Silver linings

It cannot be denied that up to now, dark clouds still hover around this country even after more than twenty six (26) years following that glorious un-bloody, non-violent uprising legendarily dubbed as the “people power revolution” which ousted a tyrant and his rapacious regime. That momentous happening really brought so much hope of a brighter future for our country and boosted our sagging morale as we earned the admiration and respect of people all over the world. Indeed our unusual feat has even become the model used by people in other countries to oust their tyrannical leaders, recover their long lost freedom and bring about changes for a more peaceful, just and progressive society.

Dark clouds still loom on our horizon obviously because we have easily forgotten the lessons we have learned and the ideals we have espoused during that magnificent event after only more than a quarter of a century later during which we had four leadership changes, including another “people power” revolution that toppled a corrupt regime. But as the famous saying goes, “behind the dark clouds there are always silver linings”. So it is about time perhaps that we should look for those silver linings. And the best way to do so is to go back to the past and recall that fabulous event particularly the many untold stories and acts of heroisms that have never been chronicled yet.

Fortunately, one of the major players in that people power revolution had already been nourishing that idea. He is no other than ex-President, kaya natin ito, Fidel V. Ramos (FVR) who still continues to work for peace and development in our country even beyond his term and up to now at the “young” age of 83. Thus he commissioned his family biographer, a well known book author who has written more than ten books, journalist, publisher, and PR practitioner, Melandrew T. Velasco to write a historical book about that people power revolution in collaboration with two eminent Filipinos: Rafael M. Alunan III who served in the Cabinets of Cory and FVR as Tourism and DILG Secretary, and Retired three star Police General Reynaldo V. Velasco who served as the 1^st Battalion Commander of the Philippine Constabulary Special Action Force (PC-SAF) that secured then AFP Vice Chief of Staff FVR during the 1986 people power revolution.

And so last May 16, 2012, after more than two years in the making the book aptly titled “Silver Linings” was formally launched at the Camp Aguinaldo Theater with no less than President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III himself as guest. During the launching, the PC Special Action Force Documentary entitled “Tagapagligtas” produced by Ex-Secretary Rafael Alunan III was also shown. The occasion was also graced by soldiers, officers and civilians who played prominent roles in that historic event as well as friends and colleagues of the authors in their various fields of endeavors.

The book was written “to keep a lasting record of the patriotic deeds and the selfless sacrifice the Filipinos made at EDSA, and to prevent the silver linings which the event has drawn across the political horizon from totally fading away so that all these can be passed on to posterity”. FVR and the authors apparently realized that some of the images of the event may “now have become blurred or even distorted in some parts”. So they decided to write the book partly “to stem our people’s gradual lapse into amnesia and partly to respond to the challenge posed by no less than President FVR” who asked them “to piece together the many shining aspects of this singularly pride-enhancing event in our history” and to permanently record the “complete story of the causes and the forces that led to that unique uprising, the personalities behind its success and the drama that attended the crucial decisions which turned the eerily dangerous confrontation between the millions of people armed only with their faith and principles, and Marcos soldiers armed with weapons of death and destruction, from national tragedy into a moment of national political glory”.

Thus, aside from the heroic military defection of then Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile and Armed Forces Vice Chief of Staff Fidel V. Ramos, the book recounts more stories about the 1986 people power revolution that have not been told and have remained a mystery even to those who played a part, big or small in that historic event and who are closest to the principal actors like the patriotic men of the Special Action Force organized by General Ramos along with General Renato de Villa, General Reynaldo V. Velasco (then just a Lieutenant Colonel and the first SAF Commander), General Sonny Razon and General Rosendo Ferrer, in the aftermath of the Ninoy Aquino assassination.

But the book is not all about the glorious 1986 uprising. As its principal author Mel Velasco said: “Silver Linings” likewise “tells the story of modern day Philippines like no other piece of literature has done before. The book is not limited to the events of EDSA I which most of us may already be well aware of as told by scholars, artists, government officials or church officials. It goes beyond the years up to the present day, carefully analyzing the facts and the personal accounts of key figures, offering solutions, and making room for bright aspirations so that our officials may succeed in delivering good governance and our citizens may each take up his/her civic duties and perform them well”. Thus the book also contains a chapter on the Cory Aquino Presidency and the nine coup attempts during her regime, the Ramos Presidency of “Empowering the Country by Empowering the People”, the Estrada years of the “Downward Spiral and EDSA Dos”, the Arroyo Presidency and her “Scandal-Fraught Regime, the “Rise of the Third Aquino through another people power carried out at the polling booth called by the authors as EDSA 3, and the Future of the Philippines.

So this book is a must read for all Filipinos who want to see the silver linings behind the dark clouds keeping in mind what our national hero, Jose P. Rizal once said, “to foretell the destiny of a nation, it is necessary to open the book that tells the story of her past. That book is the “Silver Linings”.

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