EDSA: A Failure?

Year 1986, the year where history embarked significance to one’s minds that had touched the lives and inspired the silent echoes of people who were afraid to stand and speak for the whole nation. On the given year, the citizens of the Philippines engaged to a traumatic and frightening situation. Each Filipino intertwined with each other to solve the most critical crisis of the homeland, HUNGER FOR DEMOCRACY.

It’s one o’clock in the afternoon and our section was ready to listen for the next discussion. I, personally, really like the subject because of three reasons; the topics, classmates, and teacher. First, the topics are about social issues that’s why the field is really interesting. Second, when this is the subject, my classmates are all listening and jolly. Last but not the least; it’s mainly because of the instructor. She has very good teaching strategies that can make every person in the class participate in the discussion. She’s the reason why I made this article. How? As what I am saying, we had a discussion and on that day a sentimental line from my teacher struck me most. “Masaya ang pag-gunita sa EDSA 1 dahil walang klase?” Something like that. She scowled with this line for 2 days before it, it was a non-working holiday for the reminiscence of EDSA. I saw in her eyes the sincerity and passion she had on our history. I mean, yes, there are witty terror teachers that have copious tags on their names like MaEd, MD, MSN, MAN, Ph.D. but despite of those, do most of them have the burning advocacy to their profession? to the way they implement and teach students with a heart never minding the effort and pain they take? and mostly, to the mastery of the matter unto the extent that they almost feel it? OA ba? No! A teacher should be a teacher. He should know what he will instill unto the innocent minds of the students. He should understand himself the concepts of his chosen pasture for better implication. Kung wala sa puso niya ang mga itinuturo niya, well, ang pangunahing goal niya lang ay ang magsalita sa inyong harapan at hindi para hubugin at buksan ang inyong mga kamalayan na isapuso ang lahat ng ibinabahagi niya. In short, magsasalita siya, bahala ka.

Back to the main point. I believe that most of us are not already humans when EDSA 1 reached the blasting façade of history. However, we had a subject integrating this issue when we were still in our Basic Ed. days. Way back then, most of the students were anointed to remember important details about it. So for that reason, I can conclude that most of us are aware regarding this event. Let us take a pinch to this remarkable sitch jumbled with my own points of view.

· *Miraculous valor

In the midst of Marcos’ dictatorship, one man stood up and had the bravery to speak up for his entire fellowmen. By no means of thinking about the consequences he might encounter, he still jumped into the highest peak of typifying the need for CHANGE. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino II made an impact to every Filipino’s heart. He’s the ultimate reason why one eradicated cowardice and selfishness for the advantage of the whole. He’s not just a symbol of unity but a hero with dignity. He even gambled his life and venture.

Courage is something that a person could hardly have especially if the fruit will be scathing ructions. But as shown by Ninoy, bravery is not impossible to have no matter how appalling the situation is. If he didn’t confer initiative, most of us will still have tight zips on the mouth stocking all our sentiments inside.

· *Austere upheaval

Anything that would interfere or disrupt someone’s reputation will eventually fall to an uproar. Ideas and perceptions of the degraded party will scat from bitterness to confusion reaching growling revenges. These things were incriminated during the angst between Marcos and Aquino. As we know, Aquino died and that’s the beginning of the smoldering love of Filipinos to the motherland.

“Cory Aquino is the mother of the yellow people” was one of the answers in the Speak Out column of the previous issues asking about Cory, the humble housewife of Ninoy. The answer is actually surprising but getting the real essence of it would be the way to understand what it really wants to tell. Literally, it is not tickling to the ears. In fact, on such courses like nursing, they can exclaim “Jaundice ba ito?” after hearing that line. Digging deeper, I believe that there is something nice about the line. YELLOW is the symbol of EDSA 1. This color surmounted almost all the corners of the place where People Power was held. Someone once told me that yellow or yellow ribbon is used by Cory because of the song Tie a Yellow Ribbon which was their favorite song of Ninoy and was popular at that time. Is it just about it? Correlating with the speak out, there are two possible interpretations I have in my wit. First, it is about the impact of EDSA 1 not only to the people living at those times but up to now. It is nice to know that one would always etch on his mind something, although little, about this extraordinary scenario in the Philippines. Next, and probably the last, yellow is a color that is so bright. This brightness flowed into the hearts of the populace to fight for sovereignty. They were enlightened. They had this light or brightness because of a common goal, DEMOCRACY. At this point, I suddenly remembered the work of Emilio Jacinto entitled Ang Ningning at ang Liwanag. He stated that sparks or glitters are far different from light. The glitters are something that can spellbind you. They appear good to the eyes but they can actually hurt you especially when there would be an immediate ostentation of that thing. Like the Marcoses at that time, they appeared helpful and generous because they were the leaders providing all the necessary needs of everyone. However, the other side of them was the aggravating motive to rule and make each a slave under their power. On the other hand, the light, according to the essay, is only a simple stuff. No shimmering effects; no attractive pieces. Plain and pure. Just like what Cory and her supporters had, they were enlightened not because of aiming for a prestige, award or cash but to fight for the thirst of freedom experienced by the whole republic.

· *Newfangled youth

Today, as our generation is becoming more and more exploratory, we should not forget the deeds and heroic acts on the past. If these things had not been into the history, well, there are too many imperfections in our country today. It is not enough to make special events in the past as simple non-working holidays. We should know how to value these things like how our heroes valued our race. I know, as a student like you, I am pleased whenever there is no class for I can rest and sleep for a short time. We can’t blame ourselves for we have hectic schedules and stressful study habits yet we should know how to appreciate the happenings in the old times.

The National Election is fast approaching. For those who can vote, do you already have a decision on whom you will let sit on the throne? Be wise. Use your heart and mind. Don’t let history repeats itself once again. EDSA 1, 2... after how many EDSA’s will be jiving on before achieving a peaceful realm? Make your votes the definitive answer for the longing goal of everyone; furtherance, freedom, and peace.

So now, is EDSA a failure?

Think.

Thrive.

Outshine.

“The Filipinos are worth dying for…”- Benigno Ninoy Aquino II