The story of 2 rallies

There will be two rallies today – one in Luneta (at 5 p.m.) which was the site of a spectacular show of support for  Digong Duterte, the underdog in the presidential elections of May 2016.

The other will be in EDSA to commemorate the anniversary of the peaceful rally which toppled Marcos in 1986. The two actually make up one story. It is the story of Philippine nation building. One is about the past, the other is about the future..

EDSA failed in its mission to lift the masses out of poverty. As some of my friends say, it should not have been called a revolution but a putsch. It was between the Marcos and cronies side (new rich politicians) and the Lopez-Aquino-Cojuangco (Cory’s side of the old rich) The old rich won in EDSA and all the leftist, pro-poor rhetoric of the “rebels” fell by the wayside as they retook the wealth and governance of the country from their political rivals.

But it It also ensured that from that day on the makings of the Luneta spectacle was born. It would develop in time as a full blown revenge against the failure of EDSA.

To me that was what Luneta on May 7, 2016 was all about. The unforgettable moment victory for the people was captured s by an aerial picture of the million-plus crowd who attended.

Luneta was a different from EDSA. First, the military was not there. It was about Shirky’s “Here comes Everybody” based on the principle of organizing without organizations. Digong might have used the PDP Laban as the vehicle for his candidacy but it was an insignificant party. It was the personality of Digong himself that carried the day, his cussing and simple language to tell the people it was time to be angry. And he promised that their anger should transform the country with a new constitution into a parliamentary federal republic.

Almost as soon as the EDSA putsch was won by the old rich, we were back to the status quo and those who went and worked for what was later labelled as “peaceful revolution” were cast aside to return to their lives as if nothing had happened. 

When the elite came together to overthrow the now wealthy Marcos and cronies, the middle classes (at least those who were not part of the rich “barkada” who had barricaded the camps with their bodies to shield the rebels had become strangers, with sharp dividing lines between the rich and the middle class and the poor.

Today, all of us, government officials and ordinary people who were taken for a ride by EDSA should go to Luneta to repeat the show of force as sovereign citizens or we will lose our newly found victory by default.  The vigil begins at 5 p.m. today and will last all night until tomorrow. We will be there in solidarity with a new kind of leader – Digong Duterte who rose from obscurity to bring change to our country.

Only by doing that can we move forward in our drive for true nationhood. If we delay the fervor of Luneta May 7, 2016 will fizzle. It will become another EDSA 86.

For a while it seemed it would not happen with politicians especially the Aquino Liberals seeking to wrest power from government through whatever means. If we want to succeed this time, waiting should not be an option. The anniversary of EDSA was already upon us but still no date set for a rally to support Digong with a repeat of Luneta May 7, 2016. I was talking to supporters of President Duterte but most said, we can wait for a more opportune time.

What is the opportune time? Whoever it was who thought of it, he came up with a brilliant idea: hold it at the same time as the EDSA anniversary. He must be congratulated.

Yes, why not repeat the Digong May 7 rally of 2016 in Luneta on the same day as the EDSA of 1986?

That is today. Pack your knapsacks and go to Luneta and stay for the vigil. If we want a new country with a new constitution everybody must come. “If we want it, waiting is not an option.”

Once again I chose the May 7, 2016 Digong miting de avance as the symbol of triumph. It was only that picture which would be powerful enough to show how we have moved our nation building forward.

If we hesitate and delay the change we want, we will return to the status quo. That is what happened in EDSA 86. We did not move fast enough. 

But how do we move forward? All the signs are there that those for the status quo will use delay as their weapon against change.

It is not going to be an easy task unless Digong can bypass the political dynasties in Congress or the discredited Liberals or oligarchs of Aquino. If we are to have real change as Digong has promised he must be equipped with powers to do it. The tools of the present system will not do it.

In my humble opinion, Duterte with revolutionary powers and CJ Puno a respected moderate forming a partnership will bind the country together. The Duterte-Puno tandem offers the best chance to immediately begin to work. Duterte will be the strongman to put the politicians and oligarchs in line while Puno will form the committee of constitutionalists and begin the work for a new constitution. There should be no oligarchs or other vested interests in this committee.

But first things first. We go to Luneta today while Digong and his government prepare the ground for a new age for Filipinos. Rallies and protests are good but these are only the first step. We must be ready to follow it up immediately with peace and order and good governance. The steps to be taken after the rally. The Digong government must immediately assume the powers it needs that will complete the task for change.