MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III led the flag-raising ceremony at the People Power Monument to mark the start of activities commemorating the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution.
Aquino was also joined by Vice President Jejomar Binay, former presidents Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada and other top officials.
This year’s theme was a call for the people to put their stake in nation-building.
The president signed the commitment wall and has vowed to do what is right. Governors and businessmen also wrote their pledges for the country.
This year’s Spirit of EDSA Award was given to the youth-led non-profit organization One Million Lights program, which has provided solar lights to remote off-grid communities across the country.
Following this was the “Salubungan," a re-enactment of how members of various sectors, including civilians who protected military personnel that defected from the Marcos regime to join the protest, converged at EDSA.
The police and military contingent was led by former president Ramos, who was then the Armed Forces of the Philippines vice chief-of-staff, and former executive secretary Eduardo Ermita, who was then a brigadier general.
The civilian contingent was led by Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, Metro Manila mayors and Butz Aquino of the August 21 Movement.
Not to be missed is the image of Our Lady of Fatima, credited for the peaceful revolution and for protecting the people.
Ramos re-enacted his victory jump, while Freddie Aguilar sang “Bayan Ko,” a theme song of EDSA.
President Aquino said the fight for EDSA is not yet over and asked the people to get involved, in light of his administration’s campaign for accountability, an apparent allusion against Chief Justice Renato Corona.
“Kasalukuyang humaharap ang ating bansa sa isang sangandaan: sa isang direksyon, ang masukal na daan kung saan hawak ng maimpluwensya ang timbangan ng katarungan, at ang mga nagpapasirko sa batas ang nakikinabang. Sa kabila, ang tuwid na daan kung saan malinaw ang mga patakaran, walang kinikilingan ang hustisya, at pinapanagot ang may kasalanan. Tandaan po natin: nangyari ang martial law dahil matagal nanahimik ang mga Pilipino, at nagawa na lamang nilang pumalag nang makita nilang lubha na ang naidudulot nitong pagdurusa sa ating bansa,” Aquino said in his speech.
“Kung gusto mong manatili ang lumang sistema, sige, magbingi-bingihan ka. Magbulag-bulagan ka. Huwag kang magsalita. Huwag kang makilahok. Pero kung sang-ayon kang may mali sa dinatnan nating sistema at kailangan itong ituwid: Tara, pumalag tayo. Makilahok tayo. Itama natin ito,” he added.
The president also shared what he said was the good news on the economy, citing the record-high performance of the stock market and foreign investments, and the series of upgrades the country has received from ratings agencies.
“Isama na rin natin sa good news ang ginawang pag-aaral ng Japan External Trade Organization. Dahil daw po sa de-kalidad na trabaho, mahuhusay na manggagawa, at murang pagnenegosyo sa ating bansa, nanguna ang Pilipinas bilang ideyal na destinasyon ng mga negosyante sa Asya, sa manufacturing o sa services sectors man. Lilinawin ko lang po: hindi po natin sariling ahensya ang nagsaliksik nito, kundi isang organisasyon mula pa po sa Japan. Hindi po madadaan sa tsamba ang ganitong mga tagumpay; hindi po suntok-sa-buwan ang mga ganitong tanda ng kaunlaran."
This is proof, he said, of how things have been different since his administration took over.
“Pagkalipas ng isa’t kalahating taon sa tuwid na daan, tanungin nga po natin ang ating mga sarili: May pagkakaiba ba ang sistema natin ngayon, sa sistemang dinatnan natin noon kung saan halos isang dekadang nadiskaril sa kurapsyon at katiwalian ang taumbayan? Ang tumpak na sagot: Malaki po. Ang tawag dito dedikasyon. Ang tawag dito, malasakit. Ang tawag dito, tuwid na daan,” he explained.
In Manila, the president paid tribute to the late major players of EDSA: Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin and former president Corazon Aquino, as well as Senator Ninoy Aquino, whose assassination was said to have sparked the EDSA revolution.
