EDSA People Power @ 25

By Dr. Florangel Rosario Braid

February 18, 2011, 11:04pm

MANILA, Philippines February, 2011, will be remembered for many reasons. It is the 25th
anniversary of the EDSA People Power revolution. During this month of hearts, there has
been some kind of soul-searching among Filipinos triggered by events such as the alleged
corruption in the military followed by a series of congressional investigations and the suicide
of former AFP Chief of Staff Angelo Reyes. Several credible whistleblowers decided to go
through truth-telling sessions as they told their own tales of irregularities in the military and
other government agencies, with the hope of awakening peoples sense of social justice and
love of country. Dr. Gerry Ortega, a respected Palawan broadcaster and environmentalist,
and a vocal critic of illegal mining, was gunned down, a visible proof that impunity in the killing
of journalists had not abated. The attempt to save three Filipinos found guilty of drug
trafficking in China has once again brought to light one of the more serious challenges in our
overseas labor recruitment system, peace and order, as well as international relations.
February is also National Arts Month. The National Commission for Culture and the Arts
(NCCA) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) opened the festivities with a number
of activities. Under the auspices of NCCA, the Anito Sculpture was unveiled at the House of
Representatives by National Artist for Visual Arts Arturo Luz. With Speaker Feliciano
Belmonte Jr. as guest of honor, the sculpture was donated to the House of Representatives
by Luz and the NCCA.
CCP opened its annual Pasinaya 2011, an Open House multi-arts festival with a variety of
performing arts productions. The public was provided with a choice of over 120 performances
from the countrys art groups. More than 2,000 artists from drama, mudiv, theater, visual arts,
literature, and cinema took part in the festivities led by its resident companies the
Philippines Philharmonic Orchestra, the UST Symphony Orchestra, the Philippine Madrigal
Singers, Tanghalang Pilipino, Bayanihan, Philippine National Folk Dance Company, Ramon
Obusan Folkloric Group, Ballet Philippines, Philippine Ballet Theater, and winners of the
National Music Competition, among others. The highlight of Pasinaya was the tribute to
national hero and artist Jose Rizal. A one-thousand voice choir performed Rizals Ultimo
Adios which has been set to music by Ryan Cayabyab.
Many will agree that besides the discernible improvement in the craft of our performing artists,
one positive and visible development is the growth of an appreciative audience, especially
among the youth. This was also the comment of Manila visitors who continue to be impressed
with our vibrant culture and arts sector.
Alfredo Liongoren had been painting abstract themes and landscapes from the mid-1970s
until this time when he turned to realism and figurative art with his recent exhibit, Hulog, an
interpretation of the EDSA Revolution which celebrates its 25th anniversary this month. He
describes it as a failed revolution, asks what went wrong, as he reflects on the nature of true
change. Then he alludes to Amos in the Old Testament where the Lord tells the prophet that
He will use a plumb line to judge whether his people are straight by his standards. In the
painting, Pasanim ni Juan, he shows the latter against the heavy weight of a slab of stone
whose surface bears an image of a crocodiles head. The stone and other elements signify
the inhuman, the oppressors coming into contact with the human. He notes: I believe that
revolutions are not revolutionary enough. True revolution is not instituted by power nor might
but by the spirit of God. Ultimately, the system that reigns with love shall remain.