"The spirit of EDSA shouldn't end as an empty rhetoric."
For sure the government made its homework such as that of making messages commemorating this four-day revolt.
Be it by “restoring democracy” to that of “emulate the heroism and compassion”, the message churned by the government would say that they’re trying their best to relieve those who embody the “true essence” of “People Power”. It is quite obvious that just like its earlier messages, trying to rally people into their side despite they themselves failed to take responsibility in realising the promises meant to be taken after that revolt- that of peace, land, bread, and justice for a country long under the appendage of foreign and local despots.
But regardless of their statements, orderists treat those words as hyperboles that shouldn’t be taken seriously. They would preach two and fro about Democracy, Justice, Freedom, or any other word that’s appealing to many, when in fact these are altogether an empty rhetoric as they stress much the contrary: that of repression, injustice, unfairness that benefited that of the few at the expense of many.
And like any other populist sentiment the words they preach about can be borne out of chaos, and even that chaos can be appeared as “peaceful” and “organised”, “fiesta-like” as those protest actions with all the protest music and vendors selling peanuts, water, and ice cream can bring down a dictator. “Revolt of the poor”? The desire for “economic liberation”? The yearning for “political emancipation”? The appearance of “social unity”? That situation can also be that example! Pardon if to use Marcosian phraseology but his words can be interpreted against him as people had enough of his bullshitry. The people wanted peaceful lives, freedom to sustain their minds and bodies, but will these thrive in a society whose words they preach are all but ironies and hyperboles? They talk about discipline and order, of maintaining stability, but when was seeking truth from facts, the desire for free expression including that of sporting long hair and administering acupuncture be responded with repression and redescribed as “disobedience to authority”, “delinquency”, or “subversion”? Men like Pete Lacaba, or the late Archimedes Trajano felt the clutches of state repression while authorities talks about “justice” and “rule of law” for the sake of appeasing the first world.
But regardless of their counter statements and feigning concerns, the lessons brought by the four-day revolt will always resonate: that the power of the people will always fear those that are in power.’ The question is: how to fulfill its promise? Or will it remain simply a change of faces? Remember: same old problems continue to prevail they way hungry and dispossessed folks express disgust against the order.