27 February 1995

50 years ago

Fifty years ago today, the following words were spoken at Malacañang: ``This is an historic event in an historic city. From the time our Malay ancestors founded it more than eight centuries ago, colonial powers have fought for its conquest and domination. The Spaniards, the Dutch, the English, a Chinese pirate, our revolutionary fathers have all vied with each other for its possession. But today's event is different from any of the previous conquests and victories.''

These words were spoken by President Sergio Osmeña, and ``today's event'' was the restoration of full constitutional government to the Filipino people.

President Osmeña was responding to Gen. Douglas MacArthur's avowal: ``On behalf of my government, I now solemnly declare, Mr. President, the full powers and responsibilities under the Constitution restored to the Commonwealth, whose seat is here reestablished as provided by law. Your country, thus, is again at liberty to pursue its destiny to an honored position in the family of free nations. Your capital city, cruelly punished though it be, has regained its rightful place -- citadel of democracy in the East.... ''

General MacArthur perceived the event as not merely the restoration of full constitutional government to the Filipino people. He recalled that ``there was a feeling of tense expectancy'' among President Osmeña and other Filipino leaders

``at the unusual spectacle of a soldier voluntarily divesting himself of power in favor of a civilian.''

While we spent the past month remembering what happened in Manila 50 years ago, we concentrated on the memories of the bitter fighting in which 100,000 civilians were killed. In doing so, many of us lost sight of what the fighting was all about -- the liberation of the Philippines and the restoration of the Commonwealth.

But this forgetfulness is understandable because by and large, Feb. 27, 1945 is an empty date. It did not mark the start of anything, least of all the Philippines' use of its ``liberty to pursue its destiny to an honored position in the family of free nations.''

After all, the restoration of full constitutional government to the Filipino people did not mean very much on Feb. 27, 1945. Much of the Philippines still had to be liberated, ad fighting still was going on in Manila.

And even after the Japanese surrender, it would take some time before the country could start moving. Our people first had the difficult task of repairing the physical damage caused by the war. They also had to cope with psychological and cultural damage -- and to many present-day observers, they did not quite succeed.

Just two days ago, we marked another date. We celebrated the ninth anniversary of the toppling of a dictatorship. Nine years ago, we rejoiced in the restoration of freedom and we looked forward to the progress and prosperity that freedom is supposed to make possible.

But the good things did not come automatically. The persons who led the fight against the dictatorship went their separate ways, and President Aquino, like President Osmeña before her, demonstrated that honesty and good will are no substitutes for public administration and technical skills.

Each succeeding year, the celebration of the Feb. 25 EDSA Revolt increasingly became an occasion for soul-searching and self-criticism rather than joy and self-congratulations for greater progress and increased prosperity.

We have not reached the point of regarding Feb. 25 the way disregard Feb. 27 -- and fortunately, there still are many Filipinos who are trying hard to make the EDSA Revolt live up to its promise. Without them, Feb. 25 may go the way of Feb. 27.