The 1986 revolt showed the power of a people united behind a common cause, even if it seemed like mission impossible. Seeing how people power put an end to 20 years of authoritarian rule in the Philippines, similar movements for freedom were staged around the world, with equally dramatic success in most cases.
These days it seems there is no common cause behind which Filipinos can rally for the greater good. With public officials themselves setting the example, voters seem to believe it’s every man for himself. The nation and public good always take a back seat to personal interests. Memories of the human rights atrocities, large-scale corruption and abuse of power during the dictatorship have receded from the national consciousness, abetted by an aggressive campaign of historical revisionism.
The late Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin, who summoned the crowds to EDSA in those four fateful days in February 1986, often lamented the “kanya-kanya” mentality that returned after the revolt. While democracy has been sustained for the past 36 years and there has been no return to Marcos-era authoritarian rule, the institutions that are needed to make democracy work not only remain weak but are being further weakened by deep-seated corruption and selfish interests.
This situation is partly due to complacency. Nation-building calls for sustained heavy lifting, lasting well beyond a four-day peaceful revolt. The dictatorship left the Philippine economy in ruins. From being one of Asia’s most prosperous states, the Philippines became a regional basket case. This was when Filipinos began searching overseas for jobs – any job, even if it exposed them to exploitation and physical abuse – because of the lack of opportunities in their own land.
There is always room for long-lasting, meaningful change. People power showed what Filipinos can achieve by rallying behind common goals. The power of the people can always be harnessed to make the nation a better place. If people power can topple an entrenched dictatorship, it can succeed in building a strong republic.