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EDSA Babies Unite

February 23, 2011

I rise to speak about the 25th anniversary of the 1986 People Power and its

impact on young people.

Madame Speaker, dear colleagues, mga kababayan.

EDSA or Highway 54 is a very important and famous road in the Philippines. It

connects the north and south expressways. The three biggest shopping malls in

the world are located here. The police and military headquarters are stationed

here. Financial centers are established in Makati-EDSA and Ortigas-EDSA. But

most importantly, it was the site of People Power in 1986.

This week marks the 25th anniversary of People Power. Madame. Speaker, I was

only a kindergarten student in 1986 but the impact of that event was felt and

understood by my generation. We may be too young to remember the details of

the Edsa Revolt but the stories of heroism, courage, and the militancy of theFilipinos in 1986 were taught to us by our parents and teachers. Before Egypt

2011, there was Philippines 1986. Before Tahrir Square, there was Edsa.

Before I proceed, let me use this opportunity to pay tribute to the millions of

Filipinos who valiantly fought for democracy during the dark days of Martial Law.

Their sacrifice and arduous struggle led to the restoration of many rights and

democratic institutions after 1986.

Our generation grew up while the Philippines was undergoing a transition after

1986. The nation-building process proved to be a daunting task. We were told tocontribute to social change by learning from the brave students and youth leaders

who participated in Edsa 1986. In many ways, our actions in 2000-2001, which led

to Edsa Dos, were our unique attempt to repeat the victorious revolt of the people

in 1986. It was our response to the challenge posed by our elders and by the

historical circumstances to display our sense of social responsibility.

Today our young people who were born after 1990 have little or almost no direct

knowledge of the symbolic importance of 1986. Like us, they learned about Edsa

in books but at least our formative years were shaped by the political events prior

and after Edsa 1986. There is a need, therefore, Madame Speaker, to refresh ourmemory about Edsa 1986. It is our duty to share the stories of Edsa to the new

generation.

So what does Edsa mean? What is its relevance to Philippine politics today? What

should the young learn about Edsa?

I urge the youth, especially the Edsa Babies, to join the celebration by making a

pledge to serve the people. This is the core lesson of People Power a radical

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weapon of the oppressed against the oppressors. I hope the People Power

veterans would always remember that subversive meaning of the Edsa

Revolution; and I hope they would share that important legacy of Edsa to the

young generation.

While it is commendable that Malacanang has taken the initiative to celebrate the

anniversary of People Power, it should not prevent us from using the memory ofthis historic event to assert our just demands to Malacanang. In light of the

various assaults to the peoples democratic rights price hikes, dwindling budget

to social services, dire poverty, and so on the need to reactivate the hopeful

legacy of People Power is now more pertinent than ever.

With all due respect to the President, he may be the son of President Cory who is

an Edsa icon, but this doesnt exempt him from being a target of People Power

politics. We, definitely, have the legacy of People Power to use against President

Noynoys anti-poor policies like fare hikes, dole-out programs, and the lack of

substantial reforms in governance.

People Power versus LRT/MRT fare hikes. People Power versus the demolition of

the San Roque community in North Triangle. People Power versus corruption in the

bureaucracy.

The name Edsa enjoins us to not forget the past. Edsa is the acronym for the

name Epifanio de los Santos, a historian and one of the chroniclers of the 1896

Philippine Revolution. Remembering Edsa as a protest landmark is easy since it

only refers to the immediate past. The bigger task lies in using the memory of

radical Edsa to challenge the oppressive present.

EDSA, the peoples highway, is quickly evolving into an anti-people thoroughfare.

The state, afraid of the People Power past of EDSA, now prevents the people from

walking, crossing, and marching on EDSA. The street which witnessed two

fantastic uprisings in 1986 and 2001 is now a death zone for innocent jaywalkers

(bawal tumawid, nakamamatay), and political protesters.

I am quite worried that the Malacanang-sanctioned list of activities to celebrate

People Power strips the event of its rebellious potential. It is sad that the memory

of People Power is being used to prettify the image of the President. The officialPeople Power anniversary has been reduced into a partisan activity of the

Presidents party.

Edsas legacy is far too important for our nation to be reduced to mere pageantry.

Its promise of emancipation is very important for the masses who genuinely yearn

for substantial freedom, justice and peace. We should not allow the meaning of

Edsa to be monopolized by politicians and bureaucrats in power.

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Edsas promises of change remain unfulfilled. Twenty-five years after Edsa, we

continue to seek for more democratic reforms, human rights protection, economic

progress, and political empowerment.

Thus I make this appeal to my fellow youth: Let a hundred unofficial People Power

activities bloom. Let a thousand People Power debates contend. Bombard Edsa

with our demands for genuine change, freedom, and pro-people governance.