WHERE were you on the day when almost everyone in Metro Manila and its environs went out of their homes and walked or rode all the way to a meeting place at the Epifanio de los Santos Ave. (Edsa) and braved the guns, soldiers, and the blazing sun to show how much they love to be free? You don’t have to give a tacit answer to the question.
It is enough that you recall the event and identified yourself sincerely with the same cause that inspired it in 1986.
The other day, a group organized a “Salubungan sa Sugbo” at the Capitol Social Hall where the Edsa People Power Commission (EPPC) had convened to inform our “younger generation (that) did not witness the 1986 Edsa People Power” what the mass uprising was all about.
The meeting was attended by mayors, businessmen and representatives of private organizations. A commissioner of the EPPC noted that the Philippines was admired all over the globe for fighting against those who trampled on our freedom without hurting others and succeeding to drive a dictator out of the country.
To achieve its goal of promoting the lessons learned in the 1986 revolution, the EPPC envisions to strengthen its EPP network (EPPN) in the entire Cebu province by harnessing the local officials, the business sector, non-government organizations, youth leaders and the media to help in the effort.
The EPPC also plans to “advocate bayanihan and volunteerism” among the people. The EPPC, which has been active in the past two years, has also been into tree-planting, as well in conducting workshops.
Meanwhile, Gov. Hilario Davide III agreed that the youth should be made deeply aware of our country’s history and of the responsibility of perpetuating love of freedom and the ideals of democracy. In this sense, I believe that the EPPC is well taken-cared of in the province.
The commission, it is said, not only had 191 volunteers from 18 youth organizations planting trees since 2012 but also conducted several relief operations for the hapless victims of super typhoon Yolanda.
The current effort in promoting the historical event at Edsa in 1986 clearly defined for our people the importance of democratic freedom and independence. The attempt to dictate on the people the will of a national leader without real cause and reason for the imposition sort of aroused from the depths of our people’s being the true essence of their humanity and the genuine value of their perceived freedom as they understood and lived it.
It was an act spontaneously Filipino. We should be proud to be part of it. There is, thus, a real need for those of us who had personally seen the unfolding of such power at Edsa to find and develop ways to have the embalmed people’s sentiments unleashed and to let them act as one human power collectively “energized” to seek freedom from a felt subjection from the will of one man.
The Edsa People Power revolt, indeed, was the empowered collective hand that let “freedom ring on that day.