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 :)