EDSA twenty eight years later

He was just a young lieutenant when the people called upon him for service. Together with two others, he formed a movement that ultimately led to this widespread revolt called EDSA. The two men who were with him in that clandestine meeting up in the mountains of the PMA academy grounds went on and found their political niche. He remains still, unbowed, and with clenched fists, openly defying the very people who replaced a dictator, but are dictators themselves.

Twenty eight years later, and the young lieutenant is now a one-star general. A few years from now, and he will leave the service. The circumstances that convinced him to tread the revolutionary path, even went to jail for his beliefs, remain. The question is---will he continue his revolutionist path or be content with reposing his legacy to the Young Generation?

I was just 15 when the revolt broke out. My aunts and uncles went out of our house and together with them, went straight to EDSA before the Camp Crame gate.

We were met by a huge throng of people. All kinds of people were there--the burgis, the taong grasa, the cloaked ones, the bagets ones, and the armed ones. Some were crying. Some were defiant. Some were shouting. Some were praying.

The soldiers armed with M-16s approached us. One man called for vigilance and immediately a line was formed, people with arms interlocked, ready for anything. When those soldiers got near, one of them cried. I saw him cry, his tears flowing from his very eyes. I cried too.

Why did these things happen, Filipinos going against Filipinos. Is this the kind of society I want to live in, a society wrecked by various interests?

Fortunately, nothing happened. No soldier fired his gun, the muzzle of which was blocked by flowers from the very masses he was ordered to shoot at.

Twenty eight years later, and I don't know what happened to that soldier. Is he still alive? Is he now a general? Is he now a politician? Or, is he now living a quiet life with his own family.

Twenty eight years ago, EDSA was just a straight line, with grasslands on both sides. Now, the landscape has completely changed. Skyscrapers dot the landscape, with malls even eclipsing the tall statue of Mary, the mother of Christ.

I looked at that statue some days ago, and thought that this scene sums everything up after EDSA. Shortly after EDSA, we were able to allow society to change, by opening ourselves up to capitalism. Capitalism blossomed shortly after EDSA, yet, what it failed to change was the political infrastructure. From a dictatorial setup, we allowed a few to dominate our entire State.

While we change economically, we never allowed ourselves to fully develop spiritually. Our spiritual growth got stunted. We never really understood what God wanted us to do when we got there at EDSA.

When we allowed a capitalist system to thrive, we failed to change the bad political values that go with it. Greed became a norm. Stealing people's monies became our motivation. We threw out the best that God wanted to convey to us and that was, Love.

Love for others will surely prevent many of us from stealing the people's monies. Love for country will surely prevent us from loving other cultures other than our own. Love for our very families will surely convince us to go out of our comfort zones and struggle, and struggle hard against forces that threaten the very futures of our generations.

The very landscape now at EDSA shows us the twenty eight years of wranglings, of wars and mini-wars, of oligarchic domination, of elite domination, of poverty of our souls and the human sufferings of heroes and living ones.

Let Love dominate us as we continue our struggle towards a just and humane society. Let Love once more urge us to make the ultimate sacrifice and mete justice to those who have sinned.

Twenty eight years, and only EDSA's landscape changed. Those outside of this road remain in their primal states, the very thing that condemns us and the very thing that invalidates our sacrifice.

The real EDSA---twenty five years past. And Filipinos just want a holiday

The EDSA People Power revolt will remain in our memory as an event where everyone went out of their comfort zones to express their thirst for change. After twenty years living under a dictatorship, the people went out in the streets to topple a dictatorship. Most of them who went there really wanted change. 


Twenty five years past and the quest for change remains. There is no single time in the life of this nation where no one actually desires in his heart for real change to happen. Every single one who does not belong to the elite, always want change to really happen in this country.


Twenty five years and things remain the same. The stark reality can be seen at EDSA. Look at those roads. They show you the real EDSA, the real condition of this country.


The only ones harping that this EDSA was a success were those who benefited from the political succession. 


EDSA started as a pure people's revolt. After the fall of Marcos, the deterioration of this country began. 


The lesson of EDSA is simple---do not let the elites hijack the whole damn thing.


Instead of one, we are now fighting thousands of savage, hungry, and egotistic demons in barong all waiting to devour our precious taxes. These hungry sonafabitches prey on our weakness. They steal our monies big-time. They don't settle for millions. They are now gunning for billions of pesos worth of loot.


The real EDSA lies in every Pinoy's heart. Yet, look at this year's celebration. You don't see ordinary Filipinos really smiling and really happy about this.


