The Flag After EDSA
There are times in our lives when we see something and we immediately remember glimpses of the past that remind us about what happened. Usually, it’s a reminder that we can immediately relate it to a specific event that has deeply been imprinted in us because we deem it important.
Last Saturday, when I saw the multitudes of people gathered in different parts of the globe.I saw above all things in the multitude, the Philippine Flag. I then saw a story, that played in my mind.
If you must wish to know what happened to the Philippines after EDSA, know that you only have to look at the Philippine Flag. The brilliant Yellow Sun that is supposed to bring hope to a nation has been surrounded by Three Bright Stars that we have admired for what they were, embedded in the sea of white. The First Star espoused Patronage Politics for their own good. It hated that Dark Night’s ghosts and ghouls, but that that’s okay because when it rose to starhood, it brought its own shine with it (well, it was a shine when they started, but turned out to be a newer version of the previous Dark Night’s ghosts and ghouls). Its ascendance into starhood was riddled with various coups and everyone who wished to quash its legitimacy, was then quelled. The First Star was really just there to make the people hope for a bright tomorrow, but it really just hid behind the clouds in the sea of white. The Second Star was already a star in its own right, but its starhood was different. It used the loudness and blaring sound of media to create its own shine. This star’s presence was one of the reason why the people would flock to their TV screens just to watch this star’s shows, usually just to flaunt its own shine. It’s shine is different from the First’s as it would rebel and be flamboyant with its style. But that’s okay, as long as it’s still inside the sea of white, no matter what this star does, it’ll be fine. Its shine has become one of the reasons why society (or some if its parts) has become apathetic to governance and authority. The Third Star on the other hand, was there, but not there. Its shine is…well, bright…but not brilliant. It’s there. It became a star, because of the first two stars, and the Yellow Sun’s radiance. It doesn’t really have a radiance of its own. The Third Star’s shine was political ineptitude. Most of what the Third Star has done was just participate in others’ accomplishments. Others say that the Third Star played a lot. It even plays with the life of others. 44 to be exact.
The sea of white amidst everything that happened, has always been there. Ready to coddle the musings of the stars. They did it before, they do it now, and we shall expect that they will still do it tomorrow. The sea of white has formed itself into a wedge, that is supposed to divide the bottom masses with their reddened, burnt backs, from toiling all day just to carry the whims of the arrogant blue-blooded royals that stay on top. Unfortunately, the white wedge will always be there, preaching innocence and purity and morality. The white wedge led by some of its most devoted practitioners have become so engrossed in its self-righteousness, and its face has warped and wears its own mask. Unmasked, they would see his real face, Morality. Adulterated. Corrupted. Until such time when the white wedge can get off its high horse and be one with the masses, including the reds and not just the blues, the white wedge will always be on the side. Separating. Dividing.
This piece was submitted to us by Philippi Luis Labial, an aspiring writer based in Cagayan De Oro. To link to Flip's FB page, click image above.
