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Lessons from the EDSA Revolution

The EDSA People Power Revolution was a significant event that ended Ferdinand Marcos Sr.'s dictatorship and showcased the power of collective action in achieving democracy. The author reflects on the lessons learned from the revolution, emphasizing the importance of the masses in driving change and the ongoing relevance of commemorating EDSA amidst attempts to erase its history. Despite challenges, the EDSA revolution remains a testament to the Filipino people's resilience and commitment to social justice and democracy.
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
24 views3 pages

Lessons from the EDSA Revolution

The EDSA People Power Revolution was a significant event that ended Ferdinand Marcos Sr.'s dictatorship and showcased the power of collective action in achieving democracy. The author reflects on the lessons learned from the revolution, emphasizing the importance of the masses in driving change and the ongoing relevance of commemorating EDSA amidst attempts to erase its history. Despite challenges, the EDSA revolution remains a testament to the Filipino people's resilience and commitment to social justice and democracy.
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© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Joshua S.

Soberano l 2022-06947 POLSC 14 THV

WE ARE THE EDSA!

The EDSA People Power Revolution was one of the defining events in our
history. It is the revolution that ended the almost 10-year dictatorship and military rule of
the late Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and the main reason why we are experiencing this kind of
democracy and freedom today. It is also when different sectors of our society actively
joined the revolution, including the Church, business leaders, the media, and even
ordinary citizens to resist and free the country from an iron-handed leader (GreatDay,
2022). Perhaps the revolution became significant in our history as it showed how
bloodless protests and activism can remove corrupt and wicked leaders from their
positions. Thus, up to today, we see how social movements and protests shape the
current situation of various sectors in our society.

From my perspective, there are two lessons that I learned from the historic
people-power revolution. First is that we, the masses, have the power to turn our bad
situation into a good or better one. I saw that the EDSA People Power Revolution is not
about the battle between the two elite families, which are the Aquinos and Marcoses.
The EDSA is about the anger and resistance of every Filipino who experienced
violence, torture, and injustices. We are the EDSA because the power to set our country
free is in our hands. The second lesson is that the collective effort of a nation is a
powerful tool for a nation’s freedom and victory. The united clamor and move of the
Filipino people during the EDSA ousted Marcos Sr. from power and this shows how far
our country can progress and develop through our collective efforts.

Even though the EDSA People Power Revolution happened 39 years ago,
commemorating this pivotal event is still relevant today as the current administration
tries to erase it from our history. Although not directly stated, Marcos Jr.'s act of
removing February 25 as a public holiday is a testament to how their family wants to
remove the EDSA from the country’s history (Corrales et al., 2023). It is important for
the Filipino people to not just yearly commemorate the EDSA but every day because
the Marcos family is back in power and perhaps doing their best to revise or distort our
history, clean their name, and brainwash the Filipino people through systems of
disinformation.

Nevertheless, the EDSA was able to restore democracy and free the Philippines
from the dark and bloody Marcos regime. The EDSA was never an entirely failed
experiment or movement as different sectors and individuals used their power to
convince people to come up with actions and solutions. Through that kind of “power”
that Heywood discussed in his book, the Filipinos gained a consciousness that affected
their decision-making, which led them to resist and fight for what was right.
Therefore, even though we cannot directly say that we are totally free today,
because of the continuous prevalence of elite families that control and shape our
political landscape, the EDSA is one of the testaments that there are people out there
who are awake, watching and ready to fight and find solutions for any social issues.
Thus, this proves that we are progressing and slowly heading toward an inclusive and
deeper form of democracy.
REFERENCES

Corrales, J. M. a. K. S. N. (2023, October 14). Bongbong Marcos removes Edsa day


from list of holidays. [Link].
[Link]

GreatDay. (2022, February 25). EDSA People Power Revolution: A Turning Point in
Philippine History. [Link].
[Link]
ine-history/

Heywood, A. (2002). Chapter 1: What is Politics? Politics. (5th ed.) Bloomsbury


Publishing.

