Whatever I was doing on the 25th day of February 1986, I can’t remember. I was too young to remember or to care about a peaceful people’s uprising that ended a 20-year dictatorship. And inspired the whole world to this very day.
To be sure, I was not in Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, EDSA for short, during that time. I was not there when thousands of people flooded Metro Manila’s central thoroughfare. I was not there when tanks rolled towards the military camps, stopped by fellow Filipinos with nothing but faith clinging to their hearts and nationalism burning in their veins.
(Photo courtesy of Tatak EDSA. See schedule of events.)
Growing up, however, I became aware, perhaps just like you, of the central personalities and important dates. President Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law in 1972. An opposition Senator, Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, was assassinated in 1983. Ninoy’s wife, Corazon “Cory” Aquino, was sworn in as President in 1986, a product of what the world now knows as EDSA People Power (read more). Incidentally, one year shy of EDSA’s 25th anniversary, Ninoy and Cory’s only son, Noynoy Aquino, was elected president.
Of course this is a simplistic depiction of EDSA I, just like the logo above. There are thousands of other Filipinos who fought the dictatorship together with, even way ahead of, Ninoy. Many Filipinos offered the supreme sacrifice of death, just like Ninoy, in fighting for our freedom.
We should remember them. While many of us have no memory of what we were doing in February 25, 1986, we must not forget what EDSA stands for.
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Here are the two songs that emerged immediately after EDSA I. It may not evoke any emotions if you’ve never heard of this before. Both songs still bring tears to my eyes . . . every time.
“Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo” (APO Hiking Society)
“Magkaisa” (Sung by Virna Lisa; composed by Tito Sotto)
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Instead of arguing why the People Power Holiday on February 25 is limited to schools (see list of 2011 holidays), let’s talk about EDSA People Power. Where were you when it happened? Please use the comment section below.
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Ang bilis natin makalimot. Dalamput-limang taon lang at nakalimutan na natin ang pinaglaban sa EDSA. Ang mga pinapagsak natin, nasa kapangyarihan na ulit. Mauulit din ang mga nangyari. Paulit-ulit, hanggang matuto tayong magtanda.
TULOG KASI NONOY THAT TIME…LASING LAKAS NG HANG-OVER LAST FEB.25, 1986