USING PEOPLE POWER AGAINST PEOPLE
HELL hath no fury like the Marcos loyalists; their idol had been scorned and snatched away from their adoring gaze.
As if on cue, the loyalists went on to the anger stage the past two weeks right after the Marcos’ radio interview by Rafael Yabut last April 5. Loyalists blocked EDSA fronting Channel 7 ostensibly to protect Yabut who was not in any kind of visible danger. Next territory claimed was Luneta, then the AIT to time with the Batasan rump session. As we go to press, the loyalists have decamped the AIT or the U.S. Embassy along Roxas Blvd., lugging along plastic tents, pots, pans, gas stoves for what appears to be a night and day vigil to urge “kidnapper” Reagan to deliver Marcos back into their waiting arms.
Psychologists have explained that a human being who loses a loved one whether temporary or permanent responds in phases. First comes shock and self-pity; then the why-me? stage. Anger soon after sets in towards self, God, the world and whoever else is within blaming distance.
In no uncertain terms would the 5,000 (more or less) grieving souls massed at the Asian Institute of Tourism, Quezon City forgive U.S. president Ronald Reagan, People Power and the media — foreign and local — for spiriting off their dearly missed Ferdinand Marcos. Brandishing two-foot long iron and bamboo truncheons, they ripped-off yellow ribbons from passing cars. They demanded press cards from the media — “you write the truth!” — and charged Ronald Reagan with the capital crime of kidnapping Marcos last Feb. 25.
Nonong, 19, marshalled the junction leading to Diliman and Fairview. He kept a pile of stones, and had two in his calloused hands ready for an energetic hurl. Nonong wore the yellow-and-red t-shirt uniform of Imelda Marcos’ Metro Manila aides but Nonong is not a metro aide but a fruit and vegetable vendor at the PHILCOA wet market. Since Sunday, April 13, he has absented himself from his trade to show his loyalty to Marcos.
Nonong spat and cussed People Power: “ang mga galunggong na ‘yan!” and muttered Ilocano curses. His family, he said, live at a nearby, “kangkungan” on a lot which they would have owned by now as Imelda promised during the campaign until People Power. As far as Nonong was concerned, Aling Cory’s “galunggong” broke Imelda’s promise.
Anything yellow makes the loyalists see red. Two yellow flags and one Cory-Doy campaign streamer were snatched from outnumbered Aquino supporters. These yellow paraphernalia were set on fire.
Duplicating People Power which toppled Marcos and installed President Aquino in power, the Marcos diehards also invoked religious backing. At the foyer of the AIT where members of the now-defunct National Assembly convened its rump session, two life-sized statues of saints as well as small Sto. Ninos held vigil. Kneeling and praying piously around the statues were nuns — at least they looked like women dressed like nuns.
There was a palpable fear for cameras. “Kalaban namin ‘yan” (That’s our enemy), said an Ilocano member of the Iglesia ni Kristo. A number of her relatives motored all the way from up north just so they could join this big gathering of loyalists and are now distributed among her brothers in faith on reserve for People Power. The INK’s chief priest Erdie Manalo is a good friend of the deposed Idol of Ilocandia.
How Marcos was kidnapped by the Americans, how the CIA and the NPA (at the same time?) supported Cory, how the media gathered thousands of pairs of shoes and made it appear as Imelda’s — these and a lot more were dissected and analyzed in heated pocket discussion groups. In the end, the discussants agreed: “Marcos is still president! Long Live Marcos! Bring back Marcos!”
Like the psychologists say, when you hear loyalists cry out “My Ferdie lies over the ocean …bring back my Ferdie to — me” that’s normal. Relax.