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The EDSA People Power Revolution exemplifies Heywood's concept of "power" as it was a demonstration of the 'power to' effect change through collective action. Filipinos gained a political consciousness that empowered them to resist authoritarian control and fight for democratic rights . This consciousness affected decision-making, steering the nation away from dictatorship through mass mobilization rather than violence. Thus, it underscores the idea that true power can mobilize people towards democracy and social change .

The EDSA People Power Revolution's implications on the struggle against disinformation are profound. It stands as both a historical event and a narrative contested by revisionists, emphasizing the ongoing battle to preserve factual historical accounts. The revolution has become a focal point in the fight against disinformation, highlighting the need for vigilance in protecting historical truth against attempts to sanitize past political transgressions . This struggle mirrors broader conflicts where controlling historical narrative becomes a tool of influence and power, necessitating robust civic education to counteract disinformation tactics .

Commemorating the EDSA People Power Revolution maintains its relevance in contemporary Philippines as a reminder and educational tool against authoritarianism. Amid efforts to revise history and dismantle its legacy, it symbolizes the potential of unified civic action to protect democracy . It serves as a cultural and historical touchstone that helps prevent the erasure of democratic gains, reminding citizens of their collective power in safeguarding freedoms against returning political elites .

The EDSA People Power Revolution teaches that maintaining democratic freedoms requires constant vigilance and collective action. The experience stresses the necessity for active citizen engagement to counter attempts at political revisionism and disinformation, ensuring that history's lessons remain intact . It underscores the importance of collective memory and education in safeguarding democratic values against elite manipulations aiming to blur historical narratives for political gain . Thus, it highlights that democracy demands participation not only in times of crisis but through continual civic responsibility.

The EDSA People Power Revolution embodies the potential transformative power of social movements by showing how mass mobilization can lead to significant political change. It was a unified civilian response that demonstrated the ability to dismantle a longstanding dictatorship, serving as a testament to what coordinated public action can achieve . This revolution expanded the role of social movements in governance, promoting the notion that citizens could actively engage in and influence the political direction of a nation .

The EDSA People Power Revolution highlights the critical role of historical consciousness in fostering engaged and vigilant civic life. It illustrates how awareness of past democratic victories and struggles cultivates a society's resilience against authoritarianism . Historical consciousness encourages active citizenship, empowering individuals to participate in democratic processes and resist oppressive regimes. As seen by ongoing efforts to preserve EDSA's legacy against revisionist narratives, a well-informed public can contest attempts to alter historical perceptions, thus safeguarding democratic institutions and values .

The EDSA People Power Revolution influenced the Philippine political landscape by demonstrating the power of collective civil action to depose a dictator, thereby restoring democracy. It highlighted the capacity of different societal sectors, including the Church, business leaders, and ordinary citizens, to unite for political change, fostering a legacy of peaceful protest as a means for social transformation . Additionally, it spurred ongoing social movements aimed at addressing the dominance of elite families in politics, suggested by the continued efforts today to combat historical revisionism and disinformation .

During the EDSA People Power Revolution, non-state actors like the Church, business leaders, and media played crucial roles by mobilizing public opinion and coordinating collective action against the Marcos regime. Their involvement signified the power of civil institutions in challenging authoritarian control and aided in the peaceful transition to democracy. This coalition of diverse sectors demonstrated the potential of non-state actors to unify societal forces for democratic activism, emphasizing their significance in maintaining checks on state power . This provided a framework that subsequent movements could emulate to resist oppression and promote democratic principles.

The removal of February 25 as a public holiday can be seen as a governmental attempt to diminish the revolution's historical significance. This action reflects an intent by the current administration to potentially downplay the events of EDSA in national consciousness, which can be interpreted as an ongoing effort to revise history and mitigate the revolution's symbolic power against authoritarian rule . It suggests a potential desire to minimize commemoration that might challenge contemporary political power structures .

Characterizing the EDSA People Power Revolution as a bloodless movement underscores its significance as an exemplar of peaceful civil protest achieving political change. Unlike violent revolutions, it united various societal sectors to peacefully confront an authoritarian regime, setting a precedent for non-violent resistance globally. The peaceful nature amplified its moral authority and effectiveness, inspiring similar movements worldwide seeking to utilize peaceful civil disobedience to confront oppressive regimes .

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