Last Friday, November 18, the Filipino people didn’t know that they were in for a big surprise from the Marcoses. Just ten days after the Supreme Court rejected all petitions challenging the proposed burial of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., the public woke up to nationwide surprise, confusion, and anger because of a sudden news that, what probably can be considered as the most controversial interment in Philippine history, was already happening in front of their eyes.
This sudden news also resulted to nationwide rallies at the same day where people who opposed the burial of the late dictator at the LNMB gathered. The Metro Manila rally held at the People Power Monument was held at 5P.M. on November 18 with the crowd mostly being students from the University of the Philippines Diliman, Miriam College, and Ateneo de Manila University.
Perhaps the attendees of the rallies were what also came as a surprise to the public. No one thought that the Millennials, the generation known for giving high importance and attention to the latest gadgets, foodstagram, #FeedGoals, and #TravelGoals, would also be the people who would spend hours standing in the rain with placards saying “Make busina for hustisya.”
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The crowd was not only composed of students from UP, Miriam, and Ateneo but was also attended by students from different schools across Metro Manila. Despite the difference in their Alma Matter, these students gathered together and responded to the call of the times.
Inquirer shared an interview via email with James Alih, a 24 year-old student at San Beda College-Manila, who was one of the people who spent hours walking and standing, amplifying the protest.
James was asked if he considered the risk of being injured if things get out of hand given the presence of the anti-riot police in front of them and he said: “The greater risk was the danger of being remembered in history as one of those who bowed their heads and let such ridicule be committed against our people.”
“I think that was the only consideration most of the young individuals had at that time. Marching on the streets to Edsa, for that particular purpose, allowed me to connect with my heroes, Ka Pepe Diokno, Ka Jovi Salonga, Sen. Lorenzo Tañada and others who struggled during the Marcos dictatorship,” he said.
“That brief moment we had on Edsa, denouncing the burial of the late dictator, the rhetoric, the grief, the disbelief and the conviction in our unity and cause, was but borrowed magic from those great Filipinos who fought for our democracy.”
When asked about his opinion about millennials not being politically conscious before November 18, James answered: “I think that’s right, partly because the youth felt that the country was still plagued by corruption, which repelled them presumably due to their idealistic outlook.”
“But that did not bar the youth from claiming their stake in our political processes. I think the demonstration on Nov. 18 was a clear expression that this time they are willing to commit whatever it takes to regain their place in influencing decisions that eventually affect them.”
James was also asked if he was willing to keep marching in the streets to support a cause.
“The willingness is there, but the real challenge is to innovate. We must contemplate the lessons of the past, particularly how government in Marcos’ time used the ‘radical’ demonstrations as one of the excuses for declaring martial law. If our elders fail to reflect on our history and blindly allow Marcos to be buried in the LNMB, then we must not return the favor by forgetting this valuable lesson. We must be the voice of sobriety… if the streets once again call upon the youth, then so be it, we shall answer.”
Cecilia Ejercito, a 26-year-old digital account manager, shared her rally experience through Inquirer with an article entitled “On Edsa on a Friday night.” In it she quoted an acquaintance who told her: “’Today we divide who among us has stood on the right side of history.’ That drove me to Edsa.”
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Some of the greatest protests that shook the world were protest that were led by students – the protests in Paris and Ohio in the late ‘60s, the Diliman Commune and First Quarter Storm in Manila in early ‘70s, and to some extent, the Edsa 1 in ’86 and Edsa 2 in 2001.
While Millennials are being perceived by older generations as the generation that cares more about their cyberworld and social media popularity than current events and relevant news, the November 18 event proved that Millennials has no problem juggling their #goals and fighting for what they believe is right.
If anything, this shocking burial proved one thing for this generation: when the streets call on them, the Millennials shall answer.
Source: (lifestyle.inquirer.net)
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