For a good part of my life, at least for a few minutes almost every day, I am at EDSA. But talk about EDSA in another breadth and I can tell you I was never there.
I'm old enough to have witnessed the 3 EDSA events unfold.
EDSA for me will always be the 1986 People Power Movement. I was a high school senior then who considered the coup a breather from classes. The country stood still then. People stopped working and went to EDSA. My family stayed home but prepared food for heroes. Although they had to wake me up from slumber when Marcos left, I felt proud of what happened in the country. For a while there, my favorite song was Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo.
In 2001, EDSA Dos happened. I was already into fellowship then. A prominent mentor was encouraging us to join the rallies in our white coats. I never did. I was busy studying for a board exam. I thought about missing all the action in EDSA in 1986 and thought that I could make up for it by going to EDSA Dos. But I decided there were more important things to do. And frankly, I didn't think it would end so soon. Unlike EDSA 1, life went on. I had to go to work. I had a glimpse of EDSA Dos though as I took the MRT to and from work. My friends and I watched Erap's departure from Malacanang in the office.
I never considered joining EDSA III. I thought that this was one time too many. Problems cannot be solved by taking to the streets. And so soon too after EDSA Dos.
