The nation will soon mark the 40th anniversary of EDSA, a time of simplicity, complexity, and mythmaking. Four days before the Snap Election of February 1986, Renato Constantino wrote insights in the fortnightly paper WE Forum that deserves our pause today: “I view the current electoral exercise with ‘amiable skepticism.’ The frenetic activities have diverted the attention of the people from basic issues. Both Marcos and Aquino view the economic situation within the parameters of the IMF program. Economic issues have been depoliticized. . . . “The opposition is performing a useful service in the general struggle against authoritarian rule and therefore is contributing to an aspect of the protest movement. But unless they present this question and the attendant violations of human rights as consequences of an economic program that benefits foreign interests and unless they propose concrete measures that will reverse present programs already in place, there can be no end to repressive measures. This is because a neocolonial economic blueprint can only be implemented by authoritarian means. . . . “Traditional politics rides high again. Both candidates have succeeded in forging an anti-communist consensus. . . On the [U.S.] bases issue, there is no basic difference between the two. The Americans must be happy about this. . . Neither candidate is courageous enough to confront American imperialism. . . . “The people who want to vote for the opposition must do this as a sign of protest. They should vote without having any illusions that there will be meaningful change unless we secure real independence. “My fearless forecast: another American victory.”

WE Forum, 4 February 1986