Songs of February & every month after

BUWAN ng Pebrero/ Buwan ng pagbabago/ Anong klaseng pagbabago/ Ano sa palagay mo? – Sayaw sa Bubog by the Jerks

When I was in grade school there were songs that captured the pride of People Power. But that was grade school, so 27 years ago.

It seems People Power is a distant memory for today’s generation. That was a moment when people braved the tanks to defy the late dictator Marcos’ tyranny and cheating in elections, and cried: Tama na, sobra na, palitan na, until Cory Aquino was placed in the presidency.

Pebrero, bente-sais nang si Apo ay umalis / Ngiti mo'y hanggang tenga sa kakatalon, napunit ang pantalon mo / Pero hindi bale, sabi mo, marami naman kami / Kahit na amoy pawis, tuloy pa rin ang disco sa kalye – Kumusta Na by Yano

So here we are, after five presidents, another EDSA happened to oust a corrupt president, the next one almost went down but clung on by unleashing the military to repress activists in a manner worse as Martial Law.

Nakakapagod din ang umasa / Lalo't ang bituka ay walang laman / Napakailap sa mahirap ang hustisya / Lalo't bansa ay hawak lang ng iilan – Pagbabago? By Asin

Our history is a cycle. Cory Aquino restored “democracy” that was characterized by her kamag-anak inc and by self-serving politicos who have been called balimbings, buwaya, and trapos the way they switched parties and stayed in power. The Center for People Empowerment in Governance (CenPEG) notes there are 178 dominant political dynasties holding positions from mayor, governor, congressmen and up to senator. That explains why this election, the same names are running again. Look out, the Marcoses are back.

Another Aquino is in power, Noynoy son of Cory and Ninoy. Daang matuwid has brought us 4Ps that actually means puro pogi-points at propaganda, and nothing else. This mid-term senatorial election, his line-up carries the names of dynasties with children of politicos we now call bimpos. The so-called opposition party is no different with their own version.

They talk of change but has our country turned around with them? Farmers remain landless even with the CARP, houses and farms are demolished to give way to malls, subdivisions and factories, workers and graduates are without jobs. Presidents come up with slogans like NIC, strong republic and now daang matuwid that claim to boost our country. But after decades of foreign investments, BPOs, export zones, shopping malls, plantations, large-scale mines and energy projects, there are still 65 million poor, four million without jobs, four million families hungry, and millions displaced and dead from recent typhoons aggravated by deforestation and mining.

Edsa ng pagbabago/ Saan, kailan, kanino? – Sayaw sa Bubog, the Jerks

Exactly, why are we in this rut even after Edsa? It seems we lost our claim to the spirit of Edsa, the militancy, heroism and call for change. Instead, politicians usurped this spirit and claim this as their own, including the president who thinks Edsa is his family’s legacy.

We should rather remind him that legacy was made by the people – the martyrs from Martial Law, the people who braved the streets and water cannons, and the activists and journalists who spoke the truth. We should reclaim that place in history, as well as learn from their militancy and heroism in our search for freedom and justice. And let there also be songs and stories to help us in our way.

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