BOWWBLOG #40: The Fire We Must Not Let Die: Reflections on EDSA at 40 and the Courage Still Required
How the trillion-peso flood control scam and the anti-dynasty fight reveals the shape of our unfinished revolution
WHAT: The Dream That Drowned in Greed
On February 25, 2026, we mark the 40th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution. Four decades ago, the world watched as Filipinos peacefully reclaimed their democracy from a dictator. It was a moment of such profound hope that it inspired nations—and more importantly, it inspired many of our own kababayan abroad to return home, believing they could help build a nation worthy of that sacrifice .
Yet here we are. Still labeled the "sick man of Asia." Still watching while the same old families feast. As of early 2026, the Philippines is ranked as the 3rd most corrupt country in Southeast Asia, outperforming only Cambodia and Myanmar. What I would call a "wicked reality" that brings with it a set of conditions that constrain us from moving forward.
Two massive "containers" in our socio-political ecosystem explain, for me, why we remain a developmental laggard in Southeast Asia:
1. The corruption that has become a second government. The revelations of the ₱1.9 trillion flood control fund scam—"ghost projects," substandard infrastructure crumbling before completion, and billions siphoned through "unprogrammed appropriations" . Up to 25% taken as commissions, leaving only 30-40% for actual construction. Nine construction firms under one family's control bidding on the same projects . This is not theft; this is a parallel system of extraction.
2. The anti-dynasty provision that has sat toothless since 1987. Article II, Section 26 of our Constitution prohibits political dynasties—but only "as defined by law." For 39 years, a Congress dominated by dynasties has refused to define itself out of existence. Nearly 80% of district representatives and a significant number of senators belong to dynastic clans .
Now, finally, there is movement. Senator Risa Hontiveros is conducting nationwide consultations. The House has begun its own hearings. Perhaps succumbing to real impeachment threat, President Marcos Jr. (son of the former dictator Ferdinand Marcos) has included it among priority measures. But the battle is far from won. House Bill 6771, filed by Speaker Dy and presidential son Sandro Marcos, has been condemned by 31 business and civil society groups as a "pro-dynasty measure" filled with loopholes—permitting succession, rotation, and substitution that would leave dynasties untouched .
SO WHAT: Why This Matters Beyond Politics
The absence of an anti-dynasty law isn't just a legal gap—it's a cultural wound. It has normalized corruption, setting in motion a set of conditions that turn public office into "family business." It has created provinces trapped under the tightest dynastic control in the deepest poverty. It has fostered a learned helplessness where we look the other way, where we say "ganyan talaga," (it is the way it is, implying helplessness) where we wait for someone else to save us .
But I refuse to succumb.
This is why I (and members of the TLC Team) have recently deepened my engagement with the Inner Development Goals (IDGs). The thesis is simple yet profound: external, structural change is unsustainable without corresponding inner, personal transformation. The 17 UN SDGs are failing—only 15% of targets are on track with four years left. Because we cannot build systems we are not evolved enough to sustain.
The IDGs offer a framework for that evolution across five dimensions:
· Being: Inner compass, integrity, presence.
· Thinking: Complexity awareness, systems thinking.
· Relating: Empathy, compassion, humility.
· Collaborating: Trust, co-creation, inclusive mindset.
· Acting: Courage, optimism, perseverance.
No one person has all the answers. But if we work together—not in competition, but in authentic partnership—we might just change the direction of this slow-moving ship. As Margaret Mead said: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
NOW WHAT: Your Role in the Unfinished Revolution
My dear Kababayans, this is not a moment for despair. This is a moment for informed, courageous, collective action.
Here is what you can do, starting this week:
1. Educate Yourself on the Real Bill (Inner Work)
· Action: Read about HB 6771 and compare it with the proposals of genuine reform groups. Understand the difference between a "pro-dynasty" version and a true anti-dynasty law. The 31 civil society groups have published their position—seek it out .
· Why: We cannot fight what we do not understand. Knowledge is the beginning of empowerment.
2. Make Your Voice Heard (Relating & Collaborating)
· Action: Contact your congressional representative. A simple, respectful message: "I am your constituent. I am watching how you vote on the anti-dynasty bill. Please support a genuine law, not one with loopholes." Use the ongoing public consultations to attend or submit written input .
· Why: Elected officials count silences as consent. Break the silence.
3. Join the "Trillion Peso March" (Acting)
· Action: On February 22 and 25, join the indignation rallies at the EDSA Shrine and People Power Monument. Over 11,000 police officers will be deployed to ensure peaceful assembly. Show up. Be counted. Let them see that we are still here.
· Why: EDSA was built by bodies in the street. Our presence says: "We have not forgotten. We will not stop watching."
4. If Congress Fails, Support a People's Initiative (Systemic Action)
· Action: If by year-end Congress passes a "half-baked" bill, the Constitution allows citizens to propose laws directly through a People's Initiative. Digital systems using QR codes and biometrics are being discussed to make signature verification efficient . Stay informed through groups like Kontra Dinastiya and be ready to sign.
· Why: When the system refuses to reform itself, the sovereign people must act. We are the sovereign.
5. Practice the IDGs Daily (Being)
· Action: Like and Follow The TLC Solution and IDG Philippines on Facebook and choose one IDG dimension to cultivate this week. Perhaps "Courage" (Acting) to speak up at a family gathering about corruption. Perhaps "Complexity Awareness" (Thinking) to see how dynasties and poverty are linked. Perhaps "Presence" (Being) to sit with your grief without being consumed by it.
· Why: The inner work fuels the outer work. We cannot sustain the fight if we are burned out.
I end with the words of a Catholic education group preparing for EDSA 40: "Governance must be anchored in accountability, respect for human rights, transparency, and service to the common good."
This is the EDSA we must reclaim—not as nostalgia, but as a living, breathing demand.
Will you join me?
-Susan Grace Rivera
Posted on: February 15, 2026
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