Young Filipinos talk about People Power’s worth

By CLARISSA V. MILITANTE, GMANews.TV It has been said that history is contested territory. There is no better proof of this than the current debate on whether EDSA ’86 remains a source of inspiration on how to solve obtaining social-political problems or that its spirit had long been driven away by selfish political interests. Former President Corazon Aquino, the main beneficiary of People Power, was recently quoted saying a People Power Revolt is not the way to remove President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo even as she called for the latter’s resignation. She now believes the democratic processes have been restored. The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) in their pastoral letter in February also emphasized the Church does not “condone any violence or unconstitutional means to resolve the crisis." Bataan-based Bishop Socrates Villegas, though, criticized the Arroyo government’s low-key commemoration of People Power’s 20th anniversary. Senator Juan Ponce Enrile would have done differently altogether and not allow Aquino to have the presidency. In a recent interview with The i-Report magazine, published by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), Enrile said he would not hand over power to people who are not prepared for it, clearly referring to the widowed Aquino who had been called clueless on matters of governing by critics of her administration. Even Imelda Marcos would like the Filipinos to believe that her dictator-husband was the “real hero" of EDSA because he did not order an attack on the rebel soldiers. But 20 years after the historic event became international inspiration and gave the country a fresh shot at democracy, the real battleground is now the young generation’s memory. Historian Dr. Jaime Veneracion, in an interview with GMANews.TV, said it takes 50 to 100 years of remembering to arrive at objectivity and accuracy, and in that process varying perspectives of different generations are taken into account. The historian’s job, he said, is to define all these perspectives. Being a key player in EDSA ‘86 is no guarantee that the person holds the best account, as the motives of a person should also be studied, Veneracion added, specifically questioning Enrile’s motive in 1986. GMANews.TV talked to two groups of young people to get their views on EDSA 1. One group had children of activists who were old enough back then to recall the event. The other consisted of individuals who were too young to even be concerned with social-political events in 1986. They may be children of activists, but… Sining Cuevas was 10 years old when EDSA ‘86 happened. She watched on television with her father the final hours of the Marcos regime on February 25. During the early days of People Power, she could still recall that her father, a First Quarter Storm activist, went to EDSA with a contingent of teachers from UP-Los Banos. “For me EDSA ’86 seems like a distant memory now. This is probably because I have no appreciation of it borne out of discussions with my own peers; my understanding came from my parents," Cuevas told GMANews.TV in an interview. “I cannot claim my parents’ views as mine," said Cuevas, an economist working at the Asian Development Bank. She claims to have been trained “in the capitalist framework." Kris Lacaba was in first year high school in 1986. His parents’ writings and the stories passed around in the family made him aware of the political situation then, although he admitted not fully comprehending everything he heard and read. Lacaba is a freelance writer finishing his M.A. in Creative Writing at UP. He is the son of poet-journalist Pete Lacaba whose book “Days of Disquiet, Nights of Rage" is a reportage of FQS events. “Yung people power necessary noong time na iyon. Hindi siya bagay na pinilit o mapipigilan at hindi rin plinano. Hindi iyon Cory’s power lang, people nga, e" Lacaba told GMANews.TV in an interview. (People Power was necessary during that time. It was not forced nor something that could have been prevented. It was unplanned. It was not only Cory’s power, it’s about the people). The young Lacaba is not convinced another People Power will solve today’s social-political problems, especially if the result is just “rigodon" of the political elite. Another daughter of an activist and non-government organization worker, Liezl Formilleza was already keen on following social-political developments on television and through the newspapers back in 1986. “I was freshman student at Quezon City Science High School when it happened. (I understood) EDSA ‘86 in connection with the death of Ninoy Aquino who was gunned down in August 1983, right about the time we just moved from Iloilo to Manila. While it was happening, I was home glued to the TV set or listening to the radio," Formilleza revealed. Formilleza said “EDSA ’86 was a culmination of the efforts of