Was People Power really the success we are led to believe it was?

Question

Especially when you compare it to the French Revolution, the Solidarity movement of Poland or to the toppling of the Berlin Wall.

Sure it rid the Philippines of a Dictator and offered a form of democracy but it didn't do anything to the graft and corruption.

Don't misunderstand me I was proud and happy for the Philippines when I watched the events on tv and really hoped that it would finally be the turning point.

Answer 1

To compare the EDSA revolt to the French Revolution would enhance the pride of the Filipino people.

Ours was a nearly bloodless revolt, toppling a dictator.  The French had lined up aristocrafs and beheaded them, for no other excuse than that they don't have calluses on their hands.

There are those in East Germany who can now only look with nostalgia to the days when they were separate from the West, for example - the great Katerina Witt,  a champion figure skater.    They may have gained democracy but lost state subsidies for their athletes.

As often cited by a friend I know,  "We can't have it both ways".

Changes would incur both losses and gains.

The Philippines gained much more than we lost.

Answer 2

I am sorry but I disagree with the premise "led to believe". No one led us to believe it was a success. It was a success, period. The whole world agreed. The whole world rejoiced, including you and your friends, I suppose.

That there is graft and corruption now is not at all related to that one shining moment that happened 32 years ago. Please do not take away that glory from my memory bank.

Answer 3

unfortunately, a real revolution requires a fair amount of bloodshed which never took place at People Power. understand that the level of democracy that the French or even the Americans have had didn't happen in 4 days... it took years of civil war before they were able to make an idiot-proof system of governance where its citizens decide how they want to be led.

personally, i think People Power was about Americanized idealisms on freedom and individual rights clashing with traditional Asian leadership styles. some Chinese people tried that at Tiananmen Square and got run over by tanks, call the Chinese Communist Party a dictator but it worked for the Chinese in the long run. Singaporeans have always been happy with their People's Action Party but in the eyes of the world, it's already a dictatorship.

People Power's success wasn't sustained. It's just like cutting weeds without pulling out its roots.

Answer 4

it was a success in that it enabled the filipino people to have the freedom to behave as nature intended them to behave----like animals.  now, they are free to steal, swindle, and murder each other without fear.  the philippines is now a mess, but, hey, at least the filipino people can consider themselves free at last.  

oh yes, that L stands for LOSERS, in case they haven't

figured that out yet.

IDIT:  deday eber klem tubi a purinir?  aem berimats a pilipino.

Answer 5

We all know why our fellow Filipinos did it in 1986, to tear down the dictator. I know it's not a perfect form of democracy, it's one of the things we have to be proud of.

I think one of the reasons that graft and corruption are still haunting the Philippines, is that, many officials got used to the Marcos way of governing that they are still doing the wrong things that they did during the "New Society" and Martial Law years.

Some things are not right in our government, but we don't have to push it all into the face of the Government because no Government in this world can do everything their people want them to do for their homeland.

I am proud of the EDSA Revolt but some people have torn apart the real meaning of that revolution, by using it for other people's own businesses.

People Power is the real meaning of building our nation together with the blocks and bricks of peace, justice, faith and freedom if we want it in this Country. If we use that People Power for the goodness of our Nation, then we will see the dream we all Filipinos have always wanted to see for The Philippines.

Answer 6

For me it was considered as a success for Filipinos to topple the previous extremely selfish leaders.

I think a straight gov't. could not also applicable or suitable to the filipino people due multi cultural discrepancies, what we need is a Gov't. has strong in diplomacy tactics and has a long patience to the people to keep nation peaceful.

The China, Malaysia and Singapore style of leadership its totally can not be in the Philippines.

Answer 7

It was a success in some way because it brought us back the freedom we lost during the Martial Law years.  Like freedom of expression, freedom to a peaceful assembly, freedom to roam around the city without any curfew, freedom to choose our officials etc.  Freedom is important, next to life.  

However, as is always the case when we have too much of everything, we abuse and we take things for granted.  We ignore or forget the importance and the difficulties we endured to acquire those things.  Like freedom.  We forgot the dangers many people underwent to regain it, not only for themselves but for all Filipinos.

We were given a second chance to reform, to rectify, to start all over again but man, by nature, is a greedy and malcontent soul.  So, after the Edsa I euphoria has died down, we find ourselves back to the old, rotten selves and to the same old, rotten system and doings.

Let us face the truth....no matter how many Edsa revolutions we have, it can never effect a complete and clean change in the system of things or system of governance.  There will always be a rotten group of people who will defy a clean break.  They will be there to disrupt, to incite, to commit corruption and anything devious to suit their own purpose or self--preservation.

Answer 8

i prefer the marcos leadership than the ones who followed him, almost 30 years ago we were much progressive than china...

Answer 9

The main emphasis of the movement is Unity for united people --so is known People Power need to be solidified or else will break into pieces in no time.   Consolidation takes time ---normally for such movement it takes 10 to 20 to 30 years to see the real effect.  There must be a row of leaders, not only one, to workout planning, charting the map of action and predicting vision of the years to come, a new future for the people, for the nation.  For the group of leaders, Unity--the power source must be there, bright & clear.

Example of great movements, successful one were named by you.

The next one --Corruption ---a very touchy & sticky problems that most countries can't solve --even after great hard trying &trying over the years.  Some of these hard working triers are: China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand & your govt but still looking hard for the moment of success.  There are many in the world who are corrupted very badly but no one is doing anything to it -----too  hard, like rock mountain, so just leave it.  S'pore is one that try for 40+ yrs & to a certain success only, as bad apple  do appear out of the blue.   But still it is a clear example for the fight of curruption in the region.

No harm keep on trying and the good day will come, just at the horizon.