The Marcos clan, revolution and a forgetful country
A non-violent uprising culminated with the dictator’s flight on 25 February 1986. The US still plays a pivotal role in a delicate regional balance amid Chinese expansionism. Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s rehabilitation and reburial in Manila’s Heroes Cemetery have helped his son’s rise to power. The country’s political instability mirrors its propensity to natural disasters.
Milan (AsiaNews) – On 25 February 1986, President Ferdinand Marcos went into exile, marking the end of his dictatorship. This was the culmination of a popular uprising that became known as the People Power Revolution, as well as the EDSA Revolution, named after the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, commonly referred to by its acronym EDSA, a major circumferential road around Manila that became the focus of grassroots protests that forced the military to pull back from unarmed crowds.
The great popular movement was also called as the rosary and flower revolution, as the first (and so far the only) nonviolent revolution in post-colonial Asia, in which the country’s Catholic Church played a key, especially Archbishop Card Jaime Sin of Manila, who led the protests in its decisive phase.
Some 39 years later, the Philippines is a very different country, even if some of its contradictions persist like nepotism, corruption, powerful political families, poor human rights record by the military and the security services, social and wealth gaps, and widespread poverty.
In this context, courageous civil society groups and media actively keep the spotlight on such issues; with the support of the local Church, they continue to egg politicians on to pay attention to the public good and constitutional rights.
Today, the country of 120 million enjoys greater possibilities and credibility but its potential is still untapped.
US support allowed Marcos Sr. to control the country with brutal methods for more than 20 years; fast-forward to today, the Philippines is seen as a good broker and a progressive member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Both in Asia and the rest of the world, the Philippines plays an important role thanks to the spread of English and the presence of 10 million Filipinos living abroad.
While its former US ally removed its military bases from the country in the 1990s, it is still a valued partner, in some respects necessary to resist Chinese claims in the country’s maritime waters, but always under a watchful eye.
In fact, the country has become even more relevant strategically to US containment policy vis-à-vis China in the Asia-Pacific region.
In a country that Filipinos themselves reckon has a short memory, the election of another Marcos is more surprising abroad than at home.
Elected president in May 2022, the son of the dictator (who died in Hawaii in 1989) and his wife Imelda has a definitely different style from that of his father. While aware of his family’s role (some members hold elected offices),he has a pragmatic approach to the country's problems, one that is largely non-confrontational.
The father's rehabilitation, culminating in his reburial in 2016 in Manila’s Heroes Cemetery, contributed to the son’s election to the highest office in the country.
Civil society groups and the victims of Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s dictatorship have strongly objected to the operation to restore the late dictator’s place in history.
This was done under the previous president, Rodrigo Duterte, who is now one of Marcos Jr.’s fiercest critics and whose feisty daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, faces impeachment.
All said and done, the Philippines’ political instability seems to reflect the lay of the land, prone to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and exceptionally violent typhoons.
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18/06/2022 16:25