Filipinos just want a holiday. We are sick and tired of the elites celebrating something as EDSA. Why are they celebrating and we, the People, are not? Because they are celebrating the time when they were able to bring themselves back to power. 


Another lesson of EDSA----don't be misled by the ruse of the elite. Traditional elite families rule this country with impunity. Marcos tried to cast them out. EDSA brought them all back again. Example--the Lopezes, and all the rest of Congress and the Senate. These underachievers now rule this country, and look what is happening.

Noynoy needs a massage and spa

New photos of Philippine president Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III shows him thinner and stressed out. It just what? a month after his inauguration?

Is Aquino ready for more troubles ahead? The past dispensation has left us with an empty coffer and numerous anti-people deals that need individual review. And there are thousands out there.

I know Noy does not want some make-up put in his face but for the sake of the nation, he should probably hearken to the words of his stylist, Liz Uy.

Noy should recognize that he is now the new face of the Filipino People.

Heard from some Malacanang veterans that the palace really does that to its new occupants. Compare Mrs. Arroyo's photos in 2001 with that of her photo in 2004. Or Madame Cory Aquino's refreshing look prior to February 1986 to that of her photo in 1992.

Come to think of it....ignore my words. He looks like every single one of us. Every single one is stressed out. Everyone is suffering from high prices of commodities and the high cost of living.

Some looks younger than others simply because someone takes extra care of them. I have my wife to massage my tired muscles and soothe my tired mind.

Maybe, Noynoy needs a massage from who else but Shalani Soledad? A nasty rumour went round and about, indicating a split between the two. Yesterday, however, Soledad went to Times street and gave some cookies to Noy. Sweet.

Maybe Shalani should ask her boyfriend to go with her to some private place, away from the palace, and just spend at least one night together. Let Shalani do some "mother-ly" thing, like massaging Noy's tired muscles and apply some magic to his aching neck. Or, maybe some rocking will do? You know what I mean. :-)

By the way, when I arrived back here, I witnessed a miracle. I never saw that during the nine long years of Mrs. Arroyo's reign.

Noynoy's entourage went pass EDSA and motorists tried their best to give way to it. There were no wangwangs. The entourage just simply slipped past every single one as silently as possible.

That shows you the tremendous respect people have accorded to the new president. I just hope that men behind his administration would enjoy the same respect.

Why Lozada refuses to post bail

First, did Lozada committed perjury? Did he lied about former Arroyo Chief of Staff Mike Defensor's role in the ZTE scandal?

Lozada has first-hand knowledge of what really happened. He said that Defensor tried to convince him to "re-imagine" what had happened during his abduction. Lozada refused. Now, with the filing of this perjury charge, Defensor wants Lozada to again "re-imagine" his role in the controversy. Defensor said he's doing it for his children. But is he?

If Lozada accepts this perjury charge, it is as if, he admits that everything he said, everything he wrote and everything he testified before the Filipino People, are all just lies or just imagination. He's sticking to what he said---Defensor tried to coax him. If Lozada posts bail, it is as if, he recognizes the jurisdiction of the courts and dignify the case of Defensor against him.

For Lozada and the rest of the Filipino People, there is no perjury case because he just told what happened. If Lozada accepts this perjury case, it is as if all those testimonies before the Filipino People and all those he wrote that forms part of the People's case against the First Gentlemen, former COMELEC chair Ben Abalos and former NEDA chief Romulo Neri, are all just lies and "a figment of imagination."

Defensor is a shrewed politician. He used his kids to counteract Lozada in the emotional and sympathy department while knowing that this perjury charge would destroy the entire ZTE case altogether. The game plan of Defensor etal is make the public and the courts believe that the ZTE scandal is just, a lie, or best, hearsay.

Defensor and his associates over at ZTE wants to make a second dig at us. If they succeed, the First Gentleman etal would go scot-free and the corrupt and graft practices they so promoted with zeal all these years, would continue.

The fight of Lozada is a fight for the Truth. The ZTE scandal did happen. Lozada was there. He saw the corruption. He saw the greed. And Lozada is fighting so that people like Defensor would not succeed in their intention to re-write History.

For those who still believe in the purity of Truth, who still want real Justice to prevail and just want Peace for all of us----go to Lozada's aid. Go, go to the MPD headquarters.

This is NOT the time for all of us to procrastinate. NO.

This is NOT the time for all to all just be fence-sitters. NO.

We must unite now. We must fight this enveloping darkness that eventually tries to eat our very souls as a People.

We must rescue Lozada, a symbol of our collective thirst for Truth, from the clutches of a totalitarian regime.

