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MANILA, Philippines — Standing at the church where he was the first rector, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas delivered a scathing homily, saying that the "yellow hope" of the 1986 People Power Revolution has dimmed.
During his homily at the 40th Anniversary of the People Power Revolution on Wednesday, February 25, Villegas lamented the “squandered grace” given by the previous EDSA People Power Revolutions.
“EDSA was gospel alive. Prayer, non-violence, unity for the common good. Yet four decades later, we have squandered this grace. Let us trace the path honestly, as prophets named sin in order to be healed. Our wine ran out slowly. We did not notice the spilling,” Villegas, who was the former aide of Cardinal Jaime Sin, said.
‘Our wine is running out.’ Using a biblical metaphor, Villegas traced a timeline of decline, beginning with the "bubbling" fervor of the “first decade” under the late President Cory Aquino and Sin.
He also lamented that the nation’s once-vibrant democracy began to deteriorate during its “second decade,” as the influence of show business and entertainment distracted the public from the root causes of poverty.
He noted that this era saw the rise of a celebrity leader, former President Joseph Estrada, whose involvement in illegal gambling led to a second EDSA Revolution.
“Ousting one corrupt, drinking president, he was succeeded by another corrupt one. Both were jailed, but later pardoned. EDSA was in shambles. We prize spectacle over vigilance, ignoring warnings that without truth, democracy crumbles,” Villegas said.
A third decade, he described, as a “clean government” that promised a “straight path.” However, he lamented its descent into "trolls and populism," where "black darkness was made to look beautiful" and "bland, tasteless water" replaced the “sweet wine of freedom.”
Impunity. Villegas also said that the descent of the Filipino people, swayed by trolls and populism, led them to lose their moral compass even before former President Rodrigo Duterte was detained at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
He said that society began to justify intrinsic evils—such as the killing of drug users, the mockery of women and God and the abandonment of due process—simply because a leader’s charisma had eclipsed the collective conscience.
“Nakakahiya, nakakasuka, nakakapagtaka, bakit tayo nagkaganoon? That kind of leadership must not be given another chance in this country. This is not EDSA,” Villegas said.
(It is shameful, it is nauseating, it is bewildering—why did we become like that? That kind of leadership must not be given another chance in this country. This is not EDSA.)
The prelate further expressed a sense of shame over how power was allowed to redefine morality, noting that the voice of the church was often mocked when it warned that murderers should not lead.
“We repeat the shadows of EDSA 1986. This is not EDSA. Today, we celebrate not faded yellow ribbons, but a call to reclaim that fire. We wasted it,” he said.
Call to different sectors
The homily shifted into a series of direct challenges to various sectors of Philippine society, using the refrain "kayo naman" (your turn).
To the youth: “Torch passes, rise as true patriots. Young people and children, kayo naman, don’t chase viral posts like dumb goats. Think critically, question, discern, kill lies before sharing, form consciences by truth, not algorithms, as our church teaches. Evaluate leaders by defense of life, justice and integrity, not fleeting trends. Young people and children, be the light that pierces fake news darkness.”
To urban and rural poor: “Reject movie idols to be lawmakers. Ang para sa pelikula ay hindi para sa Senado at lalong hindi pang Malacañang. The sacred task demands service of the common good. Hindi mga artistang kinakatuwaan sa pagsayaw sa ating miting-de-advance. Learn from Dolphy. Subsidiarity calls you local voices to build a nation protecting family and neighbor from exploitation.”
To young professionals and young parents: “Live honestly. No tax cheats, no bribes to traffic enforcers. Starved trolls don’t feed fake news, making their lives jobless. In homes, do not lie to your children, dear parents and punish your children when they lie to you. Integrity at home shapes politics. Reject intrinsic evils like corruption that wounds the poor. Build families as temples of truth.”
To young politicians: “Shun political dynasties and epal culture, billboards of vanity, enter politics poor, live poorer, but richer in virtue. Public service is lofty charity, pursuing justice over power. Faith demands transforming your political parties by morals. Do not let the political parties corrupt you. Let us together exorcise the devils of the party-list system.”
To historians, academics and journalists: “Tell EDSA’s full story. Prayer, people, peace, reject revisionism—only truth heals wounds, not historical cosmetics. As guardians of memory, echo this basic wisdom: without historical truth, society drifts to totalitarianism.”
To young businessmen: “Honest dealings, profit for all. Respect workers as partners, not mere hires. Balance power justly, unions correct greed. Solidarity binds us. Dignity of labor mirrors Christ. Honest business makes good profit.”
To the ICC: “Bring to justice the murderers of drug users who also murdered our national virtues and values. Help us restore justice and order in this land that has lost its virtues. Our justice system is defective, not ideal. The political will is weak, not ideal. Irresponsibility and immaturity hover over our land and are far from ideal. We are way down below the ideal.”
To the Independent Commission for Infrastructure: “Sana more, inip na kami.” (More please, we’re tired of waiting.)
To corrupt politicians and co-perpetrators: “Kayo naman ang dapat alisin sa gobyerno. Katulad ng diktador na inalis ng Bloodless People Power. Mga Tsinador, mga hindi alam ang ibig sabihin ng 'forthwith' at pinipilipit ang impeachment process. Kayo naman, kayo naman ang mag-resign. Katulad ng nag-resign nung EDSA 2, ginhawa sa bayan kung wala tulad ninyo sa gobyerno.”
(It is your turn to be removed from government. Just like the dictator who was ousted by the Bloodless People Power. You 'Tsinadors' (pro-China/traitors), those who do not know the meaning of 'forthwith' and who twist the impeachment process. It is your turn—it is your turn to resign. Just like the one who resigned during EDSA 2, it would be a relief for the nation if there were no people like you in government.)
