EDSA34: A millennial’s point of view on freedom and solidarity
It is already 34 years since the first People Power Revolution happened. February 1986 was the time when million Filipinos gathered along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) in Metro Manila.
A four-day revolution against the dictatorial regime of President Ferdinand E. Marcos. An era where Filipinos showed unity with their discontent and furies with Marcos’ totalitarian rule.
As for me, who is born back in 1999, this was just a history at all. It is just a story being told through books and my parents. But as Filipino, EDSA revolution is one of the event that will always remind me of treasuring my freedom.
And for that here the lessons I realized on learning the EDSA Revolution.
Solidarity can make change
One thing that will always remind me about the People Power Revolution is the number of people who were there. It is much history even outside the country.
It only shows that their is power in unity regardless of you being Bisaya, Ilokano, Waray, Chavacano or any ethnicity — what matters here is that we are all Filipinos.
Right time for a right fight
But being united is not enough, the momentum is also a great impact. Yes, that time Marcos was supposed to continue his reign after the snap election. However, with the help of the people who had the power, democracy was swept.
It was just a fight that is exactly at a right time with the right number of people. That event was not the end of Martial Law but just the right time to begin a new fight for the succeeding presidential administrations.
Philippines is always for ‘Filipinos’, not for anyone
The People Power Revolution will always taught me that their is always power in Filipinos. After all, Philippines is for us not for the government nor for the people with power.
If and only, the fight and the unity is massive then the fight for social discrimination can succeed. As a matter of fact, the EDSA revolution is a great example of how Filipinos won together.
Even if we are now celebrating the 34th year, I do not think that we are totally experiencing the tranquilized freedom. With all the happenings, we are still on it.
