The EDSA Fever

Despite the scorching heat and traffic, many Filipinos were festive and optimistic as they gathered in EDSA to celebrate the 25th People Power I anniversary.

Daisy Banaoag, an 18 yr old UST student, said that although she was unable to witness firsthand the People Power Revolution, she feels euphoric as she celebrates with the rest of the Filipinos.

She said, “iba yung feeling na andito ka mismo sa EDSA, nakakaluha sa saya lalo na noong nireinact nila ang salubungan.”

Banaoag added, “kahit hindi pa tayo pinapanganak noong 1986, we must still acknowledge yung ginawa ng mga tao noon for us dahil kung hindi sa kanila, hindi natin maeexperience yung freedom na meron tayo ngayon.”

Lope Bisnar, a 57 yr old housing agent from Cavite, said, “iba yung pakiramdam na nandito mismo ngayon, parang nananatili pa rin yung pakiramdam ng pag-asa.”

Bisnar said that despite the problems faced by the country today, he still remains hopeful that the promise of EDSA will be fulfilled someday.

“Pagkatapos ng 25 taon, naniniwala’t umaasa pa rin ako sa pagbabago,” he said.

Policarpio Martiga, a 71 yr old civil rights activist from Bulacan, added, “bagamat hopeless sa pagbabago ang karamihan sa atin, nais ko pa rin ituloy ang pagbabagong nasimulan namin noon.”

Martiga, an advocate of non-violence activism, said that there has always been hope but prays that people will begin to see it and fight for it.

"Kaya kami nandito ngayon kasama ang pamilya namin para buhayin ang kasaysayan, buhayin ang pag-asa at ang diwa ng EDSA,” he said.

Jocelyn Gumban, a 43 yr old street vendor who has been selling yellow shirts and ribbons since 1986, said that the celebration this year seems to be more festive unlike the previous years.

“Mas okay ngayon, mas buhay, mas masaya, mas ginugunita natin ngayon yung nangyari noon,” she said.

Gumban disclosed that she has earned more this year compared with the previous EDSA anniversaries, particularly during former President Gloria Arroyo’s time.

Sis. Maxima Pilaez, however, said that it isn’t as celebrated and as meaningful unlike before.

“Most of the people who are here today don’t really know the meaning of the EDSA Revolution,” she said.

Sis. Pilaez added that many of those who visited were just compelled to visit EDSA like the students, the military and even the MMDA.

Moreover she said, “it’s sad to see that the young don’t really care anymore. Kaya dapat buhayin ang spirit ng EDSA,”

However, Sis. Pilaez said that despite of such national apathy, she is thankful for the freedom that the Lord has given to the Filipinos.

PO1 Joey Pedro also said, “parang normal lang na fiesta at normal lang na work day ngayon.”

He said that the police was just required to go to EDSA in commemoration of the event.

But Pedro added, “mukhang successful naman yung event ngayon dahil wala naman masyadong gulo… peaceful at secured.”

Lorna Hinautan, a 30 yr old MMDA official, also said that the celebration is like any other holiday.

“Required lang rin kami pumunta… kung hindi required, hindi naman ako pupunta,” she added.

According to a source, around 30,000 people joined the celebration.

The People Power Revoliton ended the 21-year dictatorial rule of the late President Ferdinand Marcos. #

Note: This is also an article I wrote for my Journalism class. I have been enjoying writing news lately.

I interviewed an ex-convict

I just want to share an article I wrote on the 25th EDSA anniversary.

Ex-convict-turned activist shares his version of EDSA

MANILA - As the famous stretch of EDSA was once again colored with yellow ribbons, flowers and streamers, an ex-convict-turned-activist recalls how he felt when he witnessed a significant part of Philippine history unfold before his very eyes.

“Hindi ko malilimutan yung pakiramdam noong nagkaisa ang libu-libong Pilipino sa EDSA, mayaman at mahirap, para ipaglaban ang kalayaan,” said Policarpio Martiga, a leader of a non-violent activism group Aksyon sa Kapayapaan (Akkap Ka).

Policarpio “Ping” Martiga, 71, expressed how overwhelming it was to see EDSA filled with a spirit of hope, of unity and of change.

“Kahit alam namin delekado, sumugod pa rin kami ng mga kasamahan ko,” he said while the song “Magkaisa” plays in the background.

Martiga is one of the activists who blocked the military tanks in EDSA and begged the soldiers to join them in overthrowing Marcos.

“Noong sinabi ng mga militar na tumabi kami, imbis na sundin namin sila, nagsisipag-unahan ang mga tao na.pumunta sa harapan para pigilan ang pagsugo

d ng mga tangke,” he said.

While they were trying to stop the military from charging, he said the nuns and other civilians were giving flowers and rosaries to the soldiers atop tanks.

Martiga said that there were even military helicopters that were sent to bomb the protesters but to their surprise, it rained yellow flowers and ribbons.

“Tinaya namin ang buhay namin at nagtagumpay kami,” he said as he wipes a few drops of tears.

“Siguro sa kakadasal ng mga Pilipino naganap ang mirakulo – nauwi ang gulo sa mapayapang protesta,” he said.

The People Power revolution eventually ended the 21-year reign of the late President Ferdinand Marcos.

Martiga said, “posible pala talaga ang pagbabago.”

He also said that change can really happen in the society but it starts in the life of one man.

“Kung gusto natin makamit ang pagbabago sa bayan, nagsisimula iyan sa sarili,” he said.

Martiga shared that he used to be a very notorious criminal and was even

jailed for thirteen years.

“Masama akong tao noon – binabayaran para pumatay ng tao dahil mahirap lang naman talaga ako,” he admitted.

But when Japanese missionaries came to his town and visited prisons to share about non-violent activism, he was forever changed.

“Simula noon, nagbago na ako at nahanap ko ang purpose ko sa buhay ko – at iyan ay para lumaban para sa kapayapaan, para sa kalayaan,” he said.

Martiga, who was wearing a yellow Cory-Ninoy shirt, said that durin

g the dark years under Marcos, he knew that he was called to do something greater.

“Hindi ko na rin matiis ang pangaabuso ng diktaturang Marcos, ang mga kakabayan ko nawawalan ng trabaho, maraming nakukulong sa walang dahilan, matindi ang inhustisya. Kaya noon, walang tigil na ang mayapang pagpoprotesta ko kasama ang ilan sa mga kababayan ko,” he said.

Martiga was a former president of the Cory-Doy for President Movement in Pandacan.

Martiga added, “hindi ako titigil na gumawa ng pagbabago at ipaglaban ang pagbabago hangga’t nabubuhay ako.”

He said that he still prays that the Filipinos will not run out of hope for change.

“Kung ang isang mamamatay-tao ay nabago, posible ring mabago ang inhustisya sa lipunan,” he said.

Martiga also said with a smile of hope that the change does not end in EDSA.

He prays that today’s young people will carry out what the people of EDSA fought for 25 years ago.

Ping Martiga was just one among the thousands who were there at EDSA for the 25th anniversary celebration of People Power I, hoping that more than the yellow ribbons and flowers, the new President Noynoy Aquino will fulfill his promise for a better Philipp

ines.

“Wag na nga sana tayong pumayag na mawala pa muli ang ating kalayaan, huwag na nga sana tayo pumayag na muling mabawi ang demokrasya,” said Martiga. #

Mabuhay ka, sir :)