Remembering EDSA 2014

Memories of EDSA 1 were again reported yesterday and weeks and days before February 25th this year. How many of our people, though, especially our young, remember EDSA 1, what it was, why it happened, and why it should always be remembered by all Filipinos forever?

My father was still alive when Ninoy Aquino was assassinated and he was so inspired by the unity and courageous acts that our people displayed in various events during those dramatic days of February. My father was one among those persecuted during the Marcos dictatorship. He was among the millions who applauded and cheered when confirmed reports spread like wildfire that Marcos and family were forced to leave the country that the conjugal dictators and their cronies plundered and abused.

If he were not bedridden, for sure, my father would have joined us in EDSA to join the millions of our people declare their desire, their cry for, and their commitment to freedom, regardless of risk and cost to their own lives.

Those who braved and congregated in EDSA did not know if they would be massacred or strafed or arrested by the pro-Marcos loyalist military. Fear and death, however, did not daunt the millions who believed that the overstaying dictator had to be toppled and a new era of freedom and democracy reclaimed for all Filipinos. Death was deemed more honorable than enduring more years under the dictator. After more than 20 years of witnessing (among many other abuses to many to describe here) how our country's wealth was being plundered and siphoned by the dictators and their cronies, after experiencing arbitrary and abusive interpretations of law and justice, after seeing widespread poverty and inequality amidst reckless, insensitive display of wealth and power by the abusive rulers and after grieving the deaths and disappearance of anti-Marcos advocates, millions of Filipinos finally united and showed up in EDSA and elsewhere in the country to clearly show their clear message to Marcos:  "tama na, sobra na, palitan na!!!"

My husband Orly and I brought our less than 2-year-old daughter and still to be born son to EDSA, unmindful of the fate that awaited us all, together with all others who decided to unite to regain freedom for all Filipinos of all generations. We all felt that we were in heaven while in EDSA with countless of other strangers whom we instantly bonded with and trusted like our own family members. There was so much sharing and giving, no class boundaries, everyone extending what one could share to make everyone comfortable and safe. There was no traffic as volunteers facilitated the movement of those who came in vehicles or those who walked to EDSA. Food and drinks were shared and the supply, limitless -- actual multiplication of loaves and fish experienced by all.

EDSA, then, was like heaven, under siege. The supporters of EDSA were the good forces, under siege by Marcos and his followers. There were also so much prayers in EDSA and faith so palpable and so alive, witnessed and shared.

It was one historic, uplifting, inspiring, spiritual experience -- where determined, united, God-fearing and God-loving Filipinos were ready to give up their lives to regain, to reclaim freedom, and to install God and love once again in everyone's hearts. Millions cheered and lived to share their EDSA experiences. Others, sadly, lost their lives so that million others would live on and breathe freedom that all of us should never again allow to be taken away from us ever. May EDSA and the spirit of EDSA live on and on and on.

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