The EDSA Revolution: A Battle Won Thirty-One Years Ago but a War That Hasn't Been Won.

Thirty one years ago, the Filipino masses took the streets in Manila to revolt peacefully against the authoritarian regime of President Ferdinand E. Marcos, whose twenty year reign over the Philippines had plunged the country into deep economic recession and had been stained by continuous human rights violations, most particularly a nine year period of Martial Law from 1972 to 1981. The protests were successful, leading Marcos to resign his position to flee to Hawaii into exile, while Corazon Aquino, wife of former Senator and opposition leader Benigno Aquino, and Marcos' opponent in the elections earlier that year, took over the presidency.

The successful outcome to the EDSA Revolution (named for the EDSA Highway in Manila, where a bulk of the protests took place) led to the end of a dark period in Philippine history, the return of dignity to a nation whom had that all taken away during the previous two decades. The masses, who came armed with no guns, tanks, and other weapons, but instead armed with prayers, the rosary, and a million united voices, restored democracy and hope to the nation.

We became, once again, a nation that looked upon to her democratic institutions for guidance. Economic growth, which has proven to be politically agnostic over the last three presidencies going from President Arroyo's term to now President Duterte's term, was fostered once more, continuing on to this day to the point where the country is now one of Asia's growing tigers.

However, even the successful outcome of EDSA was not the catalyst to covering some holes in the armor within Philippine society. Such problems lingered on in the years following the EDSA Revolution, but persist and are evident mostly today. Political dynasties with the sole intention of stealing from the people and plundering the nation's wealth still persist, with their hold on power seemingly one that will last a lifetime. Names like the Binay's, Sison's, Enrile's and more continue to flourish all around the country, and progress continues to be bleak and slow.

While basketball is seen as the nation's national pastime, I would argue that corruption from our politicians has taken that title over the past two to three decades. Plunder and corruption still runs rampant. Politicians have gamed the political system within the country, still firmly enjoying support and legitimacy while proving their criminal worth in the form of assets and liabilities within their SALNs. Ferdinand Marcos may not be alive now, but his spirit of corruption still remains true to this day.

Worst, not even the successful outcome of EDSA prevented the return of the Marcos family to the Philippines, and the ongoing seemingly rehabilitation of the Marcos name we see today. Ferdinand's wife Marcos still serves today as a Congresswoman out of her native Leyte and ran a close campaign for the Presidency in 1992, while son Bongbong Marcos came close to winning the Vice Presidency in the most recent elections last May. Daughter Imee serves as Governor of her home province in Ilocos Norte.

The point I am trying to make is that while the Philippines won a key and important battle during the conclusion of those three days back in February 1986, the Filipino people did not win the war. Such problems with corruption still persist, and arguably at a greater rate than we have seen before. The Philippines became a country controlled by corrupt political dynasties, a fate that seems impossible to be driven away from.

Ironically, while EDSA spawned many revolutions within the years that followed, notably in Poland and other former Soviet-bloc nations, the mother of the peaceful revolutionary movement has seen the least success with regards to meaningful and long-lasting change from such a movement. The same problems that persisted then still persist to varying degrees. Even today, historical revisionism has led to many Filipinos now doubting the effects of the EDSA Revolution, seeing the removal of Marcos from power as a negative.

The movement that inspired so many around the world is now being seen by many as a mistake.

In many ways, the Filipino people were not ready for such a movement at such a time. Looking at today, many people, especially the youth, were simply not taught inherently to appreciate and look upon what EDSA achieved - the end to a long and brutal dictatorship. Essentially, we took for granted the removal of Marcos, and any perspective since has been lost and buried.

As such, many now subscribe to the thinking that only one man, even through dictatorial means, can save and lead the nation forward. Human Rights can be shelved if it means cutting into crime, no matter if we truly know or not that the accused was truly a part of the crime in question. Going behind judicial means now is now legitimate. Marcos was a hero.

Basically, the aspects that made Marcos powerful during his reign are now more acceptable to many around the country, thirty one years after the resignation of Marcos from the Presidency.

Our country still has a long way to go. The events since EDSA make that clear. In many ways, our country is at a cross-roads regarding what is right and what is wrong, and the clear direction our Philippines should take as it forges along for the future.

EDSA must not be forgotten. It should remind us what the Filipino is truly capable of, and that if we dig deep down, we can make meaningful change through our own voices and through our own means. Evil, tyranny, and the malignant forces of society is not invincible. Evil can be defeated.

At the same time, EDSA should also remind us that our country has a long way to go to fostering that truly meaningful, and lasting change many of us desire for the betterment of our country. The same negative stenches of a corrupted society still linger on, perhaps as strong or even stronger than before.

The battle may have been won thirty one years ago, but the struggle to truly make a meaningful, lasting change to our beloved country still lingers on thirty one years later. In short, while the spirit of the EDSA Revolution should be remembered and celebrated today, the resolution and outcome still has not been realized yet.

In short, a battle was one thirty one years ago, but the war is still being fought even to this day.