EDSA 1 Recollections by a Poppy Flower stuffed inside the barrel of an M-16

What really prompted us to troop to Highway 54 and demand for the resignation of former president Ferdinand Marcos? Was it a call for change? What kind of change?


I was still a teenager when EDSA uno broke out. I was born like a poppy flower stuffed inside the barrel of an M-16 rifle. Like most of us, my family belongs to the lower middle class. I had aunts who graduated with a PHd in UP and an MA abroad. I had uncles who also finished their college degrees despite the relative poverty of our family.


For us, there was nothing irregular with what Marcos did for the country. Fact is, our family benefitted from the previous regime. We were the first ones given a home. My aunt, who was once a principal in a public school, won a government raffle which gave her two houses--one in a tenement and the other, a row house in Antipolo. 


Later I realised that my family in my father's side belongs to the Rivera which is a family directly linked with the Marcos family. However, unlike other so-called relatives, we never used this connexion to gain concessions from the regime.


Anyway, living under a dictatorship was, for me, nothing irregular or fearsome. No one among my relatives was arrested. My uncle, who died in a car accident, was a founder of SDK. He, however, probably made peace with the authorities since I never got any info that he was arrested or jailed. Yet, a few years before his death, I saw him during one or two rallies which I attended. 


Like most of us, there was peace during Macoy's time. Yes, we saw some excesses in several television clips but these were justified as something which the official family did to at least make Filipinos proud of themselves. Imelda's shoes for example, they were plenty, but hey, the former MMDA and first lady had to travel, yes? And travelling requires a lot of shoes.


What I saw when I was growing up were Marcos' orations. The former president spoke with authority and with wit. It was a joy seeing him speak. Fact is, his face is still etched inside my brain. I was wired to listen to him and even emulate him, whenever possible. He made us proud of his speeches.


Yet, those speeches hide the real truth---the deaths of thousands, the poverty of many, the erosion of social values, war, inhumanity and the deprivation of several civil rights. While we eat barely two times a day, several of the dictator's cronies lavish themselves with riches beyond measure and feast themselves to death with imported goods, most of which, caviar.


We, however, were made to believe that every single thing was fine. Rumors circulated that Imelda allowed hundreds to die while the Cultural Center was being built. There was news of a senator killed due to his principles, and several others, dead, when they revolted against the regime.


I was a living witness of several thousands of us, shouting ourselves hoarse when a group of nationalists visited us. I later learned that that one was an election rally. Shouts of "laban" reverberated throughout the dark alleys of our condominium building. 


I was then a high school student when reports of a "revolt" broke out. Several soldiers were reported to have holed themselves inside Camp Crame. The action was reportedly led by Defense secretary Juan Ponce-Enrile, a close Marcos crony and General Fidel V. Ramos, a Ramos relative. They defected to the Cory Aquino side shortly after the 1986 elections, which, according to Enrile, Cory won by a landslide. 


It was my first time to hear of the name "Cory Aquino". Cory was the widow of the late Senator Benigno Noynoy Aquino. I shed a tear when the body of the slain senator was shown on television, slumped at the tarmac, murdered by an assassin. The alleged assassin, Galman, was also shown side by side with the slain nationalist, once accused of being a Communist, but, in truth and in fact, a genuine lover of God and Country.


Cory was convinced by several anti-Marcos forces to fight the ageing dictator in an elections. The ageing dictator agreed. Marcos was seen campaigning and throwing strong speeches against his detractors. Afterwards, he was seen being carried by several bodyguards. 


Rumours of Marcos' illness swept the country. There were rumors that the country was being run not by Ferdie, but by Meldy and a Hollywood actor. Most of the people think that it was time for Macoy to retire or die, but the dictator probably thought he was still "strong" and "needed by the people".


The elections were a sham. And most of the people knew it.


That's why several soldiers, wearing the People's flag in their uniforms, chose to side with the Truth. Three years ago, these soldiers made their views known when they unfurled a streamer during a PMA rites event. That "We Belong" streamer never meant anything to several people, but it was as serious as life to those who founded the RAM, especially young First Lieutenant Diosdado Valeroso. Several thought that the group was just fans of Benatar's famous pop song, but unknown to all, these soldiers were dead serious in their struggle to regain the democracy and freedom for the people.


That "We Belong" transformed itself into "Our Dream shall never die." It was a classic call for change, change that we can dream of. But, what is that change? What is really, the dream of the people?