EDSA sa Libingan ng mga Bayani: Living for our country

The Spirit of EDSA does not belong only to the past. It belongs to the present and to the future. The Spirit of EDSA, indeed, belongs to all time

It is fitting and proper that we should begin the celebration of the 22nd Anniversary of our EDSA People Power Revolution of February 1986 among these simple tombs of our nation's heroes. By doing so, we affirm the inherent linkage of the liberating Spirit of EDSA with earlier episodes of Filipino courage and sacrifice – implicit in the revolutionary "Spirit  of 1896" and the defiant "Spirit of Bataan-Corregidor of 1942." 

Many who lie here fell in the struggles in which our nation has been involved, both at home and overseas. The others served our country in an equally honorable role.

The Spirit of EDSA emanates from Filipinos' act of selfless giving – of believing that change could be achieved through peaceful and non-violent means. EDSA 1 and EDSA 2 might have ended up in bloodshed. But, by God's grace, the two EDSA confrontations were resolved peaceably – and triumphantly – resulting in non-violent regime change in the national interest.

Many still wonder:  "Why did EDSA happen? Why did people come forth in defiance of overwhelming odds, probably to suffer death or injury?"

The answer simply is:  we gathered at EDSA, not just once but twice, and made our stand because we were tired of the country we had become; we wanted something better for ourselves and those after us. Our fight for moral uprightness and emancipation from poverty remains the main challenge.

Part of the epic history of Filipino heroism

It is customary nowadays to denigrate the EDSA events – perhaps because the greed, the apathy, and the corruption we brought down then are once again rearing their heads.

Yet, the Spirit of EDSA is irrefutably part and parcel of the epic history of Filipino heroism. Never before had the world seen the miracle of an entire citizenry – everyday people – ordinary people – transformed into one heroic whole. For a few shining days, every single Filipino at EDSA was a self-sacrificing patriot, and the memory of those moments still illumine the lives of all those who were there.

Serving as guideposts to Filipinos are three defining beacons in Philippine history that are interlinked by heroism:  "The Spirit of 1896," "The Spirit of Bataan," and "The Spirit of EDSA."

Not a few say:  "Why commemorate EDSA when most Filipinos were not there?"  In turn, I ask these smart alecks:  "Were any of us at Pugad Lawin in 1896 or in Bataan-Corregidor in 1942?"  In our nation's history, these three – 1896, 1942, and 1986 – represent significant landmarks on our "Freedom Trail," and are our people's call to our elected leaders to reform themselves and renew our country.

Every citizen can make a difference

Commemorating EDSA in this solemn setting reminds us that patriots can live – as well as die – for their country. The Spirit of EDSA reminds us that every citizen – poor or rich, young or old, lowly or elite – can make a difference.

The classical Greeks believed the citizen was educated and perfected by taking part in the life – the affairs – of his/her city state. Participation in politics – in helping in the management of public affairs – was a right and equally a duty for every citizen for which each was trained and educated. The ancient Greeks regarded the person who took no part in public affairs as a good-for-nothing citizen.

For Filipinos, I believe, the best way to commemorate the Spirit of EDSA – and to honor the heroes who lie here – is for every one of us to aspire to the same high standard of civic responsibility. For every citizen can make a difference – and, if Filipinos pull together, we can lift up the common life and raise our country to the position of dignity and esteem the Philippines deserves in the community of nations.

Heeding the country's call

Ironically, Filipinos have always found it easier to die for our country – than to live for it. Times of peace and social stability we seem to fritter away in bickering – in quarreling like crabs caught in a bamboo trap – with each one pursuing his or her self-interest.

If we Filipinos are to progress, citizenship must begin to count for more than ties of blood and kinship. We must begin to accept that the Filipino nation is more than just an aggregation of individuals or families or clans or elites.

We must begin to share Dr. Jose Rizal's vision of what our nation can become. Rizal believed the advancement and ethical progress of the Philippines to be inevitable – to be decreed by fate. Living as we do in a less optimistic time, we now know we must struggle – we must endure – we must sacrifice – to recover our nation's "pristine virtues." 

Around the world, the Philippines included, there are new tyrannies in the form of self-serving leaders, immoderately greedy autocrats, and cliques of corrupt officials that we must still confront. History might yet call us to come together again – to offer our lives and fortunes on the altar of our civic ideals. There are oligarchies, dynasties, opportunists we are yet to banish from our political and economic life.

We won important victories at EDSA in February 1986 but its highest outcome was the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to infuse our people with a new purpose.

The Spirit of EDSA compels our unswerving opposition to injustice, greed, corruption, and apathy. Its most dramatic moments have passed – but there remain many decisions/actions by leaders and ordinary citizens on which depend the ultimate shape of the Philippine future.

EDSA belongs to all time

Whoever today treasures the Spirit of EDSA must first internalize it by taking some positive action to uplift the common life. Those in authority now – wherever they were in February 1986 – should foster the Spirit of EDSA, spread it by word and deed, especially to younger Filipinos. This means taking actions that enhance, not diminish, our democracy; curb corruption and cronyism; implement poverty alleviation and social reform; and insure justice is delivered to the long-suffering and powerless.

The Spirit of EDSA does not belong only to the past. It belongs to the present and to the future. The Spirit of EDSA, indeed, belongs to all time. EDSA is a continuing revolution – an unfulfilled vision we must win without further loss of time and goodwill. Thus, the leaders who are faithful to the Spirit of EDSA are what our nation needs and deserves.

On the other hand, the greatest loss to our posterity could be our failure to impart the values of that transcendent event to younger Filipinos and to those who must bear the torch of leadership.

Thank you and Mabuhay – Best wishes to all!!!