People Power Celebration

What happened in EDSA in 1986 has come under close scrutiny because of the failures of the Aquinos in government. They have failed as government leaders. They have failed to bring the economic comforts enjoyed by their powerful friends and families to the ordinary Filipinos. They have reinstated the oligarchs back into power and plunged the economy into dark times.

Also, they have and continue to fail democracy. From Cory Aquino to Tessie Aquino-Oreta to Noynoy Aquino to Bam Aquino. They have all done their share to attack the freedom of expression. Cory sued Journalist Beltran for using a figure of speech. Tessie wanted Erap's public accounts kept private. Noynoy buried the FOI under bureaucracy as well as stop the investigations on Mamasapano. Bam is trying to legislate cyber censorship.

Why would we celebrate EDSA when May 2016 gave us back our sense of national pride and unity by seeing Duterte go to Malacañang?

EDSA was never about the Aquinos. EDSA is about the power of the Philippine spirit to unite its people. It gave Asia and the world a glimpse of who we are as a people. It was a moment in history when we can say proudly that we were one on the streets where guns or tyrants or politics did not have a hold on us. It was a rally, a gathering when an overstaying ruler put down his might and gave way to the will of the masses. The military did not bend to Malacañang but to the call of the people.

In 2017, the one who sits in Malacañang has the heart and voice of the masses. He is of the people, one of us. Our voices on the ballots gave us back the democracy that the first People's Power movement promised. We once again came together as a nation to stop our further descent down the dark alley of the Aquino legacy of dreams deferred.

We have Duterte in Malacañang and a cabinet with people like Taguiwalo, Mariano and Lopez.

This is a government not beholden to the oligarchs because their eyes are firmly set on the ordinary Filipinos. This is why we celebrate the People's Power.

February 25 is the anniversary of the spirit of the People's Power. And after rekindling and reclaiming it in the last elections, I plan to celebrate, Not in EDSA where promises were made and broken. I will join my country in the Quirino Grandstand where it will begin again, where it is ours, yours and mine.

To follow Rocky on FB, click above image.