When, what, and why we remember

February is a month that reminds us about significant matters and events as a people, as a nation.

The day of love, commercially limited to the 14th, may be the most popular day of this month remembered and celebrated by millions. Juniors and seniors in schools may see this month also as memorable because of their prom and their dates. Among Catholics among Filipinos and throughout the world, our Lady of Lourdes is another occasion for celebrating February.

Cebu City also celebrates Charter Day in February. This year, though, Cebuanos will witness how politics can move the original historical date to fit certain political expediency.

Pray tell, is there anywhere else in the world where historical dates are not celebrated on the exact day to fit the schedule of a particular guest? This year, Cebuanos, especially the students and the young, have been told that Charter Day in Cebu City will be celebrated not on February 24 but instead two days earlier because one awardee selected by the city's politicians cannot be available on the real historical date.

What is Cebu City therefore celebrating February 24th? The historical Charter day itself that took place decades ago or this year's awards or awardees? Why and when should the people of Cebu celebrate Charter Day?

Why can't the people of Cebu celebrate the 24th for its original historical reason, the Charter? Why don't Cebu's leaders leave history be and allow the constituents to remember the truly essential, not the transient political? Why must Charter Day be moved instead to February 22 for the superficial political reason of awardees unavailable on the 24th?

History should never be made to shift for political reasons. Doing so trivializes and nullifies the real essence of the historical event.

There are so many historical essentials compromised by many politicians nowadays. Reflect, for example, on the focus on the rush to change the Charter rather than on educating our people about why and how the Charter needs to be changed. Will Charter Change bring historical change or will Charter Change bring awards and rewards to only a number of privileged politicians?

Also factor in the historical EDSA and people power. Exactly 20 years ago, millions of Filipinos converged to show themselves and the world that they have had enough of abusive, greedy, corrupt, dishonest politics, of military rule, of a conjugal dictatorship.

EDSA 1: a brief shining moment in this nation's history when Filipinos from all walks of life converged to share and unite their strength and their resolve to oust the Malacañang overstaying tenants. What was unthinkable became possible: Filipinos created and defined their history by going to EDSA and the world remembers this nation and our people for their brand of People Power, sariling atin, tatak Filipino!

History is taught to our young, both formally, in schools or through media and informally, through homes, groups, and organizations. Will EDSA and PEOPLE POWER be celebrated this year and will the youth ever remember and be constantly reminded to remember these historic events?

There are those who are saying that the spirit of EDSA fueled by PEOPLE POWER has died and therefore, does not need to be celebrated. We disagree. Year in, year out, our people, especially the young and the hopeless, the desperate beyond the Ultra audience, should be reminded about the historic face of national hope, unity, and victory at EDSA. Even if the spark of change did not last long, the spark was there, the spark of change was real and was viewed and witnessed and experienced not only by those in EDSA but seen and confirmed by the whole world.

How can we not celebrate EDSA and PEOPLE Power this year? How can we allow a personal, individual remembrance of EDSA when what happened 20 years ago was a collective, historic, national brave act of millions of Filipinos to topple an unjust, uncaring, dishonest, corrupt government?

How can one politician, again, try to twist or negate the real essence of this 20-year old proud shining moment of Filipinos by not celebrating the occasion as a whole nation?