MANILA TIMES: SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON EDSA 1
MANILA, FEBRUARY 23, 2011 (TIMES) By Efren L. Danao - THERE are two debatable issues that pertain to the commemoration of the EDSA 1 People Power "Revolution" that took place 25 years ago. What is the appropriate date—February 22 when then Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile and a small group of soldiers declared a rebellion? Or, is it February 25, when President Cory was sworn into office at Club Filipino and President Ferdinand Marcos was flown out of Malacañang? The second issue pertains to the role of the soldiers, principally the leaders of the Reform the Armed Forces Movement. Some accounts of EDSA denigrate their role. Others claim EDSA 1 would not have taken place without RAM's rebelling against the Marcos regime.
February 25 is the legal holiday called EDSA Day. For Enrile, Sen. Gringo Honasan and others with them on the initial day, February 22 is the appropriate day. I agree with them. A reading of world history shows that greater importance is given to the initial act of defiance that galvanized a nation rather than the day when a new government is installed or independence is achieved.
The United States considers July 4, 1776 as its first Independence Day but real independence was not achieved on that day. The highlight of the Fourth of July was the Declaration of US Independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. It was only in 1789 that the Americans finally defeated the British Army.
France celebrates Bastille Day as its Independence Day, to commemorate the storming of the Bastille prison on July 14, 1789. The First French Republic was established only in 1792 but this establishment is not given greater significance than Bastille Day.
We celebrate our Araw ng Kalayaan on June 12, the day in 1898 when Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo declared Philippine independence from Spain. It really doesn't matter to historians that the Philippines became a truly sovereign nation only 48 years after Aguinaldo's historic declaration. They say that on July 4, 1946, the Philippines merely reacquired its independence.
Going back to EDSA 1, the initial act of defiance of JPE and the RAM on February 22, 1986 galvanized the nation against the dictatorship. Senator Gringo said that when they started, they were not even sure if they would live. They were willing to risk their lives and career because they believed in their cause. That rebellion by a small band of brave soldiers holed up at Camp Aguinaldo later turned into a people power revolution that resulted in the unseating of a dictator.
On February 25, 1986, victory was already at hand. There was virtually no risk involved then. The country was already reaping the fruits of the bravery of those who, three days earlier, dared to go against a dictatorship. Of course, the Cory administration could not give much importance to February 22 for the simple reason that its members were nowhere to be found at EDSA on that day. It was only on February 25, 1986 that they came in droves.
Their dreams at EDSA will never die I share the sentiments of soldiers against those who are denigrating their role in EDSA 1. Give due credit to the masses who went to EDSA, but we should never forget that without JPE and the RAM, EDSA 1 would never have taken place. These soldiers should be given appropriate honor in the commemoration of EDSA 1.Their sacrifices should not be ignored or glossed over.
I disagree with those who say that JPE and the RAM were merely out to grab power. JPE and his group already had control of the military but they did not form any junta. Rather, they transferred power to President Cory. This speaks volumes of their claim that EDSA 1 was all about reforms and good government, not power grab, not personal glory.
Recently, I had a talk with Gringo on post-EDSA developments. He revealed that he was offered to head the Scout Rangers but he rejected it.
"That would have meant jumping over 40 senior officers and that is contrary to what we were fighting more. What's more, accepting the offer might give the impression to the people that we were after material rewards and personal glory," he explained.
He added that Capt. Felix Turingan, another RAM leader, also rejected an offer to join the "J" staff.
A few months after EDSA 1, Gringo led several coup attempts against the Cory administration for what he considered "her betrayal of the ideals of EDSA." He said that 25 years after EDSA, the realization of the ideals that they fought for remains elusive.
"I'm not sure if they could be achieved during my lifetime. I will hold on to those dreams but under present circumstances, I could only pin my hopes on leaders for the realization of the needed reforms," Gringo said.
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Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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