For those who did not witness the 1986 EDSA revolution, she may just be a celebrity, an ex-president, Ninoy’s widow, Kris’ mom, and baby James’ famous grandmother and her passing may not have an impact at all in their lives. But for us who experienced the most powerful people revolution that freed us from the dictatorship of Marcos, we grieve.
I was in high school during the EDSA Revolt. Fourteen years old and living in a dorm inside the school premises, we were not allowed to go out the gates of our school. I remember me and two other classmates running from our school’s soccer field to our dorm while military choppers were flying above us. We were giggling but scared. Calls from parents kept coming, asking if we were safe. We didn’t exactly know what was happening outside but we knew it was big. We wanted to be a part of it. We wanted to be part of history.
Fueled by anger over the assassination of Ninoy Aquino, Cory along with thousand of Filipinos marched to the streets to protest and demanded for the Marcoses to step down. It was called People Power. It was indeed the power of the people that drove this country to a new kind of freedom in 1986. Amidst the guns and arms, the Filipinos faught through peace and prayer. And we won. Peacefully.
Two more so-called EDSA revolutions followed after 1986 . People called it EDSA Dos and EDSA Tres. But for me there is no fitting sequel to the 1986 EDSA revolution. All the others that follow can never compare to what transpired that fateful day. Now as I watch clips of the EDSA revolution I am overwhelmed at the passion and courage shown by Cory and the Filipino people.I don’t think we will ever see the same courage again. The taglines “Hindi Ka Nag-iisa”, “JAJA: Justice for Aquino, Justice For All” and “Tama Na, Sobra Na, Palitan Na” are taglines that are forever etched in my memory. Bayan Ko never meant as much to the Filipinos. As I listen again to the song Magkaisa, I am brought to tears.
My grief and sadness is mixed with gratitude, love, frustration, and a flicker of hope. Graditute to a remarkable woman so giving that she always had the interest of the Filipinos at heart. No Philippine president has the same integrity, sincerity, and faith in a country shrouded with corruption. She believed in the Filipino people. Her love for her husband, her country, and our country’s freedom inspires me. Frustration when I see the current state of the country lead by a president who while has admitted to cheating, has remained in her comfortable position while Filipinos continue to suffer in poverty. Frustrated in the realization that maybe our and our elders’ efforts in 1986 are already forgotten and were all in vain. But the outpouring of love and support for Cory and Ninoy and the Aquino family gives me a flicker of hope. Maybe the fire in the hearts of Filipinos is still there and is just waiting to be rekindled. Maybe there is hope for this country to continue to live in democrary and prosperity as what Ninoy and Cory wished for us.
I can’t think of two heroes of Philippine history as great, as selfless, and as pure as Ninoy and Cory. I hope that the young generation will appreciate what they have done for this nation.
Goodbye Cory. Thank you! You are an inspiration to us. Please continue to pray for us in heaven.
