Why Edsa matters
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing,” so goes the saying. This quote is especially important today as we see the return of authoritarianism in many parts of the world. I am always hopeful, as a reader of history, that the pendulum swing of political ideology between conservative and progressive, between authoritarian rule and democracy, will inevitably swing the other way leading us back to the center. However, it seems there is still much momentum and appetite for conservatism. Whatever progress we’ve made when it comes to sexual health and education, gender and other forms of diversity, and even social welfare are either stuck languishing as bills in Congress or the Senate (e.g., the sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression or Sogie bill; the prevention of adolescent pregnancy bill; the divorce bill) or outright gutting or reappropriating toward other priorities (e.g., the forced transfer of funds away from the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. or PhilHealth, zero granting of allocated funds for the same agency, consistent cutting of funds for various educational institutions and agencies). The swing to the extreme right is far from over.
As we see more and more self-interested players (for how else can we describe people like Donald Trump or Elon Musk who, by their lifestyle, can hardly be called conservative—or even morally righteous—and yet are being touted as champions to the cause?) take advantage of the wave of conservatism, it is important that leaders and champions rise up from the other side to be a counterbalancing force. But alas, we are hearing a worrying silence. Trump is issuing executive order after executive order, faster than courts can challenge them.
In our local politics, the opposition is essentially nonexistent. Sen. Risa Hontiveros is the lone wolf in the Senate, doing the work of a dozen senators and championing as many causes as she can. In Congress, while there has been much bluster and sensational hearings lately (not to mention impeachment complaints being filed), they are mostly toward discrediting the previous administration while ignoring the current administration’s own missteps. It is, after all, the President who assigned the Vice President to the Department of Education despite being deeply unqualified. It is his office that allowed the transfer of confidential funds to her office in 2022.
Just last Tuesday, we commemorated the anniversary of the Edsa People Power Revolution despite the government not declaring it as a nonworking holiday. Only a few municipalities dared to declare it a holiday, and it was up to private schools to hold the line and give the anniversary the importance it deserves. It is interesting that the pressure was put on private institutions and yet there was no unified outcry or pressure from Congress and the Senate to the Office of the President. Why is the nation adjusting to the current President’s personal discomfort with the revolution that ousted his family rather than him as the leader of this country actively reconciling the role his family played in Philippine history and committing to never make the same mistakes and abuses as his father? If the Marcoses and their supporters believe in an alternate version of history and thus refuse to take accountability, this is the opportune time to disabuse them of their self-serving denial. Once again, this was a golden opportunity gone to waste. The President could have shown how different he is from his father and that the country never needs to worry about another martial law or dictatorship ever again. Imagine if he had chosen to actively celebrate the country’s return to democracy, what a powerful restorative image that would have made.
If evil and corruption are happening, it is because good people are doing nothing. Our sense of delikadeza has hindered us from engaging in political conversations that tend to be unpleasant as it is considered impolite to make others uncomfortable. Our sense of helplessness and hopelessness, in the meantime, has made us believe that these conversations and actions are futile. This emanates from centuries of colonization and oppression, maintained by feudal-style politics that ensured that we have no sense of agency in our political system. A more basic concern, which is our safety, also prevents us from speaking up. Public dissent can be dangerous and even life-threatening, with the country being one of the most dangerous places for activists and journalists.
In a way, this is exactly why it is important to commemorate what happened in Edsa back in 1986. It is a reminder that we come from a courageous stock. It is a reminder of how good people doing something can change the world, with no lives as collateral damage. It helps to remind our elected officials that their power is not a birthright, but comes from the people.
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aatuazon@up.edu.ph
