history is one subject i'm always interested in. whether it be during high school or college, whenever i have a history subject on my school year or semester, i'm always looking forward to coming to that class and learn about how things came to be (except for Philippine history, for which i find it monotonous given that it's been taught year after year since grade school and has become somewhat boring). more often than not, i would score above average grades too.

this week marked the 20th anniversary of the first Philippine bloodless revolution, more popularly known as "People Power I." i never really paid much attention to it during the days leading to the event; to be honest, i completely forgot that it has been 20 years to the day. and it simply wasn't on my mind because like most of us, we were all preoccupied with celebrating valentine's day. yet when i realized that, "damn, has it been really that long? 20 years?" i suddenly felt a surge of interest in finding out what really transpired on those four days 20 years ago. i mean, i had to, being that i was only 9 years old when everything went down the way it did. my world then was solely focused on a couple of things: playing with my neighbor friends in the afternoons after school, and being in my room after dinner or watching tv.

i vaguely remember what i was doing that day. all i know was that i was in school, then suddenly we were sent home without us being given a reason why. at my age during that time, i could care less what the reason was. i mean, no school! what kind of kid wouldn't be happy at such an event? i also remember that rumors were spreading that the reason why classes were cut short was due to things getting uneasy and fighting was imminent. when i got home, i was surprised to see my dad who was also home early, telling me that "things were escalating and all office workers were asked to go home." going back further, i also recall my parents having a conversation with our neighbors after the snap election and who they voted for. our neighbors across the street were Marcos loyalists, so i heard them saying about how things will be if he wins. but most of the other neigbors voted for Aquino and predicted that change will be in the air soon.

beyond that, i couldn't–even after shaking and rattling my head for random memories to pop out–recall the events during and immediately after those four days. with that renewed interest, i sought out to research the things that went on. coincidentally, the first of the four days in history, february 22, was my day off. i got a copy of the morning paper (philippine daily inquirer) and there was a section devoted entirely to the anniversary of the people power revolution, complete with the series of events that unfolded during those times, and excerpts from people who were directly involved with what happened, as well as some of the people who took to the streets in defiance of Marcos' persistence that he won the snap election even after proof of election-rigging was rampant. i spent the entire morning, and the next two days after that, reading those articles, browsing through those timelines, admiring those people who took part and thankful for how everything ended the way it did (i failed to get a copy of yesterday's paper because of what happened at the supermarket–see entry below).

ever my curious mind, i then wondered,
"what if everything didn't happen the way it did?"
"what if people in the military didn't defect and stood by then president Marcos?"
"what if Marcos, under the reasoning 'to restore order at all costs' ordered the attack on the 'rebels'' camp even if it meant murdering hundreds of civilians in the process?"
"what if, even after being attacked, the 'rebels' fought back gallantly and took the fight back to the palace where Marcos was holding up?"
"what if people didn't heed the call of Cardinal Sin to go to the streets?"
"what if Cardinal Sin didn't make that call at all?"
"what if General Ramos and Minister Enrile didn't start it all by switching sides?"
"what if there was no cheating in the elections?"
"what if there wasn't any snap elections?"

…and a few hundred or so more questions filled my mind. i guess those questions wouldn't be there in the first place if everything during that time was that peaceful. but it wasn't. which meant that the revolution was an event waiting to happen. looking and reading at the timeline of events again and again–it sounds mushy, but it holds true–i am proud of being a filipino. what they did 20 years ago, was the foundation of what we have right now. even if things today aren't that all too well also, given the events in recent days, at least (in my opinion) things are better off now. most of you may disagree with my sentiments, but think about it for a while. though most politicians still clash with one another, it's better that way that for them to be picked up, and became "lost." it was the freedom we were then yearning for, and the one we're enjoying now.

and so i say to the people who took part in the uprising, i salute and thank you; whichever or wherever political side you're with today. you gave the people something to live for, and something to look forward to everyday. here's a single proud filipino voice uttering his gratitude to your bravery and your courage. thank you.

on another note, this past tuesday marked the 10th anniversary of, well, me being single. yep, that was the day the person behind these blog entries was "born." now that day, i remember very well as if it was yesterday. i remember the tears falling down my eyes, the pain i felt when she ignored my plea to give our relationship one more chance, the slap on my pride i felt when she called her new boyfriend on the phone in front of me, the sadness of being alone from then on, and the feeling of "i'll win her back at all costs" burning inside of me when i left her house that day (which i wasn't successful in doing).

i guess what both events have in common is that both of them are inevitable. they were destined to happen. though the breakup was indeed painful, there was really no stopping it. she made her decision and that was it. i had to live with it, or at that time, start to live with it. though it wasn't the same since then, it was the start of a journey–a journey that is still in progress–to find my way back to relationship happiness. though both of us haven't been in touch with each other for some time now, i'm guessing that she also remembers that day. maybe not as vivid as how i recall it, but maybe as a crossroad she had to take.

10 years. who would've imagined i'll be single for such a period of time? or maybe, just maybe, this is also destined to be. a journey that will never reach it's destination.