TIO MORENO
7 February 2025
GOD SAVE THE PHILIPPINES
Editorial: Tio Moreno
The year 1986 was a time when the nation stood at the crossroads of dictatorship and democracy.
The call "Laban!” associated with Corazon Aquino's campaign “Tama na! Sobra na! Palitan na!" echoed not just as a prayer, but as a desperate plea for liberation from the clutches of Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s authoritarian regime.
It was also during this tumultuous period that Juan Ponce Enrile, then Marcos’s Defense Minister, became a central figure in the unfolding drama that eventually led to the People Power Revolution.
As one of Marcos’s most trusted allies, Enrile had been a key architect of Martial Law, which was declared in 1972 and had plunged the country into a dark era of repression, censorship, and human rights abuses.
Yet, by 1986, Enrile found himself at odds with the very regime he had helped build. The catalyst for his defection was the growing discontent within the military, particularly among the Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM), a group of young officers who were disillusioned with Marcos’s rule and the corruption that had permeated the highest echelons of power.
It was during the face of an impending military assault by Marcos loyalists, that Enrile and Fidel V. Ramos made their stand, calling on the Filipino people to support their cause.
What followed was nothing short of miraculous—an uprising that saw millions of Filipinos, armed with nothing but their faith and courage, converge on EDSA to protect the defectors and demand Marcos’s ouster.
The phrase "God Save the Philippines" took on a profound meaning during those four days in February. It was a cry for divine intervention, but it was also a testament to the power of collective action.
Marcos Sr., realizing that he had lost the support of both the military and the masses, fled to Hawaii on February 25, 1986, ending his 20-year rule.
In retrospect, the events of 1986 serve as a powerful reminder of the Filipino people’s capacity for courage and resilience.
"God Save the Philippines" is the message of VP Sara Duterte today.
This is not just a prayer.
This is a call to action.
A declaration that the fate of the nation lay not in the hands of a few powerful individuals, but in the collective will of its people.
When asked about the country's situation, Vice President Inday Sara Duterte responded, "Sobrang malala!" (It's extremely bad!).
And indeed, it is.
The actions of Bongbong Marcos, Martin Romualdez, and Liza Marcos have pushed the country into deeper crisis—leaving the Filipino people to suffer from skyrocketing prices, a collapsing healthcare system, low wages, an unconstitutional budget, and more.
As we reflect on this moment in our history, let us remember that the fight for justice, freedom, and democracy is far from over.
“Sobrang malala na!”
May God save the Philippines—but let us never forget that it is also our duty to save ourselves.
Let us save ourselves from the tyranny of Marcos administration.
Lahat— para sa Diyos, bayan, at bawat pamilyang Pilipino.
