Getting back our well-being

I have a headache and my heart is hurting. The slow burning fever inside me has become a conflagration. I am mad as hell. My entire being is on fire.

This column is about my all-around health — the state of my heart, my head, my mind, my conscience, and my equanimity in the time of EJK and other aggravations.

Every year at this time, I have written about the EDSA anniversary, one of the most important events in my life.  It has become a twice-told tale filled with memories of the four glorious days in February, how we could celebrate EDSA Day in more meaningful ways by becoming what President Cory Aquino described as People Power People, why we must never forget that one brief shining moment in our recent history when we stood together as Filipinos, proud and free.

I had ran out of things to write about the spirit of EDSA until this year when the very meaning of that historic event has been officially demeaned and deprived of its value and significance. 

Actually, in anticipation of the event, I wondered how an administration that has openly aligned itself with the family of the dictator and his junior who we ousted in 1986 could credibly lead the observance of this milestone.  And sure enough, it came up with the most incredible plans for the 31st EDSA anniversary. It was to be  low-key, meaning  a non-event, to be held inside Camp Aguinaldo (when there are two people power monuments right outside) which means it would be a military, not a civilian affair. It also called on the public to “move on,” “don’t get stuck in the past.”

By this, we were told to forget about the dictatorship and its crimes against the people — the torture, murder and plunder; our valiant struggle to restore our democracy, and our glorious victory on EDSA that became a model for other oppressed peoples in the world.  Instead, we were told to move on and accept the new reality which looks more and more like an emerging dictatorship, and a literal Marcos comeback via bestowing the vice-presidency on the dictator’s junior.

To add insult to injury,  on EDSA Day, while various democratic groups marched on EDSA and rallied at the People Power Monument (on a permit that disallowed them from carrying placards and streamers calling for the president to resign), the administration planned rallies with allegedly “no-political agenda” organized by the Department of Interior and Local Governments at the Luneta and other places in the country and abroad, to show the world that Rodrigo Duterte has the people’s support despite widespread local and international condemnation of his bloody war on drugs and the recent confession of a retired policeman implicating him in the Davao Death Squad.

Of all days to hold a pro-EJK rally, they chose the anniversary of EDSA to mount their own alleged people power.  No other administration after 1986 dared be disrespectful or dismissive of EDSA. But why should we be surprised when so much of what we hold sacred has already been devalued and debased by our current leaders?

Now they’ve ordered the arrest of Senator Leila de Lima, the first person to question the wholesale extra judicial killing of drug suspects, on patently politically-motivated charges.

It is enough to make my head ache and my heart heavy with grief and anger. The times have severely challenged my faith in our institutions. I have never prayed so hard for divine intervention, if not for guidance and forgiveness for the vindictive ideas that darken my thoughts amid the barrage of questionable actions by the high and mighty.

As you can see, my over-all health is not good. I know I am not alone. The field reporters, especially those who cover EJKs, reportedly have it worse.

Our country is burning and our people are hurting. More than ever, we need the patriotic spirit that brought diverse elements of our population to EDSA 31 years ago and banished the dictatorship.  But the current administration has extinguished that, at least officially. 

We are on our own. The EDSA faithful must reclaim EDSA and keep its democratic spirit burning. Only by fighting back can we can get back our health and well-being. HEART & MIND Paulynn P. Sicam