Now, more than ever, the Motherland needs everyone.

**Last night, I went to the MPD to assess the situation. Nuns and common folk were there with Jun. I also saw a steady stream of people pouring. Gut feel tells me that this is something extraordinary, something which will eventually lead to a bigger assembly. Am I expecting an EDSA? No.

Mrs. Arroyo and her demons do not deserve an EDSA. No.

They deserve an exorcism of historical proportions.***

Revolt Triggers

So, basing on my studies, what would trigger a mass upheaval that would seriously threaten the very existence and even cause the definitive downfall of this evil regime?

Two things---hopelessness due to extreme poverty in the provinces and mass exodus of people from the rural areas to the metropolitan areas.

Take a hard look at the numbers of Mrs. Arroyo's trust ratings. According to Pulse Asia, Mrs. Arroyo just lost the Visayas and the Mindanao areas. In the Visayas, Mrs. Arroyo lost 5 percentage points, a significant drop in trust. Mindanao, she lost 1 percentage points. Overall, PulseAsia observes, no significant difference. But, per regional grouping, that shows a very serious problem to Mrs. Arroyo and for the entire government as well.

Why so? Because these trust ratings indicate not just Mrs. Arroyo's numbers but the overall perception of the people about their government. From March 2008 to February 2009, the comparative trust rating of Mrs. Arroyo dived to 18 percentage points and 10 points in the Visayas and Mindanao, respectively, two areas which are previously considered as bailiwicks of Mrs. Arroyo.

Now, what are the reasons behind the drop? If you look at the poverty incidences and hunger prevalence in these areas, there were considerable and alarming rates of increase (NSCB stats March 2009). Hunger due to poverty is spreading like wildfire in many portions of the population. That recent survey allegedly showing hunger prevalence dropping to 19% is deceptive to say the least since it was conducted at the height of OFW remittances.

Yet, if we are to observe the perceptions of people now, we'll find that poverty and hunger do count as the most serious societal problems now. Obviously, government knows this and is trying to solve the problem. However, everyone knows in the business community especially ,that government does not have enough resources to support a ballooning number of unemployed and recent victims of job cuts. Jess Aranza is simply doing a morale-boasting effort when he said that government is capable of providing between 5-10,000 pesos of subsidies per month per displaced worker. He knows pretty well that the money has been allocated to the trillion peso budget which government thinks would re-energize an overly depressed economic environment.

Now, what has prevented people so far from going to the streets and ousting this regime is the fact that there is still some margins present for hope. Yes, pessimism has seeped into the collective consciousness but it has'nt ripen yet into collective angst. People feel that there is still some hope there, even if reality shows there's really none. Government has been quite successful in managing this crisis simply with the use of its resources in media. News programs have been providing coping mechanisms or "tips to survive the economic crisis" in their news lineups for people to remain hopeful of their state.

At some point, people affected by this economic crisis would reach a near-end conclusion of hopelessness. The evident sign would be mass exodus of people from the rural areas to the urban centers. When that happens, things would get extremely worse especially when these displaced workers realize that the situation in the urban areas are worse than in their provinces.

It is but natural for hopeless people to get out of their depressed zones and search for an outlet to express their dissent. This would definitely show up in the incidence rates of petty crimes, increase in domestic violence, rise in disputes between neighbors and increase in rebelliousness. It would be most prevalent in the hot months ("summer") when both economic stresses and societal problems come to a definitive sociological synthesis.

Obviously, food demands increase in summer because of the additional nutrient requirements of people. Couple this with pressures to pay an increased rate of electricity, water and LPG and you have a very explosive situation that demands State security counter-measures.

In these "hot" months, people would be open to suggestions of dissent and open rebellion. If this passes, opportunities for revolt would again present itself in the periods of June-July, October going to December, though, I'm in the opinion that should no open revolt happens in the hot months and this revolutionary itch passes onto November, there may never be another chance to replace Arroyo.

The Right Solution

The Philippines has placed tenth in the Global Bribery survey. Transparency International said in its report that the poor are the most hit in the worsening graft crisis ever to hit the country. The World Bank meanwhile said that poverty incidence has increased in the Philippines despite what the Arroyo administration says as the best economic performance ever. What do all these mean?

It means that these economic gains generated by a revitalized economy are not spilling over the masses but are being dissipated by corrupt groups in government. Those who control the levers of power are the ones benefiting from this inequality. Wealth continues to be concentrated in the hands of a few lucky ones close to the center of power. The disparity, says the World Bank, between the rich and the poor has increased because the system does not have the right spillover mechanism to enable the poor to at least get a slice of the economic gains.

