that the 1986  EDSA People Power is a reminder to the Filipinos that they can make a change. 

“Kaya mahalaga na maibalik sa alaala ng mamayan na siya ay may kapangyarihan na baguhin ang sitwasyon. At ang choice natin is not just between kasamaan and kadiliman, mayroon tayong choice na baguhin lahat ‘yan. Halimbawa, sa darating na halalan, piliin natin ang mga nagdadala ng demokratikong interes,” he said. 

(It’s important to remind the public that they have the power to change their situation. And our choice is not just between evil and darkness, we actually have a choice to change everything. For instance, in the coming elections, please vote for those who can bring democratic interest to the public.) —LDF, GMA Integrated News

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