By Rolo b. Cena
Arabian Diaries
Dumaguete Star Informer
01 March 2009
For two decades now, the entire Archipelago (including Filipinos overseas) celebrates the anniversary of the popular revolt that ousted the great dictator of all times. Each year Malacanang Palace spearheads the activities with wreath laying in honor of the EDSA Heroes, cultural presentation, speeches, and religious ceremonies.
EDSA 1 is the ultimate change. It was the vehicle that drove the country towards remarkable political and socio-economic transformation and accorded this noble nation the unprecedented recognition in the whole world. It catapulted the rise to powers of Corazon Aquino, Fidel Ramos and other colleagues. It gave rise to free enterprise and freed the entire country of freedom-loving Filipinos from dictatorship and social unrest.
Soonest after that momentous day, the Philippine political change process took place. During its first wheeling, it was constantly and perfectly moving towards achieving the best as seriously planned. This change was dramatic in nature as this was a collaboration of some political icons, economists and analysts, social reformists, and religious people of the new Philippine Era.
Van Gogh and Amorsolo, the great visual artists I have admired, could have painted another superb work of art if they were alive when EDSA 1 unfolded. If they have indeed, abstracts and surrealism would have experienced the west-meets-east phenomenon.
Madam Cory, as she was fondly called, was ardently praising EDSA 1 since she assumed Malacanang Seat and even after she retired from government service. And what else could she have done if not at all praise the move when it was this activity that brought her the glory? Despite her simplicity and unremarkable accomplishments in life that can dictate her will to run the public office, people unanimously chose her just to put a dramatic dot to hostility of the period.
The dramatic changes that were instituted and initiated by EDSA 1 prime movers started to roll carefully and conscientiously when new players came into the hall and tried to paint another abstract in political canvass. These people were “wannabees” who made tremendous “sounds and sights” towards the political arena or actor- turned “politicos” to gain power and prove to the world that they have brains. Then at the twist, there was a drastic change in reverse proportion to the dramatic ones introduced earlier. A classic taste of these was President Erap who made a significant turn in the change process EDSA 1 initiated.
EDSA 2 catapulted Arroyo and brought, not just change, but improvement to the change process already introduced. It was a Saint-Michael-over-the-devil feat as it was fully loaded with supports from supporters and prime movers of EDSA 1. EDSA 2 was another development after the first change. It was an improvement after the process that was started by Aquino; an event that aborted the material greed to fortune, power and fame by actor-turned politician and his noble court.
EDSA 3 was attempted. It was the worst as it deprecated the sanctity of the first. It destroyed the noble Shrine that was sanctified by religious people; it defaced the image the first EDSA painted. It was a failure.
PGMA, in her Speech during the recent EDSA celebration, was right in saying that we don’t need another EDSA today. What we indeed need are political and socio-economic reforms fully supported by the public and the political will to provide social freedom, economic and financial stability to people by way of employment generation.
During the era of the late dictator, discipline was his advocacy. My apologies for this unsolicited suggestion, the present administration’s advocacy should be values formation. And the actualization of these is within our reach. Filipinos just simply love to thrill others and even themselves that realization of these becomes as thrilling as the nightmare on Elm Street.
What we need are workers and not bystanders and lobbyists. People must learn to focus on some agenda to constantly improve the status quo. People should learn how to re-engineer themselves not just to compete against others but most importantly to compete against their own selves for improvement and stability.
It is high time to finish the EDSA 1 canvass and display this masterpiece in the museum of human maturity. It is time to close the issue. This time is the most opportune time to pay tribute to the EDSA Spirit and let it live among us today. Let the EDSA spirit be our co-worker in achieving social, political, and economic freedom for the entire nation.
Our country is failing us today; we are ailing. While EDSA 1 paved the way to some significant changes, we certainly do not need another EDSA. What we need is to utilize the EDSA spirit to enlighten these deep-seated doubts each one of us hoards in our almost-mentally-dehydrated minds to regain our composure. Let us employ the EDSA spirit in our activity towards self-actualization and consequently make significant contributions to our community.
“1” was great; it was a need. “2” was not bad at all; it was an improvement. “3” was a disastrous attempt; it was a failure. “4” would not resolve the issue; it would create confusion.
Let us move on, Philippines!
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