February 27th, 2006 |
EDSA, especially from 1986 onwards has always been a very sacred stretch of major highway especially near the intersection of Ortigas to the People Power Monument having been witness to a significant history. But how unfortunate that the 20th anniversary of the peaceful EDSA 1 revolution that saw a corrupt president toppled and hailed by the world as worthy of emulation hijacked by the usual noisy militants and political hasbeens, opportunists and hypocrites riding on a seeming disatisfaction by the political elite on a government that is suffering from credibility issues. Its true that there are real problems hounding Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s hold on power but to use a solemn and meaningful event for their own political ends in the guise of “search for the truth” and other mumbo jumbo is just shameless. Shameless. Oft repeated and it loses its sting. Oft repeated and it loses its significance that it just becomes another unimportant and unmeaningful word. But again, these politicians are already so jaded that they’ve become desensitized to adjectives used to describe them.After countless attempts to have the present government be ejected from power, self appointed guardians of the nation, the opposition (which have credibility problems too) as well as those from the Left and Right, forming a broad coalition, strange bedfellows indeed, are still are unsuccessful. Why so? Two notable EDSA events saw the toppling of two corrupt presidents. But this time, Little Glo is just too hard to nudge, budge and move over. It might be a case of the majority of Filipino’s People Power weariness. Its a convenient excuse to short circuit a usually long and arduous process of removing a sitting president but after the removal of two disliked heads of the republic, the people’s lives are still the same. No improvement to their current situation. After much promises of a new life, new beginning under a new administration, the same old habits still return and dominate. Corruption is unabated. Political prostitution is still the norm. Abhorrent political scandals involving the current admininstration is common. Big time offenders, after lengthy trials and much publicity are later acquitted of their crimes or political accommodation given to ensure their longevity and stave off destabilization attempts. Now, the so-called civil society, after enjoying prominence a few years back and having enjoyed the fruits of their labor through juicy appointments and huge grants, with reports that some are still unaccounted, to their favorite chaired NGO’s are finding that they would have none of the current scandals of this government again decides to trash the sitting president and anoint their bet.
But who is there bet? Another reason that there efforts are constant failures and did not court sympathy from the majority of the Filipinos especially the middle class (that powerful segment of society that was instrumental in having EDSA 1 and 2 a success) is that they don’t have a credible alternative. The opposition, a motley group, cannot offer themselves as saviors of the nation. A quick look at the personalities of this unorganized and messy group, each with their own agenda and united only in their common goal of hating the current administration are just laughable. A joke. A comedy. A farce. Maybe that’s the reason Tito sotto is there but I’m just disappointed that the skits are just stale and bland.
What about the clergy and the religious? Well in the country, the separation of church and state only exists in statutes but not in real life. With his passing, gone are the credible days of the militant religiousity of Jaime Cardinal Sin. There’s just no replacement. What we see now are pretenders to the void left by the respected cardinal. Its a good thing that the newly anointed Cardinal Rosales of Manila is more sane, not messing with the affairs of the state and minding more the spiritual needs of his flock unlike the posturings of some aging cardinals and bishops wallowing on selfish self importance and a clown like Father Robert Reyes who, in most instances, always have the media trumpet his latest stunts and theatrics. The Iglesia ni Manalo as well as Bro. Velarde are not also exempt. They’re powerful, ruling over their sizable flock in the name of God (and Mamon) that are so big in numbers that politicians will surely try to get under their graces because of the voting powers that these groups wield. These two can’t also be trusted as they also have their own commercial interests to look after.
The military? It should be acknowledged that they have been the crucial support system that held a government together. Without their backing, two governments crumbled. That’s why in any recent destabilization attempts, they are the first to be recruited. Mind boggling corruption hounding the military doesn’t help either. It also adds fuel to the already low morale of the troops. But based on the not too recent history, they are not the saviors the country need now nor have the expertise to run a complex bureaucracy like the affairs of state.
The militants? I would not bother with them. All they do is protest this and that. Crying to high heavens and blaming everything on the government. Raising clenched fists and waving red banners on streets for every misery that they encounter, still the fault of government. A really hopeless group that thrives on using peoples grievances to advance their long rejected ideologies and causes. They can’t see beyond their nose but protest and protest to have government improve their lives.
The three past presidents Cory, Ramos and Erap? They had their time. They had their chance to make a difference. Now, they have the gall to criticize and ask for the resignation of an elected president. Vehemently imposing their own views. It is as if they were perfect when they governed the country. Its just hypocrisy in the highest order. Meddling in current affairs. Instead of being role models and ensuring that laws are followed, they’re the first to break it.
The past few months, the peso has been on an uptrend. The stock market is bullish. Investors are again having confidence in the capabilities of the country of licking off its budget deficit and putting order in its messy finances. Credit rating agencies are taking a second look (except Moody’s). The momentum is very much encouraging but then pathetic events, destabilization efforts are again threatening to put us back in limbo. After EDSA 1, we had a golden opportunity to turn around the country. The goodwill the peaceful revolution generated and the positive response of the international community would have made a difference in improving the lives of the Filipinos and catching up with the rest of our neighbors who, a few decades ago, were just behind us in terms of economic progress. But then, military adventurists under Gregorio Honasan’s 7 coup attempts at the time of Cory Aquino just shattered that golden opportunity. The same setting now is happening. When times are looking up and bright, coup attempts have been uncovered and destabilization plans still alive and kicking with the market as well as the currency retreating, reacting negatively. Why is it that we Filipinos always try to mess up ourselves?
20th anniversary of EDSA 1 and it is being hijacked by has beens, hypocrites and opportunists. No wonder that people would want to forget this significant event in Philippine history that happened 20 not so long years ago. It just didn’t make any difference in their lives. Now we are back to the usual demands of a few with no track record of delivering, of improving lives. We cannot be held hostage to their whims and wants. We cannot be held hostage to their own selfish agenda. Enough is enough.
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