In marking the 29th anniversary of EDSA-I today, we could inquire, what happened to the Filipino nation which “people power” rescued from the Marcos “dictatorship” and returned to “democracy”? Under mounting pressure to step down because of his failed command which led to the massacre of 44 Special Action Force police commandos in Mamasapano, Maguindanao on Jan. 25, President B. S. Aquino 3rd has downgraded the celebration for reasons known only to himself. But Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, the archbishop of Manila, will be presiding over a solemn High Mass at the EDSA Shrine at noon, to “celebrate 29 years of freedom,” according to the church announcement.

I felt something run inside me when I heard that sound bite at the Shrine yesterday. Obviously, not much thinking had gone into it; but perhaps an innocent parish clerk had composed it: we sometimes use words because they sound good, without bothering much about their real meaning. But for those who know the meaning of words and what goes beyond words, our freedoms and democracy have been savaged these last four years by the very forces that were supposed to protect them from harm.

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