On February 25, the Filipino people will commemorate the 40th anniversary of the EDSA revolt. In 1986, the people ousted the traitorous, dictator and despised plunderer Ferdinand Marcos Sr. Though it failed to change the foundation of the semicolonial and semifeudal system, the historical event serves as a lesson that only revolutionary struggle can bring finally down a fascist, corrupt and insufferable regime.

The outpouring of millions of Filipinos to EDSA forty years ago erupted because of the widespread electoral fraud in favor of Marcos Sr. More than that, it is the result of a 14-year life-and-death struggle and sacrifice of the people. It owes its victory to the thousands of workers, peasants, youth, women and ordinary people, as well as fighters of the New People’s Army, who, in armed and unarmed means, persevered and offered their lives in the brave resistance against the fascist dictatorship. We owe to them the freedoms we enjoy now.

Though the Marcoses were ousted then, the rotten ruling system remained. Pseudo-democratic and puppet regimes prevailed who did nothing to hold accountable the Marcos dynasty, until they ultimately returned to the Malacañang through Marcos Jr.

Then and now, corruption, brutality and suffering still form part of the Marcos brand. Marcos Jr has used his authority to junk the cases against his family regarding their ill-gotten wealth. Right in the face of the afflicted and hungry people, they brought back to the palace their lavish parties, outright cronyism and nepotism, and impunity of government officials.

Like his father, he had expensive infrastructure built to cover-up the wanton theft of the public coffers and lead the unprecedented corruption that surpasses the time of the dictatorship. When his lead role in this was exposed, Marcos connived with so-called “anti-corruption” politicians like Akbayan to steer public attention towards the reactionary elections in 2028, instead of holding him accountable. Short of an outright declaration of martial law, the fascist military and police lay siege to communities where the people struggle against poverty and the rotten system.

Four decades after the EDSA revolt, the Filipino masses continue to suffer. Wages remain low, peasants are landless, prices are high, there is no free education or quality social services, the environment is being plundered and the people’s rights are violated. Only the face of the ruling regime has changed but nothing has changed with the country.

But this is not to say that the people’s resistance to the dictator failed. Instead, it is the continuing lesson of EDSA that the people need not wait for the elections or to pin their hopes on changing the number one puppet of the ruling regime. The people themselves must hold power to truly uphold their interest — not the puppets of US imperialism, comprador bourgeoisie, landlords and bureaucrat capitalists. They must unite to bring down the semicolonial and semifeudal system through carrying forward the people’s democratic revolution, and eventually found the establish the people’s democratic government.

The youth are also called upon to join the New People’s Army and take part in building a new and just society for the Filipino people.