Where Do We Go From Here?

I wish I could be upbeat about commemorating Edsa Dos, but all I can think about are the traffic snarls in my neck of the woods–a stone’s throw from Edsa–attending whatever festivites are being held to celebrate the first anniversary of the second People Power uprising. There were plans to make it a month-long celebration, from January 20 to February 25, to mark both Edsa revolutions. As my publisher would say, Susmariosep! That’s really taking it a bit too far.

Do we really have something to celebrate? A year ago, there were no illusions: we all knew it would be a difficult time, that getting the Great Philanderer/Plunderer out of Malacañang was only the first step of a long and difficult journey. But the year since then has been fraught with peril, with monsters and dragons that we didn’t even imagine. Friends have turned into foes, civil society has turned uncivil in expressing how they feel about the current government (which they helped in no small measure to install, they never tire of reminding us) and amidst it all are persistent rumors and whispers of coup and destabilization plots.

"Coup" is practically synonymous with RAM, originally the Reform the Armed Forces Movement, now the Rebolusyonaryong Alyansang Makabansa. Then–in the 1980s–it was a shadowy movement of military men with clear and defined objectives; now it is a non-governmental organization engaged in livelihood projects and running a school in Bulacan where its members’ children can study at half price. Unequivocally, RAM chair Commodore Domingo Calajate (fondly called "One half" by some close to him) assured us that RAM is not plotting a coup, will not participate in a coup, is not supporting or encouraging anyone to mount a coup.

So why are coup jitters still in the air? Are groups other than RAM crying "coup" and seeking to make mischief? Is it an indication of how fragile the situation is that we jump even when there’s nary a shadow round the corner? As long as there are power-hungry people and people with interests to protect and personal agenda to pursue there will always be destabilization plots. The choice is whether we will let them get the better of us.

Where do we go from here? We’ve got to decide to move on and then, difficult as it may be, really get a move on.