Yesterday, President Estrada led the 14th anniversary commemoration of the four-day EDSA Revolution. As in previous years, the celebration had no spontaneous public support. Whether we like it or not, the EDSA Revolution is now a symbol of disappointment. Three successive administrations have failed to live up to its expectations.
This does not mean that the EDSA spirit is dead. Small private groups celebrated annually. Only a few days ago, a group of former martial law detainees, exiles and freedom fighters held a modest celebration in the Ninoy Aquino Park in Quezon City. And last Thursday, the city of Manila had its own EDSA celebration. The persons that attended both celebrations were people who fought the Marcos dictatorship from the very start.
Honored in the two independent celebrations were Fr. James Reuter, S.J. and Sister Sarah Manapol. In the Manila celebration, veteran broadcaster June Keithley was also honored. The three really played key roles in the EDSA revolt. Fr. Reuter and Sister Sarah worked behind the scenes. But the authorities knew of their activities. There is no way of re-enacting or documenting the EDSA Revolution without giving June Keithley great credit for her role in that revolution. Indeed it can be said that alone, she embodied the role of media in those historic four days. We were glad that, thanks to Mayor Lito Atienza, the city of Manila had finally officially recognized her historic role.
People have short memories. Even the EDSA Revolution is not properly presented. Most people are under the impression that EDSA just suddenly came about. Actually, EDSA was nothing more than the full expansion of a people's manifestation that happened earlier. We are referring to the noise barrage that happened, not in EDSA, but all over Metro Manila. The noise barrage was the EDSA revolution in embryo. First, it was spontaneous. Second, it was a direct defiance of the dictatorship when it was at its full power. Third, as in the EDSA Revolution, no one was hurt, not a shot was fired because the military refused to comply with their orders to arrest and take action against the demonstrators.
I don't classify myself as a historian. I took a bare minimum of history subjects in school. But I believe I can make the claim that I am a student of history. I try to see events in their proper perspective. You cannot fully understand the People's Power Revolution if you don't make it a continuation of the noise barrage. The noise barrage was directly associated with the elections where Ninoy Aquino and his Laban colleagues were cheated in 1978. That is what the protest was all about.
The truth about the EDSA Revolution is that it was triggered by Defense Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile and General Fidel Ramos's rebellion against their commander-in-chief, Ferdinand Marcos.
History must be viewed objectively.