This explains why the Philippines rank a close second to India in terms of the number of pessimistic people. Despite having a “sunshine” economy, most Pinoys are not happy. If you study the surveys, many are desperate and feel depressed. Many feel that they have nowhere to turn to. Since 1986, the people have searched in vain for the right solution. Always, the people fail to find one.

Those who don’t suffer the brunt of high prices or are insulated from the ravages of extreme poverty, they are the ones who discourage the people to revolt. For these few, the solution is still Gandhian. When you’re being killed slowly, will you still say “peace brother”? And by entertaining these thoughts, can you then be classified as a “coup plotter”, “ a war freak” or a “peace wrecker”?

Eventually, I believe, people will look at the palace and blame it for their current poverty. In dire times, people need to point on something or look at one direction to place the blame at. I shudder at the thought of seeing one day when poor people kill the rich because of their wealth. It has happened before in other countries.

Saving this country from chaos necessitates a collective effort. It may not be a coup. It definitely cannot be a revolt. It should be a pronunciamento. This could be the solution everybody is lusting for.

Shock Treatment

A major confrontation is expected between the forces of Good (anti-GMA, anti-bribery probe) versus the forces of Evil (pro-bribery and pro-GMA) in the first week of November. November may be the darkest days of this administration because at that time (a) the Senate probe would have ended and (b) Congress is expected to reconvene after the holidays. Some say the long holiday (from 29 October to 2 November 2007) would be used by the enemies of Mrs. Arroyo to launch something against her.

It is also evident that both forces (GMA and anti-GMA) have finished an accounting of forces and both parties know their individual strengths and weaknesses. The lines have been drawn and expect a full confrontation starting November. There are certain questions that need to be answered, which I will lay down one by one:

1. Is a civil war possible? Under the circumstances, yes. A civil war is definitely possible if GMA clings to power tenaciously. If the current talks between the GMA and anti-GMA forces fail, chances are GMA might be the first president who brought us civil strife. Should it happen, it would only take about a week.

2. Is ouster of GMA likely? Yes. This bribery issue already broke the camel's back. The effects is irreversible. There is no solution viable enough to appease the soldiers nor the masses. It is a dead end. JDV's call for Mrs. Arroyo to overhaul the administration is a futile call. The only solution is the total eradication of this administration. No amount of damage control can be done to arrest this.

3. Will we have another EDSA? Maybe not this time. This time I think, will be totally different. It would be a purely military coup. The model is Thailand.

4. Will we have democracy after this? Yes. It is the strategic interests of the US and other countries to maintain democracy in the Philippines. A civilian-military revolutionary government is viable under a democratic setup. Businesses will not be touched. Civil liberties will not be violated. However, measures against counter-revolutionaries and the forces of the First Family will be the first to go under this government.

5. Will exile be the preferred exit of the 1st Family? Should the first family decline the offer of an emissary of the anti-GMA forces which will be delivered personally to the palace before November, GMA and the First Gentleman will spend their xmas in jail.

Abalos and Formoso--sacrificial lambs

Joey de Venecia was a picture of frustration at today's Senate hearings. After Mendoza admitted meeting Mr. Arroyo and Comelec chairman Abalos, Joey sensed something wrong. Mendoza told Senators that he did meet the First Gentleman and Chairman Abalos at Wack Wack Golf and Country Club, but there was nothing anomalous about it. It was a simple chat, that's all and it has nothing to do with the ZTE deal.

Bull.

Don't tell me that the First Gentleman did not "pressure" Mendoza to agree about the deal. Don't tell me that Chair Abalos did'nt caddy for the Chinese. Abalos already admitted knowing the ZTE officials and they have discussed the ZTE deal at length prior to the April 21 signing of the agreement in China. Mendoza is simply lying for saying that he knows nothing rotten about the deal. What's more, Mendoza simply allowed an underling to defend the contract, deftly distancing himself from the issue. Is this the kind of secretary we deserve? Someone who heads the department but does'nt know or simply feign innocence whenever something like this happens?

I do believe, however, that Mendoza did not earn a single cent from this deal. I believe that Mendoza is clean. I can't say about the First Gentleman and Abalos. Maybe this deal was just to accommodate the wishes of the "old man" who's set to retire four months from now. Its quite possible that Abalos was expecting this deal to be his swan song. I do believe Joey's revelation though about Abalos. It seems that Joey was really pressured by Abalos to back off because this project was a project of the First Gentleman and Abalos.

