EDSA / DISUNITY IN GOVT NOT IN KEEPING W/ EDSA 1
[PHOTO - President Benigno S. Aquino III
writes his pledge for the country on the commitment wall of the People Power
Monument in Quezon City during the commemorative activities of the 26th
anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution on Saturday (Feb. 25, 2012).
(Photo by: Jay Morales/Malacañang Photo Bureau/PNA)
scs/jme]
MANILA, FEBRUARY 26, 2012 (INQUIRER) The country's governors pledged
on Saturday to work for genuine unity and peace, good governance, principled
leadership and economic progress to complete the unfinished business of the 1986
Edsa Revolution.
At the 26th anniversary rites of the four-day Edsa people power revolt, 21
governors led by Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (Ulap) president
Alfonso Umali Jr., concurrent president of the League of Provinces of the
Philippines (LPP) and Mindoro Oriental governor, affixed their signatures to a
"commitment wall" on the stage after making pledges to honor the commemoration's
theme, "Anong Taya Mo Para Sa Pilipinas Natin?"
They made their pledges after President Aquino in his speech admitted that
Edsa remained an "unfinished revolution."
"Ang pagkakaisa ay ituloy natin para sa ating mamamayan at sa ikauunlad natin
(Let's continue to unite for our people and for our progress)," pledged Umali.
Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson, LPP national chair, pledged to work
for genuine peace, while Gov. Elray Villafuerte of Camarines Sur, LPP executive
vice president, vowed to work to bring about local leadership that was "straight
and principled."
Nineteen other governors also struck themes promoting volunteerism, public
health, economic progress, environmental protection, and an independent and
progressive nation.
Best efforts
Palawan Gov. Abraham Kahlil B. Mitra, LPP spokesperson for Luzon, made a
pitch for environmental protection, good governance and transparency.
Gov. Douglas Cagas of Davao del Sur said, "Gagawin ko ang tama sa tamang
paraan at sa tamang panahon (I will do what is right in the right way and at the
right time)," while Gov. Aurelio Umali of Nueva Ecija pledged the best efforts
from "the food basket of the country."
The other governors who attended the hour-long rites at the People Power
Shrine on Edsa corner White Plains Avenue were Amado T. Espino Jr. of
Pangasinan, Carlos Jericho Petilla of Leyte, Raul Lee of Sorsogon, Wilhelmino
Sy-Alvarado of Bulacan, Esmael Mangudadatu of Maguindanao, Edgardo Tallado of
Camarines Norte, Joseph Cua of Catanduanes, Victor Yap of Tarlac, Junie Cua of
Quirino, Joey Salceda of Albay, Rodolfo del Rosario of Davao del Norte, Eduardo
Firmalo of Romblon, Bong Plaza of Agusan del Sur, Rizalina Seachon-Lanete of
Masbate, and Vicente Gato of Batanes.
Ulap is the umbrella organization of local authorities such as the League of
Cities and League of Municipalities, covering the LGU leadership across the
archipelago.
Umali and the other governors were accompanied to the rites by the mayors of
the municipalities in their provinces.
Fidel Ramos: Impeachment won't solve poverty By DJ
Yap Philippine Daily Inquirer 2:08 am | Sunday, February 26th, 2012
[PHOTO - And just like the spirit of EDSA, instead of complaining, I
think each of us Filipinos should contribute our parts. FROM
A SINGLE MOM'S BLOG]
Former President Fidel V. Ramos took the occasion of the 26th anniversary of
the first Edsa People Power Revolution to assail the infighting between
government branches as seen through the impeachment trial of Chief Justice
Renato Corona.
"This anniversary is supposed to be a day of coming together. But that is
what is missing in our country today … because our coequal, powerful branches of
government are so divided," he told reporters.
"That's why now what we need is cooperation of all Filipinos and that's
something that won't be attained just by impeachment," said Ramos, one of the
key players of Edsa I.
"Because there are still beggars, there are still starving people and there
are still jobless people, impeachment will not solve the problem of poverty,
inequity, and lack of jobs and a declining economy," he said.
Not the message of Edsa
He said the disunity in government was not in keeping with the oneness that
characterized the Edsa revolution when the people toppled the Marcos
dictatorship through a peaceful uprising.
"I think that's not the message of Edsa during our time," Ramos said.
"After Edsa, we experienced change. We restored democracy during the time of
Cory. And during my time [as president], I signed a final peace agreement with
rebels like Sen. Gringo Honasan and the Moro National Liberation Front under Nur
Misuari. We completed that in 1995-1996," he said.
At the start of the Edsa revolution, Ramos, who then headed the Philippine
Constabulary, withdrew support from Marcos and threw in his lot with then
Defense Minister, now Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.
Key figures reunite
Saturday's Edsa commemoration was the first time in years that many of the
key figures from the original revolution appeared, from Ramos to Enrile and
Honasan.
People Power veterans reenacted the "Salubungan," or the meeting of civilians
and military troops at the height of the 1986 revolt.
From the gates of the Corinthian Gardens subdivision, former Sen. Agapito
"Butz" Aquino led the civilian contingent, which marched on the short stretch of
Edsa toward the People Power Monument, where the main program was held.
The civilians were met by the military group led by Ramos, who marched from
Gate 3 of Camp Aguinaldo, the Armed Forces headquarters, at the head of hundreds
of uniformed military and police troops.
Two armored vehicles, festooned with yellow flowers, joined the procession of
uniformed soldiers.
Government employees, church workers, civic leaders, boy scouts and
students—many of them wearing yellow—assembled in front of the monument.
Among top government officials who attended the commemoration were President
Aquino, Vice President Jejomar Binay, ex-President Joseph Estrada, House Speaker
Feliciano Belmonte, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, AFP Chief Lt. Gen. Jessie
Dellosa and Philippine National Police Director General Nicanor Bartolome.
Also present were Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Executive Secretary
Paquito Ochoa Jr., Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary
Herminio Coloma, Sen. Vicento Sotto III, and Metropolitan Manila Development
Authority Chair Francis Tolentino.
'Bayan Ko'
A helicopter flew overhead and sprinkled the crowd with yellow
confetti, drawing cheers and applause. But some of the confetti appeared to have
clumped together and dropped like bricks, nearly hitting a group of reporters in
the media section.
Later, more showers of yellow paper strips burst from confetti cannons,
rendering a yellow mist-like effect that made the crowd gasp.
Some 2,000 civil disturbance management troops were deployed to secure the
festivities, which started at past 6 a.m. with Mr. Aquino's arrival.
The "Salubungan" is a symbolic reenactment of the military leadership's
joining forces with civilian groups and breaking away with Marcos to rally
behind opposition leader Corazon Aquino.
This marked the beginning of the People Power Revolution and the meeting has
become an enduring symbol of military defiance against the dictatorship.
The festivities were capped by folk singer Freddie Aguilar's rendition of the
People Power anthem, "Bayan Ko."
Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE
NEWS ONLINE
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PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS
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