Always in a state of emergency 
The Universe
(March 05, 2006)
The Philippines has been marking the 20th anniversary
of the People Power uprising which toppled the Marcos dictatorship. At that time, many people feared a coup, others
thought the end of democracy was in sight. It might have been if not for those who were
courageous enough to defy the Marcos tyranny, despite being arrested and
charged with sedition. It was so inspiring to know that there were so
many Filipinos who were ready to suffer for what they believe in -
freedom, justice and the truth. The economy was in a downward spiral yet the figures
were manipulated to make it appear it was doing well. A single
declaration from the government laid aside human rights and civil
liberties and cast a shadow over the media, intimidated the Church, and
had thousands fearing for their lives. This brazen assertion and power grab was unjustified,
unwarranted and destructive of all that was good in the Philippines,
even though the country’s democracy has always been weak and wounded. The dictatorship had gone on too long, it was too
brutal and due to fall. The killings had been done, one by one. The
torture victims had screamed their last, and the poor were still poorer,
more wretched and hungry than ever before. The elite cronies were wallowing in unimaginable
wealth. Time and again protesters arose, ready to forfeit their lives,
brave the tear gas and withstand water cannon. They were saying enough
was enough, down with tyranny and dictatorship forever. The following election was a fraud, the president’s
cheating was so obvious, so shameful. Opponents of the regime were
outraged and marched again. The military swayed this way and that. Finally, flower power, prayer power and people power
won the day. The dictatorship was told to cut and run. Marcos and his
colonies fled and escaped with his loot - pearl necklaces, gold
bracelets, diamond rosaries were all packed into bulging suitcases as he
headed for the airport. That time 20 years ago was supposed to be celebrated
and remembered happily last week. However there was something of a
senses of déjà vu. The people were on the march again last week
protesting over grievances not near as serious as 20 years ago, but
serious enough. There were barricades to stop the march, and water
canons to were fired to soak them and police to arrest and cart them
away. They claimed they had got rid of one dictator 20 years ago but now
they had to get rid of another. But that is not the case or can we see behind the
scenes the machinations and manipulation of the mighty families drooling
with greed for the levers of power, the keys of the treasury, the deals
of the century? Outwardly, we hear a cry for justice and decency,
right and good. We see a protest against fake elections and fraud, but
who can cast the first stone and not hit himself? The well meaning and
the good were there but so were the sinister plotters who have little
new to offer. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo declared a state of
emergency and blocked the massive protests. The Philippines seems to be
always in a state of emergency, no matter who is in power. As one elite group of powerful families square off
against another, the nation stagnates, poverty spreads and just a few,
too few, truly cares. That’s our permanent state of emergency here in the
Philippines and there is no end in sight. [End]
