What are we celebrating EDSA People Power at 25 for?

A few weeks ago I wrote about how many Filipinos today have fallen short of good values, proper education and information. Must we blame everything on the lack of good governance? Religion? Family Values?

We have a tendency to justify, rationalize or make all the necessary excuses for our faults – instead of looking within. This behavior is harmful because it halts us from progressing toward a better society.

Many significant changes have happened in our country and in the world. These changes have tested the ‘power’ of the family. The book entitled, The Filipino Family Surviving the World, written by clinical psychologist Dr. Lourdes Carandang and Queena Lee-Chua, covers many aspects of the Pinoy psychology and dynamics.

According to Dr. Carandang, “With the sudden and constant changes in our society today, Filipino families need to be resilient and strong.”

Our actions and behavior are determined by the times and the current trend in society. There is nothing wrong with change if it is done for a good reason. Otherwise it becomes a fabric of society that weakens our values and culture as a people.

Dr. Carandang wrote that, “The instability in the government has led to insecurity. Uncertainty and unpredictability have led to anxiety. And in a country where systems do not work well, people turn to their families. Related to this political crisis is the moral degradation in society that permeates the land, stemming from pervasive corruption at all levels of government, and resulting in erosion of core values and lack of discipline. Children see that several adults in high positions, whom they are supposed to respect and look up to as role models, do wrong but are not punished. In fact, they don’t even admit that they are wrong. They show little remorse and deny their wrongdoing. Wrongdoers are not punished, but are even rewarded at times! This has made young people become disillusioned and cynical when what they need are models to emulate. How can children learn right and wrong? Children witness adults lying blatantly on TV everyday. It is such a common occurrence that they are getting the message that lying is normal. It has become a way of life.”

For instance, the public statements and commentaries made by the media and government officials on the tragic death of Angelo Reyes have confused the youth with questions pounding in their minds like: Is Angelo Reyes a hero? Why did he kill himself? Did he do the right thing? Another issue today is that of Vice President Binay going to China to appeal for the three Pinoys who smuggled drugs. Our youth are now wondering why we need to pray for those people who smuggled drugs. Shouldn’t they be punished for what they did? Why should our government plead for their release? Isn’t the law – the law?

Parents play a crucial role in answering these questions. At the end of the day, our children should be given a truthful and objective explanation to balance their views about what is happening in our society.   We must help them process the issues they hear and see to strengthen their values.

It is the moral obligation of parents to teach values to their children. It is in the family, where values are learned and where role models are first emulated. When the family is nurtured, it can create a more just, humane and caring society.

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Statistics provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs show that apart from the three Filipinos whose death sentences where deferred by China’s high court, some 500 Filipinos (mostly women) are still languishing in various jails abroad for drug trafficking. Of that figure, 227 cases involve Filipinos in China, while the rest involve those in the Middle East and neighboring Southeast Asian countries.

According to DFA spokesperson Eduardo Malaya, drug trafficking involving Filipino women started in 2007. Filipino workers bound overseas mostly women aged 20 to 40 years old have fallen prey to drug syndicates by allowing themselves to be used as “drug mules” or couriers. And when they get caught, their common excuse is – they did not know the contents of the package, they were just asked to carry it. So, whose fault is it? Now, their families cry for help! Sanamagan!

In the first place, didn’t they do it? Why did they allow themselves to become victims of such foolishness? This classic act of denial and acknowledging one’s indiscretion or outright stupidity is what makes us maintain our third world status. Susmariosep!

The reality is that we cannot solely put the blame on the president for our country’s problems. Corruption and all abuses can be traced back to the people who gnaw at the flawed system of government.

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Twenty-five years ago, Filipinos stood up to tanks along EDSA with prayers, flowers and songs, calling on troops to join the uprising that restored democracy peacefully and inspired hope for a new way forward.

Ten years after, we continue to have glorious hope that one day our nation will become a better one. Unfortunately, as the years come to past, we continue to witness higher forms of corruption almost equaling what Marcos did to the country. We were victorious in ousting the Marcos regime – but sad to say our leaders have failed in actualizing and sustaining that dream.

Today, the Filipinos are still awaiting the promise made in that historical ‘people power revolution.’ Hannah Beech in her essay for Time Magazine entitled, The Asian Experience. What the region can – and cannot- teach the Arab world about democracy through revolution said, “Democracy through revolution is heady stuff, but it’s not always a template for building lasting freedom and justice. The withered potential of people power is best examined on its home turf. A quarter-century later with the son of people-power heroine Corazon Aquino now serving as president the Philippines is still beset by the poverty, cronyism and nepotism that provoked the 1986 protests.”

So, what are we celebrating EDSA People Power at 25 for?