EDITORIAL - Cause for celebration

A key player in the 1986 people power revolt, Fidel Ramos, lamented yesterday that EDSA I has lost its meaning for many Filipinos. Ramos blamed political leaders for this, saying they abused freedom and mismanaged democracy. No one knows who are the political leaders included in the sweeping indictment, or whether Ramos was also referring to himself.

The former president made the statement at the start of events marking the 21st anniversary of the peaceful uprising that toppled Ferdinand Marcos. The annual commemoration has progressively become muted as the crowds that gathered to celebrate the event dwindled over the years. This is partly due to the passage of time; even the greatest of events become footnotes in history. It is due in part to unusually high expectations that could not be met in the wake of the people power revolt. And after a second military-backed popular uprising that toppled another president gave the country a string of corruption and vote-rigging scandals, the urge to celebrate people power has disappeared.

Yet it would be folly to forget what Filipinos achieved in those four days in February 1986. Until the EDSA revolt, the ouster of Ferdinand Marcos seemed impossible. Filipinos showed the world the miracle of people power. And while the revolt lasted all of four days, many years of suffering under a repressive regime led to it. The outcome of the revolt was so stunning that the victors were clearly unprepared to take over the nation’s leadership.

Post-EDSA I administrations grappled with the problems that bedevil new democracies: corruption, freedom without responsibility and accountability, weak institutions and failure to uphold the rule of law. In the case of the Philippines, which inspired similar movements for freedom around the world, the new democracy was also threatened with endless coup attempts. The country continues to deal with these problems. But one thing is certain: after its restoration, democracy is here to stay, and that is a gift of people power. For those who remember the dark days of dictatorship, this precious gift will always be a grand cause for celebration.