[Rappler’s Best] Midlife crisis

On the week that we celebrate 40 years of ousting a dictator in a civilian-backed military revolt that inspired the world, we find ourselves where we ought not to be: 

• A former president is detained at The Hague on charges he ordered the mass killing of his own people. His pre-trial begins today, February 23, and will last till Friday, February 27. Duterte once told the International Criminal Court (ICC) to come and get him, Lian Buan notes in this piece; today, he’s on trial. The hearings are meant to help judges determine if there’s enough evidence to proceed with the case. Lian is in The Hague to cover the hearings with Michelle Abad. Here’s a guide to our coverage. Lian interviewed Duterte’s counsel Nicholas Kaufman over the weekend; watch it here.
• The dictator’s son, elected four years ago on the back of a well-oiled revisionist machinery, is still grappling to find his presidential footing, weighed down by the worst corruption scandal to hit the country since his father’s kleptocratic regime. Some lawmakers, in fact, are implicating him in the scandal. Dwight de Leon tells us more about alleged text messages that supposedly incriminate him. 
• The daughter of the detained tyrant now threatens to become the next president, declaring her bid last week in what Joey Salgado describes as a power move meant to stave off her impeachment, consolidate allies, and reframe the narrative two years ahead of the presidential race.
• A nephew of democracy icon and EDSA pillar Cory Aquino blunders his way in an interview, where he talked about a non-existent ideal situation for victims of extrajudicial killings.
• EDSA, which brought together all shades and stripes and status 40 years ago, has ceased to be a platform for shared political goals and aspirations. On Wednesday, February 25, the 40th anniversary of the People Power Revolution that threw out the Marcos family, various groups will be mounting separate rallies along the stretch of EDSA. What’s stopping them from sharing one stage? Read it here.

Take all that, plus the spectacle and hoopla that surrounded Marcos’ visit to pink territory on Saturday, February 21. And then take a deep breath. 

Our present is running toward our past, to borrow from Arundhati Roy’s powerful memoir. This 40-year-old so-called restored democracy is caught in a debilitating midlife crisis.

But memory, as they say, is resistance. And so we choose to remember what brought us together a lifetime ago — to collectively hold power to account.

• Rappler reporters revisit the historic landmarks that define the Philippines’ people power — from the EDSA Shrine to Radio Veritas in Quezon City, to the Carmelite Monastery in Cebu to Silliman University’s catacombs in Dumaguete, to Camp Crame and La Salle Green Hills. Watch all of them here. 
• A nun, a journalist, and a former student leader come together in this film to talk about those four days of February four decades ago — what they meant then and what they mean today. Watch it here.
• Dave Veridiano asks: Do we need another EDSA? 
• Marites Vitug sits down with political scientist Aries Arugay to look at EDSA in today’s lens, and to understand how, and why, we dropped the ball. Watch it here.

In the aftermath of the flood control corruption scandal, citizens are reclaiming people power through a nationwide initiative that turns vigilance into an accountability tool. “Bisto Proyekto: Ang Bagong People Power” was launched on Saturday by civil society groups, church leaders, and government officials. A silver lining.

Here are some of Rappler’s bests that you shouldn’t miss: 

• Lian Buan profiles the Filipino lawyers who will represent victims in the ICC case against Duterte.
• Isagani de Castro Jr. gives the pink movement a reality check — the curse of repeat presidential candidates. Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo, for one, says she’s focused on managing her city. 
• Ana Santos tells us that Bad Bunny is more than his upbeat music. 
• John Molo writes that the opposition simply has two choices for the 2028 presidential race. 
  Jairo Bolledo explains the urgency of updating today’s traffic rules.

Internal word war averted? PCG spox says he didn’t call DFA a ‘troll’

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From Duterte ally to Marcos appointee: Who is Melvin Matibag, the new NBI chief?

Nearly six months after the post was vacated, the National Bureau of Investigation has a new chief.

Who is Pacquiao’s next foe Ruslan Provodnikov?

The 47-year-old Pacquiao returns to the ring in April.

‘Tiny Library’: A new Kalinga community project for 2026

‘We can attract visitors and tourists to the village to bear witness to our own development ambitions.’

How Reuters captured the photo of former prince Andrew leaving custody

The photo that shook the British monarchy.

‘Rappler Investigates’ to launch on Radyo Veritas with anti-corruption group TAPAT

‘Rappler Investigates’ seeks to widen the discussion on fighting abuse of power and state resources.

– Rappler.com

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The views expressed by the writer are his/her own and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Rappler.