Are we better off after EDSA?

When the first call to EDSA I was made on the night of Feb. 22, 1986, I remember that I was with the members of the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino (it was my first year with the group) and we were at the old San Miguel building in Ayala Avenue watching the political film Miguelito: Ang Batang Rebelde by Lino Brocka and starring Aga Muhlach.

Ironically enough, when we heard the news (it was the security guard outside the screening room who alerted us to it), we were in the part of the movie wherein Eddie Garcia (as the dictatorial town mayor) was already being defeated by some of the people he oppressed (Nida Blanca, Beth Bautista, etc.). Somehow, we managed to finish the film since it was nearing the end anyway. But our thoughts, of course, were no longer on the movie, but on the uncertainty of what would happen to the country.

When we passed by EDSA on our way home, there was just a pocket of people in front of Camp Aguinaldo. But the following day, the numbers had swollen and that major thoroughfare was closed to traffic. It was not difficult for the organizers of EDSA I to call on people to join this mother of all protest actions. After all, most everyone by then had more than two years of practice joining demonstrations against Marcos at the Liwasang Bonifacio, Mendiola, from Tarlac to tarmac and, of course, those Friday afternoon rallies in posh Ayala Avenue.

From my end, I didn’t get to participate much in EDSA I because I had to report to Malaya – Joe Burgos’ Malaya – where we were churning out two issues a day. Also in this group were Erwin Tulfo, Gene Orejana and Mario Dumaual – all still very young.

I don’t remember anyone admitting fear or getting scared and worrying for his life. Our main concern then was the printing press, which had to be moved from place to place to avoid detection by groups loyal to Marcos.

On the showbiz front, June Keithley earned everyone’s admiration by fearlessly anchoring Radyo Bandido in some undisclosed radio booth. On the part of Maan Hontiveros, she had always been critical against the Marcos regime even before the Aquino assassination and would get into trouble because of her Ms. Ellaneous show.

Among the singers, Freddie Aguilar stirred emotions and patriotic passions with his rendition of Bayan Ko in every anti-Marcos rally he attended, while Celeste Legaspi – at the height of EDSA I – I believe was running a soup kitchen for volunteers near the Channel 4 (now ABS-CBN) area.

While these entertainment personalities I mentioned were rendering genuine service for the country, I couldn’t say the same for the other young movie people I saw when I finally joined the crowd at EDSA on its third day. There was, for instance, this male bold star who made a spectacle of himself by asking people to carry him on their shoulders as he flashed the Laban sign. Was he there because he wanted a free nation again or because it was the best place to be seen? Now, it wouldn’t be right of me to judge his intention for going to EDSA. Maybe he was really just being patriotic. But whatever reason he had, he still helped out carry out that bloodless revolution because, at least, he still added up to the headcount.

Unfortunately, after unseating two Presidents, the basic problems of this country remain and the Philippines is now even in a sorrier state. (No, I’m not saying that we should bring back Erap or – horrors – install Imelda Marcos as President.)

The trouble with us, I think, is that after those two historic EDSA activities (festivities?), those rotten apples in government service go back to their old corrupt ways and nothing changes. Those big, ruthless and powerful businessmen – when they see that the current administration is losing in EDSA – immediately shift to the other side, butter up the new President and get away with major tax evasion.

Sadly, after the fiesta that is EDSA, we completely forget why we trooped there twice in the first place. Although it was such a relief that both EDSA, revolutions proved to be peaceful, it is obvious that we are not getting what we want for this country. And so how many times do we have to go back there to finally achieve our hopes for the nation.?

Today, there should be another EDSA celebration and – for sure (but hopefully not) – they’ll be closing EDSA to traffic again. Sure, there’s no work in offices today. But what about the doctors , nurses and others who have to work even during the holidays? Woe to these people who will be inconvenienced on their way to work all because of another EDSA celebration. (Didn’t we just have one last month?)

The year after EDSA I, incidentally, I still joined that big celebration because I thought that things were finally looking up for this nation. Wrong.

Today, I don’t really expect a big crowd to show up at EDSA. A lot of people I’m sure are just as disappointed as I am with the way things turned out after EDSA I and II.