Edsa revolt still relevant as same conditions persist – Makabayan bet

Makabayan senatorial candidate Amirah “Mek” Lidasan delivers a speech during a protest on February 25, 2025 at the University of the Philippines Diliman. Jown Manalo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — The spirit of the Edsa People Power Revolution remains relevant today, as the same issues that led to the 1986 uprising continue to persist, Makabayan senatorial candidate Amirah “Mek” Lidasan said on Tuesday.

“Maraming nagsasabi sa atin, bakit ba tayo gumugunita ng Edsa? Hindi naman tayo partisipante ng Edsa. Kasi hangga’t sa ngayon, nagpapatuloy ang mga kondisyon kung bakit naghimagsik ang mga mamamayan noong 1986,” Lidasan said during a protest commemorating the revolution’s 39th anniversary at the University of the Philippines Diliman.

(Many ask us, why do we commemorate Edsa? We weren’t participants of Edsa. It’s because, even now, the conditions that drove people to revolt in 1986 still persist.)

Lidasan cited corruption, political dynasties, and the political rivalry between the Duterte and Marcos families as among the continuing issues.

“Nandyan din ang korapsyon sa loob ng ating pamahalaan. Kaliwa’t kanan ang korapsyon. Nag-aaway marahil ang Marcos at Duterte, pero ang mga dinastiya nila, ang mga political dynasties ay nananaig pa rin. Ang pinag-aawayan lang nila ay ang kanilang interes,” she said.

(Corruption remains rampant in our government. Corruption is everywhere—perhaps the Marcoses and Dutertes are fighting, but their political dynasties still prevail. They are only fighting for their interests.)

The Makabayan candidate also highlighted the ongoing struggles in rural areas, particularly for Moro and indigenous communities.

“Nandyan din ang mga kondisyon ng pag-aklas ng mga mamamayan sa kanayunan. Ang mga kapatid ninyong Moro at katutubo na magpasa-hanggang sa ngayon, hindi lang pinagkakaitan ng mga batayang serbisyo tulad ng edukasyon, ngunit pinapatay pa, pinombomba at ginagawang lunsaran ng giyera ang aming komunidad,” she added.

(The conditions for uprisings in rural areas remain. Our Moro and indigenous brothers and sisters continue to be deprived of basic services like education, and worse, they are killed, bombed, and their communities turned into battlegrounds.)

READ: Casiño: People Power can end political dynasties

With this, Lidasan stressed that the Edsa commemoration serves as a call for change in the country.

“At kami, ang mga kapatid ninyo Moro at katutubo, ay napilitan na sagutin ang hamon ng taong bayan na tayo ay mag-provide ng alternatibo para sa eleksyon na ito. Isang alternatibo na magbibigay ng plataporma ng kagyat na kaginhawaan sa mga kababayan natin, karapatan at kasarinlan at pambansang demokrasya,” she said.

(We, your Moro and indigenous brothers and sisters, have accepted the people’s challenge to provide an alternative in this election—an alternative that offers immediate relief to our people, promotes rights and independence, and upholds national democracy.)

She added that their electoral platform aims to present a genuine solution to the country’s issues.

“Nilalagay natin ang programa ng pambansang demokrasya sa eleksyon na ito bilang alternatibo sa kasamaan, mga kriminal at kadiliman. Ibibigay natin ang tunay na solusyon sa problema ng bayan para magising ang mamamayan,” Lidasan said.

(We are putting forward the program of national democracy in this election as an alternative to evil, criminals, and darkness. We will offer real solutions to the country’s problems to awaken the people.)

READ: Chel Diokno to voters: Honor Edsa People Power spirit by voting wisely

Lidasan underscored the importance of commemorating the Edsa uprising not just as a historical observance but as a renewed commitment to continue the struggle for justice.

“Kaya natin ginagawa ang paggunita na ito ng Edsa, hindi dahil sa naggugunita lang tayo kung hindi, testamento ito, panata natin ito sa patuloy nating pakikibaka at sa pagsabing makatarungan ang paghihimagsik at maghimagsik tayo para sa ating kinabukasan,” she said.

(We commemorate Edsa not just to remember, but as a testament and vow to continue our struggle, to declare that rebellion is just, and to rise up for our future.)