Looking Back at EDSA
By Gari R. Lazaro

EVERYTHING HAS been said and much has been done to dramatize the plight of the Filipino people after the historic People Power 2 that ousted a corrupt president and propelled President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to power. Nonetheless, the youth that comprise the mobilizable force during the historic moment cannot be silenced as we choose to voice out our reflection, assessment and interpretation in commemoration of the event that polarized and politicized our nation.

A year ago, we were at EDSA to morally question the authority of a government besets with corruption, nepotism, patronage politics and traditional practices and principles that decays our social fabric. We were at EDSA to make a stand for truth and justice, believing that the public deserves an accountable leader trusted to govern.

We were at EDSA because we aspire for meaningful change and programmatic reforms in the government to deliver the basic social services and the style of governance that will surely alleviate the status of the marginalized and underrepresented sectors. We were at EDSA because we envisioned new politics and good governance as we fulfill our duties and responsibilities as young citizen.

We were there as we hope that the collective efforts of the people to weave a dream for the nation and the future will be clearly transformed into a reality. What we've got at EDSA is an opportunity to remember our capacity to unite and forge greater solidarity amidst differences for we have faith that something good is in store for us.

Yet, a year after, President Arroyo, alongside with some prominent People Power players, ignores the sacrifices made to restore the confidence of the Filipino in the institutions of the government. The administration is short of coming up with the expectations of the youth for its inability to deliver what is due to the mobilizable force that helped
her bid for constitutional succession.

Concretely, of four demands that we lobbied to her attention, such as resource allocation and mobilization for education sector, moratorium on tuition increases, delivery of basic services and outright abolition of the ROTC program, it has been met with half-hearted consideration as political transactions with favored sector tops her priority list in an attempt to perpetuate to power beyond 2004.

Although we were disenchanted and discontented with the lack of clear political commitment and strategy to address social reform issues in a grassroots level, we still recognize the validity of the democratic and constitutional order to actively participate, critically engaged and lobby for social reform agenda.

Lastly, we would like to remind the President that she owed her legitimacy and moral ascendancy to the people and it is her task to fulfill the ideals of People Power 2. We would like to prompt the President that in her fight for political survival, the best way to predict her future is to realize her promises for radical social reforms in the grassroots level and not through media projection and image building.

We would like to reiterate that the defining test of her commitment and leadership is to see a bright future laid out for the young citizen and the likes of the Payatas boys who send their wishes afloat the Pasig River.

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Gari R. Lazaro is the secretary-general of Student Council Alliance of the Philippines.

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