How Dare We Forget People Power 2?

In a stupid but not exactly surprising move, Malacañang has opted to forgo with commemorating People Power 2. While bloggers and many other sectors are remembering the spirit and continuing the fight of the momentous People Power 2, the administrations wants nothing to do with it. Why? Allegedly, to heal the wounds the People Power 2 created. Say it with me people… “HUWHAT?!”

Lest Gloria Macapal-Arroyo and her minions forget, People Power 2 was never about her or her presidential aspirations. It was and still is about the Filipino people standing up to injustice, letting their voice be heard, and letting the world know that we, though poor in riches, are not poor in morals and justice. It was a time when right was clearly defined from wrong, when who was right and who was not were clear, when the line between black and white was clear.

Now more than ever, we need to be reminded of what we fought for and why we did it, and why People Power 2 happened and succeeded. (Yes, despite our current state of affairs, I still consider People Power 2 to be a success.) That is why, it is no wonder why Arroyo wants us to forget. The Philippine Daily Inquirer Editorial asserts:

In the seven years since then, of course, the Arroyo administration has schemed to protect the presidency from all accountability—and with markedly greater success. It compromised all impeachment drives in the House of Representatives, emptied the streets with a repressive anti-assembly policy, prevented officials of the Executive and the armed services from testifying on controversial issues before Congress, ignored the import of investigative reports it had itself commissioned.

No wonder it prefers official amnesia.

I refuse to believe that Arroyo wants us to forget to heal wounds. Yes, it is good to forgive, but not without justice being dispensed. It is good to mend fences but not to forget and ignore lessons from the past.

I agree with what PDI reminds us to do: “we must struggle to remember, in part because of those who want us to forget.” We must never forget! We live in a time when lines are blurred, truth and fiction are clearly separated, alliances and loyalties mean nothing, right and wrong are conditional. We must never forget that there was a time when our voice mattered, and it still matters only if we let if be heard and matter.

4 Responses to “How Dare We Forget People Power 2?”

1. vina says:

   March 3, 2008 at 2:55 am

   nicE commEntZzz abOut the peopleS powEr…
   tnx fOr giviNg mE sOmE info
   about this tnX…
2. ryan says:

   March 10, 2008 at 7:35 am

   In no uncertain terms, I totally agree! According to Harvard Prof. Brian Palmer, democracy is not about what you get; it is more about what you do!
3. dianne says:

   March 11, 2008 at 2:28 am

   gloria bba ka sa pwes2
4. Filipino /b/tard says:

   September 22, 2009 at 6:37 am

   “It was and still is about the Filipino people standing up to injustice, letting their voice be heard, and letting the world know that we, though poor in riches, are not poor in morals and justice.”

   No pun intended, but the world should know that we(yes, I am a Filipino) the Filipino people are poor in riches BECAUSE we are poor in morals and each has a varying sense of justice.

   Those who are in power, REPRESENT us on the world stage. The people that we vote for are our own demise.

   Think people. Don’t blame those who you push into power. Blame yourselves! Educate your little minds about the politic you are going to vote for!

   Just my two cents.