EDSA People Power not a lost cause — Otso Diretso bets

MANILA, Philippines — The historic EDSA People Power Revolt that ended former President Ferdinand Marcos’ dictatorship will never be a lost cause, some opposition senatorial bets believe.

“I don’t’ think EDSA will ever be a lost cause because the lesson of EDSA is the need to empower people,” former Solicitor General and Otso Diretso senatorial candidate Florin Hilbay said in a news conference on Wednesday in Quezon City.

Hilbay pointed out that Otso Diretso is also about empowering the people and breaking the culture of silence and the environment of fear.

Election lawyer and senior citizens advocate Romy Macalintal agreed with Hilbay. He said, “Yung EDSA hindi naman natin masasabing lost cause ‘yun dahil sa nandyan pa naman ‘yung dahilan kung bakit nagkaroon ng EDSA People Power (We cannot say that EDSA is a lost cause because the reason it happened is still there.).”

Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano, meanwhile, said the success and the history of the People Power could not be attributed solely to a few people.

“‘Yung EDSA pagmamay-ari ng taumbayan. Hindi ito pagmamay-ari ng iilang tao.  Kasi right now nakikita ko there’s an attempt to rehabilitate the name of Marcos… by destroying the name of Aquino,” the former Marine officer explained.

(EDSA not about a few people. Right now I can see that there is an attempt to rehabilitate the name Marcos by destroying the name Aquino.)

Campaign

Hilbay stressed that their senatorial campaign has “revolutionary” EDSA People Power undertones, as they go straight to the people during campaigns.

“Naglulupa kami ng boto, diretso sa tao (We are begging for votes direct from the people). There’s an echo of People Power in what we’re trying to do,” the former top government lawyer said, referring to the Makinig 2.0 face-to-face, volunteer-driven persuasion campaign to vote for Otso Diretso candidates.

Samira Gutoc, a peace advocate from Marawi, said she feels the groundswell of support for their team.

“Nagpapasalamat ako sa mga volunteers ng Makinig. Kung may TV ads sila, kami ay merong pale-palengke, bahay-bahay, social media. We’re doing it the people’s way, from the grassroots. Sana magaya namin ang success ng mga gumawa rin nito,” Gutoc said.

( I am thankful to the volunteers of Makinig. If they have TV ads, we campaign from house to house, in public markets and social media. We are doing it the people’s way, from the grassroots. We are hoping to replicate the success of those who had done this before.)

Human rights lawyer Chel Diokno, meanwhile, called on the public to join them on Saturday, February 23, at the People Power Monument, to commemorate the 33rd year of the EDSA People Power Revolt.

The historic day in 1986 marked the peaceful demonstration of people from all walks of life to demand the ouster of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos that eventually toppled him and installed Corazon Aquino as the next president. /ee