[Rear View] EDSA, ideally. And the revolution’s largest failure.

The fortieth anniversary of EDSA is seen as a logo of misplaced alternatives

Ideally, an Aquino wouldn’t have even thought-about a neighborhood trial for a former despot who perverted the beliefs of the 1986 EDSA Folks Energy Revolution. But 40 years after EDSA, a princeling of the revolution did simply that, opting to be ambiguous reasonably than direct, waffling on a problem that cries out for ethical readability, flirting with the forces of autocracy and extrajudicial killings, and for what? Not for EDSA and all that it stood for. 

Right here we’re, 40 years after EDSA, and the political elite is once more preoccupied with energy video games forward of the 2028 presidential election. It’s being touted as a battle between good and evil, between darkish and lightweight, when it’s all grey and business-like, transactions over ideas. 

At this yr’s fortieth EDSA commemoration, liberal progressives embraced the once-despised yellow to set them aside from the purple and the inexperienced. However colours are irrelevant when the individuals demand meals, jobs, and justice. The corrupt and the dynasts have to be held accountable they are saying, however corruption turned democratized within the aftermath of EDSA, a privilege as soon as loved by one household made accessible to competing political elites and energy brokers. (WATCH: Rappler Recap: Two EDSA rallies, one ‘unfinished battle’ on fortieth Folks Energy anniversary)

Political dynasties grew in these 40 years, tolerated at first however later nurtured by a succession of regimes which relied on them for management and legitimacy. The lust for energy has consumed the elite for the previous 40 years, energy acquired with the ritualistic declarations of abiding fealty to the legacy and beliefs of EDSA and the individuals in whose identify it was mounted. 

Ideally, 40 years would have been sufficient to lift thousands and thousands out of poverty. Different Asian nations have achieved so in much less time, 20 to 30 years. At the moment we occupy the underside rung of Southeast Asian economies and poverty stays excessive. That’s the revolution’s largest failure.

Ideally, public faculty college students could be steeped within the classes of EDSA, valuing democracy and the sacrifices of previous generations. Sadly, the Revolution has additionally failed them. The failure to put money into training, the corruption and mismanagement, and the shortage of well-paying jobs at residence go away our youth with little alternative however to aspire to be both abroad staff or TikTok celebrities. 

Forty years after EDSA, now we have a technology that may barely learn nor write, however can dance to “Opalite.”

Ideally, the fortieth anniversary of EDSA would have been a joyous nationwide celebration. But it’s seen as a logo of misplaced alternatives, however not for the political and financial elite and the well-connected. The occasion ought to have been commemorated with out the drama of progressive forces arguing over colours and slogans, holding two separate occasions each poorly attended. The plenty, then again, are in factories, name facilities, rice fields, in air-conditioned malls on what was as soon as hallowed floor.  

Ideally, we’d not have the son of the ousted dictator as president as we mark 40 years of this historic occasion. But now the dictator’s son is seen as our solely safety in opposition to the ascent by succession of one other Duterte, very like a creaky dam holding off a damaging wave. 

An alliance between progressives and the Marcos forces was once unimaginable, however in opposition to a resurgent Duterte, it’s now within the realm of the potential. – Rappler.com

Joey Salgado is a former journalist, and a authorities and political communications practitioner. He served as spokesperson for former vice chairman Jejomar Binay.