RP celebration of 21st anniversary of 1986 People Power Revolution lack key players

By Ronron
February 25, 2007

The Philippines commemorated on Sunday the 1986 People Power Revolution sans the key actors of the historic moment that ended the dictatorial rule for over two decades of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos and restored democracy in the country.

In culmination of the four-day commemoration of the 21st anniversary of the People Power Revolution, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo led yesterday the flag raising ceremony at the People Power monument in Quezon City, attended by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, and Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte, among others.

The lone presence, however, of former President Fidel Ramos from among those who led the 1986 bloodless revolt was very noteworthy as it just proves Ramos’ complaint last Thursday that indeed, there is lesser interest in that defining moment in Philippine history.

Former President Corazon Aquino, who was placed at the helm by the uprising, replacing Marcos, only attended the holy mass that followed at 11 am at the EDSA Shrine in Ortigas, Mandaluyong City, while Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, the Defense Secretary of Marcos who defected together with Ramos, was not around in both events.

“Of course, they have their own reasons. Sen. Enrile said he has his own schedule. Of course, we cannot just compel them, especially Mrs. Aquino because his son is busy the senatorial campaign… Let us not give a bad meaning to their absence here,” Ermita said in an interview with reporters.

Aquino’s eldest child, Benigno Simeon III, popularly known as “Noynoy,” who is Tarlac Representative, is running for the Senate under the Genuine Opposition ticket.

“What is important with EDSA (People Power Revolution) is not any of the faces or the politicians or the factions. It’s not even the politics of it. It’s the idea that if we work together, we can do great things,” said People Power Commission member Alex Magno.

In her speech, Arroyo discouraged another People Power in the country, even as she benefited from it in 2001 when then President Joseph Estrada was ousted by what is called now as the EDSA II People Power Revolution due to corruption charges, saying this does no look good anymore to the international community.

“In 2001, the world tolerated EDSA. The world will not, however, forgive another EDSA, but would instead condemn the Philippines as a country whose political system is hopelessly unstable, and the Filipinos as among the finest people in the world but who always shoot themselves in the foot,” Arroyo said.

“Who would invest in the Philippines? How would we finally bring the gains of the economy to the average Filipino?” she added.

The President said that while the celebration of People Power requires a rethinking of the past, it is equally important to honor also “those from the present (who are) working for the future.”

“People Power is about the heroism of the many, who, in their daily labors and trust in the Almighty, which was a very important characteristic of the 1986 People Power, is about all of them who bear faith in a new Philippines,” said Arroyo.

She asked the Filipinos to use the “People Power” magic in realizing the national goal of pushing the Philippines towards having a stable politics, economy, and order, instead of creating noise in the streets and fostering political feud.

During the simple program, Arroyo awarded Certificates of Recognition to several groups that exemplified the spirit of People Power in their various undertakings.

These are: Gawad Kalinga, which has established more than 600 villages towards fulfilling its vision of building 700,000 low-cost homes nationwide; Pondo ng Pinoy (Funds of Filipinos), a religious group calling on the public to share 25 centavos daily to generate funds for their livelihood and micro-financing projects; and the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW’s) for their sacrifices, excellence, and increasing dollar remittances that have propelled the economy forward.

The “Mahal Kong Pilipinas” Posthumous Award was also presented by Arroyo for the late Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin in recognition of his important role in calling for moral recovery and return to democracy that led to the success of the February 1987 People Power Revolution.

At the holy mass, Arroyo only sent Ermita to represent her, who sat immediately next to Aquino at the front row of the EDSA Shrine chapel. Fr. Romeo Intengan officiated the mass.

Aquino took back her support for the Arroyo administration after the latter figured in alleged electoral fraud in 2004 as shown by the “Hello Garci” tape that surfaced in June 2005. The former President even went as far as asking for the resignation of Arroyo./DMS