Thoughts on the EDSA People Power Revolution

IT HAS been 27 long years after the EDSA People Power Revolution of 1986. The theme for this year’s 27th anniversary celebration is “Pilipinas Natin, Abot Tanaw Na!”

As February 25 draws near, it’s time to reminisce and reflect on the gains of this very historic event in our country’s history.

So far, we’ve had fifteen Philippine Presidents who served at the helm of the government bureaucracy. I was born during the term of the 9th Philippine President, the late Diosdado Macapagal who was in office from December 30, 1961 to December 30, 1965.

One of my favorite keepsakes is a black and white photograph of President Diosdado Macapagal and my father taken back in 1961.

The 10th Philippine President was the late Ferdinand Marcos who was in power for twenty years, from December 30, 1965 to February 25, 1986 when the EDSA People Power Revolution took place and unceremoniously removed him from office.

Marcos’ successor and 11th Philippine President Corazon “Cory” Aquino served for six years with son Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III following her footsteps as the 15th Philippine President.

Cory Aquino was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2008 and succumbed to this dreadful disease in 2009. An image of Cory along with that of her husband the late Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr. appears in Philippine P500 bills which bear the signature of their son President Noynoy or PNoy for short.

An interesting trivia about PNoy is that he resides in the Bahay Pangarap (House of Dreams) located within the grounds of Malacañang Palace.

It has been 27 long years after the EDSA People Power Revolution of 1986. Sufficient time has been given to turn our dreams into reality.

Can the ordinary Juan de la Cruz have access to food, clothing and shelter?

Are sound government policies in place? Is a favorable business climate being encouraged?

If the answer to these three questions is “Yes”, then indeed we could say, “Pilipinas Natin, Abot Tanaw Na!”