By Mark Vincent A. Durano and Sean Clifford M. Malinao

Far Eastern University (FEU) students were reminded of the importance of taking action in the present ahead of the 39th EDSA People Power Revolution Anniversary during a forum, ‘EDSA People Power and the Present Political Crisis,’ held at the FEUture Center Auditorium last February 20.

“Far Eastern University students must learn that celebrating EDSA is not about remembering the past, but because there is an action that needs to be taken now,” Alliance of Concerned Teachers National Chairperson Vladimir Quetua said in his lecture.

The chairperson noted that while EDSA ended the Marcos dictatorship, its promised democratic and social reforms remain unfulfilled.

“Sa ordinaryong mga tao, hindi lamang komemorasyon ang EDSA kun’di isang pagbabalik sa nakaraan dahil may hindi tayo nakamit nang buong-buo (For ordinary people, EDSA is not just a commemoration but a retrospect because we did not achieve something completely),” he stated.

Additionally, Quetua stressed the need to revisit the EDSA Revolution, noting that political tyranny and economic austerity persist even 39 years later.

Meanwhile, as the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte progresses, Quetua highlighted its significance, comparing it to the Marcos Sr. administration, which also faced allegations of suppressing dissent and consolidating power.

In an interview with FEU Advocate, he underscored broader implications of Duterte’s possible impeachment. 

“Dapat litisin si Duterte at ang kaniyang tatay [Rodrigo], pero kung si Sara ang pag-uusapan ay ang corruption mula sa Department of Education at Office of the Vice President (Sara Duterte and her father should face trial, but in Sara's case, the focus should be on corruption within the Department of Education and the Office of the Vice President),” he added.

Qeutua stressed that EDSA was not only about poverty but also about corruption.

Moreover, Llore Pasco from Rise Up for Life and Rights, a mother of two Duterte war on drugs victims, denounced the previous administration’s ‘easy’ perpetuation of extrajudicial killings.

“Ang EDSA ay nangangahulugan sa pagpapanagot ng rehimeng Marcos Sr. at Duterte… Ang diwa ng EDSA ay layong magbigay ng panibagong buhay para sa pag-asa (EDSA means holding the Marcos Sr. and Duterte regime accountable… The spirit of EDSA aims to give a new life for hope),” she said.

As part of the urban poor, Pasco deemed laws as anti-poor, intensifying the need for action toward justice.

In the context of education, FEU Department of Political Science Faculty Member Francisco Reodique III encouraged taking a stand and moving away from neutrality.

“Imposible ang pagiging objective sa panahon ngayon. The mere fact na pinipili mo ang paksang gusto mong aralin (It’s impossible to be objective now. The mere fact that you chose what you want to study), that already shows your political stance. Mahirap panatilihin ang objective reality, feeling mo wala kang pinapanigan, [pero] pinapanigan mo ang mga naghaharing-uri (It’s hard to maintain objective reality, you feel like you side with no one, but you already sided with the ruling class),” he said.

At the same time, resource speaker and history professor from Ateneo de Manila University Dr. Michael Pante highlighted the need for an interdisciplinary approach in understanding history and going beyond its limited definitions.

“Hindi natin kinakailangan na bumulatlat ng libro (There is no need to open a book), what better way to understand history is to talk to someone with direct experience on what happened,” he stated.

Pante also stressed that people do not just mobilize because of politics, but also to fight for better lives in aspects such as religion, gender, and culture.

Additionally, Quetua and Pante pressed on the importance of collective effort as reform, which the EDSA revolution proved in overthrowing a dictatorship.

“Siguraduhin natin na hindi mauulit ang kung ano man ang nangyari sa kasaysayan. Siguraduhin nating may aktuwal na pagbabago sa iba’t ibang sektor (We should ensure that what happened to the past will never happen again. We should ensure that there is actual change in various sectors),” Pante stated.

To commemorate the anniversary, several multi-sectoral progressive groups will stage a nationwide mobilization at the Our Lady of EDSA Shrine, with a youth-led program prior on February 25.

The forum was held in collaboration with the FEU Political Science Society, the FEU Department of Political Science, the FEU Institute of Arts and Sciences, and the Taumbayan Ayaw sa Magnanakaw at Abusado Network Alliance.

(Photo by Sean Clifford M. Malinao/FEU Advocate)