I do emphathize with Mendoza though. He owes the First Gentleman his position. And generals like him are admired most for their capacity to keep secrets. It seems that Mendoza was just doing his job, while Abalos appears to be the one who wants a quick buck. It could be that this deal was the First Gentleman's gift to Abalos.

Obviously, in this political vaudeville (as described by GMA), the die has already been cast. Sacrifice Abalos and Formoso. Abalos is retiring from government service anyway while Formoso, well, he's dispensible. From the looks of it, GMA and her gang has decided to let Abalos go. The question though is, is this a wise decision?

The cabbie sings

Abalos knows a lot of secrets. He knows the real score especially on the 2004 elections. If he sings....that's another "fresh" destabilization plot. Abalos said that he'll attend the Senate hearings on Wednesday to clear his name. Sadly, this might be a foregone conclusion. The reputation of Abalos has been destroyed by Joey's pronouncements that it would be very hard for Abalos to cleanse his name.

A warning though to the good Chairman---the Chinese intelligence service is closely observing what's happening here. The Chinese Communist Party, obviously, would not let this issue sitting down. Abalos could face a very dangerous situation here.

If Abalos is let go, what's the possibility of him singing like a canary? There's a chance that he will.

Postscript

A "sick" First Gentleman left for Germany in the eve of the Senate hearings. What prompted him to leave? Could it be because of the Senate hearings? I think not.

I think the First Gentleman needs to check on his deposits in Switzerland. He went there with his banker. What would prod a sick man to leave in haste if it not for money? The only possibility is one of his banks need his signature. For what, you may ask? There are three possibilities: (1) FG needs to sign a bank transfer (2) He needs to withdraw a huge sum of money which he cannot do online and (3) it could be he's preparing the country of exile?

These things don't happen without a purpose. I stand by my observation that negotiations between GMA's camp and the counter-elite has reached an impasse. There could be another stab at ousting the president and the palace probably knows that the counter-elite has a stronger force than theirs. Are we seeing a repeat of EDSA very soon? I think yes. But, it may not happen this month or the next. It could probably happen either by January or February of next year. I think the nation is expecting yet another scandal which could precipitate a power grab.

Views from the Sidelines

I've read enough to be convinced that a new Philipppine Revolution should be launched now.

Our country has so much promise. One, our economy is strong and holding itself up against globalization. Two, most of our people are beginning to realize their power. Despite the massive fraud last elections, the people showed how disgusted they were in the state of affairs that they voted for Trillianes. He stood for something, an ideal that the people shared. Three, people are slowly being organized. Unlike the tumultuous 60's where people join socialist groups, people are organizing their own groups. Fourth, young people are beginning to occupy sensitive posts in the government, bringing with them new, fresh ideas for reform and growth. And fifth, Filipinos from abroad are starting to participate in active people empowerment. These Filipino-Americans are bringing their knowledge, their skills and experience into the country, enriching the fertile soil of the Fatherland and contributing towards growth and development.

However, much have been done, few have changed--in the political scene.

We are still wracked by political dissension. We have an administration whom the people distrust. We have "pseudo-leaders" occupying sensitive executive posts, who ascended Olympus by merely having a political surname. Wars are exploding left and right, North to South, Congress to Senate, Provincial Capitol to Municipalities.

We have a weak state. Due to its weakness, it tries to flex its muscles by using legal weapons. Despite its legal arsenal, the people remain defiant. Thousands of our poor brothers and sisters prostitute themselves to their new slave masters--the Arabs and those with almond eyes. Thousands more desperate go to the mountains to fight for principles. Others go to the route less taken--turning into bandits and petty criminals. The State tries to implement the law with less success.

Counter-state forces remain weak and equally discredited. One reason why an EDSA remains a far-fetched idea is the inability of the opposition to lead. The "Genuine Opposition" is not an opposition at all. They are pseudo dissenters. These "oppositionists" oppose for convenience. They are not in power. They lust for more power, that's why they dissent. These old faces want a comeback. They had their own sweet time in government but wanted to revivew their political careers, sidelined by a new elite.

Obviously, both the administration and the opposition have negated themselves. This is the condition today that merits the entry of a 3rd force--a movement that has its own ideology, its own philosophy, its own concept of a true opposition and a more effective administration.

This is a movement that is a conglomeration of every Filipino ideal, every one's aspiration, every one's paradigm for the future. This is a movement of the enlightened Filipinos. This is a movement that does not distinguish between Left nor the Right, but a movement that encourages capitalist competition under a strong socialist-oriented government.

This is a movement of New Men, pursuing a New Revolution. And this blog is dedicated to them.