THE commemoration of the 36th anniversary of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution today will be simple and attended only by a minimal group of people in compliance with government health protocols to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus disease, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) said yesterday.
In a statement, the NHCP said Interior Secretary Eduardo Año will lead the flag-raising and wreath-laying ceremonies at the EDSA People Power Monument in Quezon City, which will also be attended by NHCP and EDSA People Power Commission chairman Rene Escalante, and Commissioners Christopher Carrion Antonio Sotelo, Chino Roces Foundation Consul Fernando Peña, and Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte.
“Representatives from other national government and non-government agencies will also grace the simple event which will have minimal attendees, as a countermeasure to contain the spread of the virus,” it added.
Among the highlights of the celebration, which has the theme “EDSA 2022: Pagtutulungan sa Sama-samang Pagbangon Mula sa Pandemya,” is an online exhibit titled “EDSA People Power Revolution: A Nationwide Phenomenon” featuring the events that took place from February 22 to 25 in 1986.
The EDSA People Power in 1986 resulted in the fall from power of former president Ferdinand Marcos.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III urged Filipinos to relive the spirit of the People Power revolution, which he said is the people’s “greatest victory” against the country’s dark times under the dictatorship of Marcos.
“The EDSA 1986 People Power Revolution is our nation’s greatest victory over the dark times. It is a constant reminder how the Filipino people stood up against those who brought suffering on their lives during martial law. We must not let anyone revise the truth, especially the truth about EDSA,” Sotto said.
The bloodless EDSA revolution was a four-day street demonstration against the former dictator’s regime of human rights abuses and electoral fraud. It started on February 22 and ended on February 25. — With Raymond Africa
