---

As progressive groups gathered at the EDSA monument to celebrate the first EDSA People Power Revolution Anniversary under Ferdinand Marcos Jr., they vowed to remain relentless in seeking accountability and rejecting the Marcos-Duterte regime, saying that if the masses were able to topple a dictator before, they can do so again. 

“Kung ang dalawang dekada ni Marcos bilang diktador ay nagsilbing breeding ground para sa mga sulat at kilos, pwes sisikapin ng kabataan at malawak na hanay ng masa na lalo pang dadami na mas marami pa ang mamulat at mas marami pang mag organisa at kumilos kasi alam natin tatapatan natin ang rehimen na ito,” said Kej Andres, Student Christian Movement of the Philippines spokesperson. 

Never Forget

The progressive groups slammed the current administration’s attempts to whitewash history and minimize the significance of the EDSA revolution. 

Missionary Benedictine Sister Mary John Mananza, as the first speaker, lambasted the sudden announcement, saying that moving holiday was a way for the people to begin treating the anniversary of the Edsa Revolution as a mere “long holiday” to diminish its historical significance. 

But for Mananzan, the attempt to disregard people power is futile. 

“Laos na ba ang people power? Buhay na buhay pa ang EDSA at hanggang may naapi buhay na buhay ang people power at pagkilos,” she declared.

Martial Law Survior Ka Satur Ocampo, meanwhile, highlighted the importance of solidarity with all victims of the first Marcos regime, and the need to build a united front as a new Marcos dictatorship looms.�

“Ang EDSA revolution na sinasabi ay pagkakaisang pag-aalsa ng mamayanan na hindi na nakayanan pang magtuloy-tuloy ang diktadurang Marcos. Ngayon, sa pagupo ng kaniyang anak, pagkakaisa muli ang hinahanap,” he said.�

The speakers also lambasted the conscious attempts by the Marcos government to distort history through various channels – both through online propaganda and within the schools.�

Atty. Rico Domingo of the Movement Against Disinformation emphasized the need to continue fighting for the truth, and the importance of legal justice amidst attacks on historical truth. 

“Sikapin natin na patuloy na maging saligan ng kabutihan at katotohanan,” he stated, 

Professor Francis Gealogo of Tanggol Kasaysayan, on the other hand, enjoined the crowd never to forget the martyrs of the previous regimes:  Dr. Johnny Escandor, Eman Lacaba, Edgar Jopson, and many others. 

“Ipagtanggol natin ang kasaysayan, igiit natin ang katotohanan, bawiin natin ang nakaraan at sa pamamagitan na ito iluklok natin muli ang bayan. Mula ngayon, hanggang sa hinarap,” Gealogo said. 

Never Again

The groups also highlighted the worsening social conditions under the new Marcos regime, saying Marcos Jr.’s failure to address the people’s needs will inevitably lead to resistance. 

Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas Chairperson Danilo Ramos, for example, slammed Bongbong Marcos’s failure to address the farmer’s needs as secretary of the Department of Agriculture. 

He further called for proper land distribution for farmers while slamming Marcos Sr. and Marcos Jr. for being the cause of the agrarian crisis and downfall due to their “Green Revolution” proposal which caused over 538,000 tons of rice to be imported during Marcos Sr.’s last year in presidency.

Lastly, Ramos called for the junking of the Rice Liberalization Law, and commented that the agricultural department headed by Marcos is but a facade for “government sponsored smuggling.”

“Palakasin ang lokal na produksiyon, hindi ang importansyon,” Ramos asserted. 

Kilusang Mayo Uno Chairperson Bong Labog, on the other hand, took the stage to highlight the workers, many of whom continue to suffer low wages amidst soaring prices. 

He also lamented the various violations of the right to organize, as well as the intensified contractualization under the Marcos regime. 

READ: https://sinag.press/news/2023/01/24/workers-welcome-ilo-hltm-demand-justice-for-ph-labor/

“Pinapangako ng mga mangagawa na igiguhit ng isang totoong laban na serysoo sa sahod, trabaho at karapatan tungo sa pagkakamit ng totoong kalayaan at demokrasya,” Labog said.

Instead of addressing these problems, Gabriela Secretary-General Clarice Palce says that Marcos spent his time accommodating American imperialism – a criticism also lobbed at his father.�

“Paanong hindi magiging tuta kung napakasunod-sunuran ng Marcos administration sa mga gusto ng mga dayuhang pwersa?”

In the same vein, the groups criticized Marcos for what they saw as corruption akin to the first Marcos administration.

“Pag magnanakaw ka, habang buhay ka nang magnanakaw. Kapag magnanakaw ka, habang buhay ka na sinungaling…, Hindi isosoli ni Marcos ang ninakaw niya dahil makapal mukha niya at dadagdagan pa niya,” said Bunyog Pagkakaisa Secretary General Culex Soliman 

“People power lang ang katapat!”�

Despite the worsening crisis, these groups still believe that their victory is inevitable – they say that if they were able to do it before, they can do it again. 

Bayan Southern Tagalog spokesperson Kyle Salgado emphasized that, when the people toppled Marcos in 1987, it was the result of all forms of struggle.

“Ang EDSA People Power Revolution ay kulminasyon ng mga aktibidad ng mga iba’t ibang uri ng paglaban legal man o armado. payapa man o marahas, and edsa people power ay tagumpay ng mamamayang pilipino na ipagpatuloy natin lahat,” Salgado said. 

Thus, SCMP spokesperson Andres challenged the youth: “Hindi lamang aralin ang mga nangyari sa EDSA kundi higitaan pa ang nangyari noong 1986.”�

In this way, he believes that a real revolution is possible – one that does not stop at what EDSA was able to accomplish, and faces the Marcos Duterte’s lies and attacks head-on.

“Tatapatan natin ito hindi lamang sa aklasan sa EDSA kundi sa ating pag-angkin at paggiit ng pambansa-demokratikong rebolusyon ng sambayanang Pilipino na hindi lamang magpapalit ng pangulo, bagkus magpapalit ng sistema.” 

Only through this national democratic revolution, Andres claims, can we prevent the Marcoses, Dutertes, and those of their ilk from gaining power and oppressing the people once more. 

“Ibabagsak ang mala-kolonyal at mala-pyudal na sistema upang wala nang Marcos, wala nang Duterte ang bumalik pa sa Malacañang at sa pang-araw-araw na buhay ng kabataan at mamamayang Pilipino.” 

Featured image is from Johannes Hong