a critical mass of people fighting against oppression that started two decades before it." However, she is not very enthusiastic now on what else its memory can offer “apart from how it was non-violent and was able to mobilize people from the middle class." For children of activists like them, there is the whole legacy of the anti-Marcos struggle, which spanned the late ‘60s until early ‘80s, that needs to be remembered. For their parents, EDSA ‘86 happened because of events such as the FQS and the deaths of young martyrs like poet Emmanuel Lacaba, writer Lorena Barros and Dr. Bobby de la Paz, among others. They may not have a memory of all these but the stories are kept alive in the family. “There was conscious effort on my parents’ part to tell what they did during the Marcos era. They were fond of over- and after-dinner political discussions. Friends from the university also came to our house and discussed politics with my parents…which became my source of political awareness. But I could not openly discuss my own views with my peers because that was not standard norm," Cuevas said Activism, however, is not for them. “Our parents allowed us to choose our own paths. They intended us to be politically aware, but did not pressure us to share their political views," the thirty-year old economist said. Thirty-four year old Lacaba believes “I didn’t feel that I had to follow in my relative’s footsteps or do what they chose to do." Lacaba is nephew of martyred poet Eman Lacaba who was killed by the military during an encounter. Comparing EDSA 1 with EDSA 2 Those who were too young to even have a memory of EDSA 1 had hoped that their historic moment would be EDSA 2 in 2001. “I really wish I was at EDSA in 1986," said Grace Mirandilla who was eight years old when the historic event unfolded. A graduate of Political Science at UP, she now works as research consultant to private institutions, like USAID. She participated in EDSA 2, but now feels frustrated because no significant change has taken place as a result of it. “The call for action is not clear now. The crisis we are now faced with is multi-layered, as it is not just political. There are also the social, economic and moral aspects," Mirandilla explained to GMANews.TV Aldus Santos was six years old in 1986 but joined EDSA 2 in 2001, even marching to Mendiola on January 21. “EDSA 2 was necessary despite its motivations being suspect," he said. Helen Flores, Editorial Assistant at GMA New Media Inc., was just a toddler in 1986 but surprisingly feels proud of People Power. “I think EDSA 1showed the bravery and solidarity of the Filipino people. Even if I (was not there), I could still feel the drama and victory of the people. I think its essence will forever remain in my heart." She is more critical of the “EDSA" of her time. “EDSA 2 was not serious. People were divided. The spirit of unity was not there. There was more of a chaos. Walang puso," Flores lamented. Mothers’ advice They are not our traditional mothers, having spent their life not only getting involved in things that concern the future of their children but of Philippine society’s as well. Activist or non-traditional, they could still come up with motherly advice for young people. “We cannot claim that we know everything better than (young people) but there should be some passing of lessons," said Liddy Nacpil, Vice-President of the Freedom from Debt Coalition and widow of slain youth leader Lean Alejandro. Alejandro was allegedly killed in 1987 by a segment of the military who wanted to discredit the Aquino government. Nacpil had a daughter by Alejandro who was born a few months after her father died. She is now 19 years old. Nacpil encourages today’s youth to have a position on the social-political issues in the country and tells them not to be frustrated because “we are here for the long haul." Multi-awarded fictionist and former UP student leader Lilia Quindoza-Santiago may not have fulfilled many activists’ desire because “isa akong aktibistang ina na hindi nakapagluwal ng aktibistang anak (I’m an activist mother who didn’t give birth to activist children)" but she takes pride in her children’s persistence to carve out a future for themselves in the Philippines despite its many challenges. Nacpil is not worried about not having an activist daughter as she is more sensitive about how her choices as activist parent did not give her enough time to attend to her child’s personal needs. Quindoza-Santiago puts the youth at the forefront of the struggle for a better Philippines just like in her times. Both mothers believe that the older generations have already paved the way for today’s youth as far as the struggle against authoritarian rule is concerned. They are certain Filipinos will never again allow an undemocratic government to prosper. “The visioning for a better world (should come from them). The young have the most freedom to do this," Quindoza-Santiago said.