Is Edsa worth celebrating?

Tomorrow the country will mark the 20th anniversary of the so-called Edsa Revolution.

Observe I use the word "mark," not "celebrate" and describe the event as "so-called" because I believe in a true sense of the word "Revolution" it is not. Argue with me if you think it is.

It is more fitting and proper to call it "Edsa Fiesta".

To celebrate or not to celebrate has been disputed by two Presidents, the former who wants a big colorful fiesta and the incumbent who prefers it low-key. Both have reasons. The former wants the honor, the latter is afraid, it would be used to ask her again to resign.

I go with the latter but for a different reason. What is there to celebrate? None!

* * *

The problem with Edsa is, it was meaningless and that our former leaders oversold it to the public as something to bring change, that it would bring us to paradise. Actually a false hope.

The Edsa drumbeaters and spinmasters overdid it. They gave the promise not the performance. And the leaders that came were mostly with feet of clay.

Are the poor better now than before Edsa? Do we have the quality of life now than before were it not for our people who slave it out in other countries? Graft and corruption is much much worse now than during the time of Marcos.

Before there was only one thief which Cardinal Sin called Ali Baba and the Forty close to Marcos. Remember that Arabian Nights story, "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves?" Now, it's not only forty. It's forty times forty times forty times forty… Who is Ali Baba?

I ask again, what have we to celebrate?

* * *

Edsa was sparked by Senator, then Defense Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile. Enrile chose to fight when there was information Marcos would have him arrested as the godfather of the rebellious military, the RAM (Reform the Armed Forces Movement.)

His loyal followers led by his chief security officer, Col. later Senator Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan joined him to thwart Marcos' order of arrest. Cardinal Sin helped by appealing to people to gather at Edsa, in front of Camp Aguinaldo. And media helped. People came in droves.

Then AFP vice chief of staff and Constabulary head Fidel V. Ramos who had a very long disagreement with his boss Fabian Ver, was likewise rumored to be arrested.

Ramos who had more following in the military than Enrile joined the latter and both transferred to the territory of Ramos at Camp Crame.

* * *

From here on, it was all media work. Marcos neutralized local media but not Radio Veritas owned by the Church. Its office was raided but it had an alternative and hidden broadcast room and transmitter.

But a bigger help was international media from where people got the unsanitized news. It was actually a media fiesta.

Then with the intercession of the United States because the military refused to obey Marcos' order and instead defected to both Ramos and Enrile, the U.S. sent helicopters to fetch Marcos, his family and close friends and brought them to Hawaii.

The country was in euphoria. But the leaders who later came did not improve it with its present uncontrolled graft and corruption that has bled the country dry which could have long collapsed were it not for our people working abroad, many doing menial jobs like wiping the shit off some rich people's butts.

Is Edsa worth celebrating?

* * *

I have been an ardent student of Revolutions that deposed the leaders. They succeeded if the people improved. The American Civil War improved the Americans.

When the English people forced King John in 1215 to sign the Magna Carta that secured the liberties of the Church and the baronial class and restricted the abuse of royal power, Revolution succeeded.

When the French stormed the Bastile on July 14, 1789 that sparked the French Revolution that guillotined King Louis XVI and wife Marie Antoinette it devolved power to the people and changed governments worldwide. Royalty just became a symbol.

The Bolshevik Revolution in Russia led by Lenin and Karl Marx and Fredrich Engels as economic gurus succeeded but when it did not improve the people it collapsed. Communism failed.

Mao Tze Tung's Revolution could have failed too had not Deng Hsiao Peng changed course and adopted the capitalistic system that today China's economic growth is enviable.

* * *

There were many Revolutions in history. They failed when they did not improve the people. During the time of the Pharaos Egypt was a great nation but the leaders were more interested in building pyramids than irrigation.

Greece too. It produced art but not food. And the best example is Rome that ruled for a millennium as the center of the world power but when the people's quality of life deteriorated Rome became an easy prey to the northern conquerors.

Just read Edward Gibbon's "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire." World leaders read that. I hope our leaders read that too. I go back, is Edsa worth celebrating?*

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