We Can, Again

The tragic loss of former President Corazon “Cory” C. Aquino has sent the whole country spiralling into a cloud of mourning: a nostalgic memory of the time during the assassination of Tita Cory’s husband, Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr. But because of Tita Cory’s passing, a spark has been sent into the hearts and minds of the Filipinos: my country needs me.

The Philippine Revolution of 1986. This is also known as the People Power Revolution or the first EDSA Revolution. After the assassination of Ninoy Aquino, the Filipinos revolted against the dictator Marcos, and succeeded. This revolution made an impact on the world: unity is the strongest tool the People have to attain freedom.

Today, are we free? Yes, we are free from the foreign hands that wish to steal our lands. There are no more Spaniards who wish to conquer us with Christianity. There are no more Americans who wish to colonize us with their democracy. There are no more Japanese who want to overcome us with their weapons. Those days are long gone.

But no, we are not free. We are not free from the creeping vines of poverty. No, we are not free from the government officials who, instead of helping us, feed on the taxes we pay them. And we are especially not free from the reign of “Gloriath”.

The People have to act.

Faith. Passion. Nationalism. Concern. Unity. These are all the tools we need for us to overcome those who suppress us, to defeat those who neglect our needs, and to help the needy people of our homeland. We must ignore the fear of those with position, and believe that the People are still more powerful than the Government. The People have to act.

“Maharlika” is dying. Those in office steal from us everyday. They steal the money we have earned with our very sweat and blood, and feed on them as if they were pigs. Ironically, the ones chosen by the People to help the country are the ones who couldn’t give a damn about it. Has the Philippine government completely forgotten its purpose?

Ironically too, the People don’t seem to care. Few out of a whopping 90 million Filipino population may be expressing themselves through revolt and literature. But is this enough? I beg your pardon. I asked a rhetorical question.

We must give all the oxygen we have to turn the spark into roaring flames, feed passion and love for our country to our hearts, and let is show us that the Filipinos are victors. Let us drive ourselves to a road less taken, a road that might very well lead to that of freedom. We have to show the world that Filipinos do not give up, that the People Power Revolution was not a merely a one-time shot. Let us show the world and ourselves exactly what we can do.

Filipinos, we can, again.