Preserving the legacy of People Power

It was a Tuesday morning 28 years ago. The exact date, if my memory serves me right, was February 25, 1986. Along with more than a million other Filipinos, we had been staying in EDSA since Saturday. That morning I was told that Corazon Aquino was going to take her oath as President of the Republic of the Philippines. Finally the 14-year Marcos rule built on lies, oppression and massive corruption would come to an end.

Along with several friends and people we connected with, I had been sleeping in my car parked on a side street of EDSA. Food was available because people kept bringing all kinds of food and distributing it. Among those that I banded with were party mates from PDP-LABAN, colleagues from the Jaime Ferrer for Assemblyman movement in Paranaque City, former friends from my La Salle college days, and associates in the business world.

I was fortunate that I had been active in the Cory Aquino for President Movement and, therefore, had met a lot of opposition leaders. We formed a natural network during those critical four days in EDSA.

But I decided to walk to Club Filipino to witness what I knew would be an historical occasion. When I got there, the room where the oath taking was going to be held was already crowded. The entire premises of Club Filipino were also jampacked with people.

I decided to wait on the street near the Greenhills shopping center right in front of Club Filipino and waited for some companions who were fortunate to have found space inside the room where the oath taking would take place.

After the ceremony, a small group and I decided to go somewhere and discuss the event that took place as well as reflect on what would happen next. I was with Nene Pimentel, Jaime Ferrer, Dante Tinga, Zaf Respicio, and Lito Lorenzana.

The inaugural speech of President Corazon Aquino on February 25, 1986 was brief, but as always communicated her message in a memorable way. Here is her speech:

“My brothers and sisters, I am grateful to the authority you have given me today. And I promise to offer all that I can do to serve you.

It is fitting and proper that, as our people lost their rights and liberties at midnight 14 years ago, the people should formally recover those lost rights and liberties in the full light of day.

Ninoy believed that only the united strength of the Filipino people would suffice to overturn a tyranny so evil and so well organized. The brutal murder of Ninoy created that unity in strength that has come to be known as ‘Lakas ng Bayan’ — People Power.

People Power shattered the dictatorship, protected those in the military that chose freedom, and today has established a government dedicated to this protection and meaningful fulfilment of our rights and liberties.

We became exiles, we Filipinos who are at home only in freedom, when Marcos destroyed the Republic 14 years ago.

Now, by God’s grace and the power of the people, we are free again.

We want to make a special appeal to those who have not yet joined us. Do not engage in any further action against the people and instead, be among those who will lend a hand to rebuild the country.”

There is now a new generation of Filipinos belonging to the millennial generation who have very little knowledge about the Marcos dictatorship. There are those who were the principal beneficiaries of the Marcos rule – family, cronies, and sycophants – who are trying to rewrite history.

It is critical to remind our people that the Marcos martial law rule was built on lies, oppression and unparalleled corruption even by the PDAF scandal.

The most brazen lie was when Marcos said he was imposing martial law for the good of the Filipino people. The truth was that when Marcos became president in 1965, the Philippines was the second richest country in Asia, next only to Japan. When he was finally ousted, the country had become the “sick man of Asia.” Marcos imposed martial law because he knew that in a democratic election he was going to lose. But he and his family wanted to keep power and their wealth intact for succeeding Marcos generations.

Marcos maintained his power through the use of arbitrary arrest, detention, salvaging and torture. He had opposition leaders like Diokno and Tañada, publishers like Chino Roces, and tens of thousands others arrested. Then Ninoy Aquino was arrested, exiled and assassinated.

One of the principal implementers of martial law, aside from General Fabian Ver, was Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile. In 1982, Enrile was quoted as saying: “We presume the priests and nuns charged with subversive activities are guilty until the courts decide whether they are guilty or not.”

Justice was a travesty under the Marcos rule. The Supreme Court Justice Enrique Fernando had publicly and servilely held an umbrella over Imelda Romualdez Marcos’s head.

Recently, PCGG Chair Andy Bautista has given a partial snapshot of the wealth the Marcoses looted during their rule. The ill-gotten wealth hidden in secret bank accounts are estimated anywhere from $5 to 10 Billion. These amounts do not include what the Marcoses spent during their 25 years in power. Imelda’s spending splurges in the major shopping centers of the world were legendary. And her fabulous shoe collection has become a standard joke by many comedians.

Every EDSA Anniversary celebration, I always repeat the message that Corazon Aquino gave in a speech she made in 1999:

“Our children must see that stealing does not cease to be wrong because the loot is successfully hidden. Our children must see that the mastermind is not innocent because his hired guns are afraid to finger him. Our children must see that might does not make right but that given time and determination, right is irresistible.

We will not surrender the guarantees of freedom and good government for which we paid so dearly.

We will not allow those who plundered our country to return to power no matter who they think their best friend is.

Let me say it now: there will never be a Marcos restoration, not by hook or by crook. This country will always be free and it will always be the country of the People Power Revolution.”

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