The Philippines in a state of flux
The only thing worth noting in Aeon Flux (aside from Charlize Theron's great bod) is its message of HOPE. Yes. Hope that someday beyond our two dimensional gilded cages we shall realize that what we do impact on our neighbors' lives and maybe...just maybe...we shall begin to care.
So here I am listening to Virna Lisa's rendition of MAGKAISA. My recollection of the great hope that was EDSA People Power begins not 20 years ago but 3 years ahead of 1986. It was 1983. We were but new transplants in the City of Pines, uprooted for around 4 months from the concrete ghetto that was Cubao. My large playground of a busy road was replaced by a more idyllic hill from which one can get a good view of the "other hills" (reminiscent of Rome!). And so it was that we settled into the routine of accustomizing our bodies with the cold temperature (at that time it was still necessary to wear bulky sweaters, socks and bonnets) and with the great pasttime of everyone - Mahjong! Our house was a den for my grandparents' friends to spend the afternoons and nights playing this game of Chinese origin. Although I was fascinated by the tiles etched with colorful Chinese characters, I actually was silently grumbling as having players inside our house meant I would not be able to watch television in the large set in the living room (They didn't know they were actually depriving me of my pasttime!). In any case, it was one such lazy day that everyone's bearings were shaken to the core. I do not remember how exactly it began but what I do remember was that my mother getting the small transistor radio from my grandparents' room, bringing it into the sala and then putting it on in highest volume. It was strange that suddenly everyone began crying. They were all stating "Pinatay si Ninoy". Heck, I was 9 years old and I didn't know who Ninoy was. I think my dad then tried opening the television but there was only static. So everyone was practically glued to the radio, trying to digest on their own the meaning of what had happened. For the utterly innocent (meaning me!), the next few months would be a testament to what people can do if they really want to empower themselves. The parade of people that lined the streets to greet Ninoy's body evoked some sense of volcanic anger waiting to explode. But as geology would teach us, one can never predict exactly when an eruption will occur. Who knew that it would take another 30 months for the fury to reach the boiling point.
Fast forward to EDSA people power 1986. As an elementary student, I had greeted the elections with glee as classes were suspended. The suspension lasted more than what I expected. For the moment everyone had been waiting for had finally arrived. The people had awakened from their stupor and decided it was time to get rid of the tyrant. After ruling for a score, Marcos eventually got what he bargained for. I was envious of the fact that people in Manila were gathering in EDSA and having a fiesta (I was really naive to the dangers posed by the military) while we were all but mere spectators. I can vividly remember the inspiring moments - when the Comelec employees walked out of the counting, when Marcos was vainly trying to reassert his authority (his face was swollen because of lupus and his voice was already weak), when the people were trying to offer the soldiers on top of the tanks with flowers, the Cory magic weaving its powers as the people went into Malacanang, etc.
So another score passed. And here we are on the throes of a third EDSA (after the second one triumphantly got rid of Erap in January 2001). Some say why have another? It is futile they say, attempting to make a change when the new leaders themselves forget early on why they were put their in the first place. But thats exactly the point. It hurts more to see those that you thought believed in the right principles and could do something betrayed everything (and I mean everything). At least Marcos did not have any pretensions of not being despotic. The ultimate sacrifice currently lies not in those leaders who want to perpetuate themselves in power but in the people, that they, in the midst of their daily rantings about how miserable their lives have become will at least have a fit, or put their feet down and say "no more". Tama na, Sobra na, Palitan na. Or have we become so poor in spirit as to even think that we no longer have the capability to change our fates?
So here I am listening to Virna Lisa's rendition of MAGKAISA. My recollection of the great hope that was EDSA People Power begins not 20 years ago but 3 years ahead of 1986. It was 1983. We were but new transplants in the City of Pines, uprooted for around 4 months from the concrete ghetto that was Cubao. My large playground of a busy road was replaced by a more idyllic hill from which one can get a good view of the "other hills" (reminiscent of Rome!). And so it was that we settled into the routine of accustomizing our bodies with the cold temperature (at that time it was still necessary to wear bulky sweaters, socks and bonnets) and with the great pasttime of everyone - Mahjong! Our house was a den for my grandparents' friends to spend the afternoons and nights playing this game of Chinese origin. Although I was fascinated by the tiles etched with colorful Chinese characters, I actually was silently grumbling as having players inside our house meant I would not be able to watch television in the large set in the living room (They didn't know they were actually depriving me of my pasttime!). In any case, it was one such lazy day that everyone's bearings were shaken to the core. I do not remember how exactly it began but what I do remember was that my mother getting the small transistor radio from my grandparents' room, bringing it into the sala and then putting it on in highest volume. It was strange that suddenly everyone began crying. They were all stating "Pinatay si Ninoy". Heck, I was 9 years old and I didn't know who Ninoy was. I think my dad then tried opening the television but there was only static. So everyone was practically glued to the radio, trying to digest on their own the meaning of what had happened. For the utterly innocent (meaning me!), the next few months would be a testament to what people can do if they really want to empower themselves. The parade of people that lined the streets to greet Ninoy's body evoked some sense of volcanic anger waiting to explode. But as geology would teach us, one can never predict exactly when an eruption will occur. Who knew that it would take another 30 months for the fury to reach the boiling point.
Fast forward to EDSA people power 1986. As an elementary student, I had greeted the elections with glee as classes were suspended. The suspension lasted more than what I expected. For the moment everyone had been waiting for had finally arrived. The people had awakened from their stupor and decided it was time to get rid of the tyrant. After ruling for a score, Marcos eventually got what he bargained for. I was envious of the fact that people in Manila were gathering in EDSA and having a fiesta (I was really naive to the dangers posed by the military) while we were all but mere spectators. I can vividly remember the inspiring moments - when the Comelec employees walked out of the counting, when Marcos was vainly trying to reassert his authority (his face was swollen because of lupus and his voice was already weak), when the people were trying to offer the soldiers on top of the tanks with flowers, the Cory magic weaving its powers as the people went into Malacanang, etc.
So another score passed. And here we are on the throes of a third EDSA (after the second one triumphantly got rid of Erap in January 2001). Some say why have another? It is futile they say, attempting to make a change when the new leaders themselves forget early on why they were put their in the first place. But thats exactly the point. It hurts more to see those that you thought believed in the right principles and could do something betrayed everything (and I mean everything). At least Marcos did not have any pretensions of not being despotic. The ultimate sacrifice currently lies not in those leaders who want to perpetuate themselves in power but in the people, that they, in the midst of their daily rantings about how miserable their lives have become will at least have a fit, or put their feet down and say "no more". Tama na, Sobra na, Palitan na. Or have we become so poor in spirit as to even think that we no longer have the capability to change our fates?
posted by violadelesseps at
10:05 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home