OVER/ 2-FACED JUDICIARY, HELP ME GET RID OF IT! (VIDEO of EDSA 1
SONG)
[PHOTO - President
Aquino gazes as a helicopter drops confetti and flowers during the re-enactment
of the historic "Salubungan" in front of the People Power Monument for the
commemorative activities of the 26th anniversary of the EDSA People Power
Revolution in Quezon City on Saturday. The Salubungan re-enacts the stopping of
the tanks and the convergence of the military and civilian contingents. Photo by Jay Morales, Malacañang Photo]
MANILA, FEBRUARY 26, 2012 (ABS-CBN) by Willard Cheng - 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.
[PHOTO - President Aquino led the flag-raising ceremony at the People
Power Monument commemorating the 1986 EDSA Revolution, joined by Vice President
Binay, and former presidents Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada. This year's theme
was a call for the people to put their stake in nation-building.]
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.
[PHOTO - CELEBRATING DEMOCRACY: Key players of EDSA 1986 – then Armed
Forces Vice Chief of Staff Fidel V. Ramos (left frame, jumping) who withdrew
support for the Marcos administration and Agapito 'Butz' Aquino who founded the
August Twenty-One Movement (ATOM) to honor the date of his brother Sen. Benigno
'Ninoy' S. Aquino Jr.'s assassination. (Photo by KJ
ROSALES)]
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.
[PHOTO - AQUINO AT HISTORIC LANDMARK MANILA HOTEL: President Benigno S.
Aquino III (second from right), together with Vice President Jejomar Binay,
Makati Mayor Junjun Binay, and Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, leaves the premises of
the Manila Hotel after having lunch following the wreath-laying ceremony at the
statue of former President Corazon Aquino in celebration of the 26th People
Power Revolution Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012. (Photo by CHARI
VILLEGAS)]
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.
[PHOTO - A life-size bronze statue that more closely resembles the late
Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin was unveiled Saturday at Rizal Park in
Manila as part of the 26th commemoration of the 1986 EDSA People Power
Revolution. A previous statue of Sin was unveiled during last year's celebration
but failed to impress the Roman Catholic clergy for looking "too young" or even
looking like the late Sen. Benigno (NINOY) S. Aquino Jr.]
FROM THE MANILA BULLETIN
'Two-faced Judiciary' By JC BELLO RUIZ and MADEL
SABATER
Aquino's Call: Help Me Get Rid Of It
[PHOTO -CELEBRATING DEMOCRACY: A shower of yellow confetti is cheered
by people who gathered Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012, to celebrate the 26th
anniversary of EDSA People Power 1 at the People Power Monument in Quezon City.
(Photo by MARK BALMORES)]
MANILA, Philippines — President Benigno S. Aquino III Saturday rallied the
people to his crusade to free the country from the bondage of what he described
as a "two-faced judiciary."
"As we tread the right path together, I am confident we can achieve a free
society that is rid of a two-faced judiciary that espouses justice that is
partial," the President said after offering wreaths at the monuments to his late
parents, Sen. Benigno S. Aquino Jr. and former President Corazon C. Aquino, in
Rizal Park in Manila to commemorate the 26th anniversary of the EDSA People
Power Revolution.
"We all had chances to correct our mistakes in the past and fill the gap of
those mistakes in history. If you want to stay in the old system, go ahead and
play deaf, blind, and mute and do not participate," he said, speaking in
Filipino. "But if you agree that there is something wrong in our past system
that needs to be reformed, let us join hands and do things right."
The President also revealed the two good news that he alluded to earlier in
the week.
[PHOTO - CELEBRATING DEMOCRACY: Photo shows President Benigno 'Noynoy'
S. Aquino during the 26th anniversary of EDSA People Power 1. (Photo by KJ ROSALES)]
The first is that the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) has gained a
total investment of P2.003 trillion from 1995 to February, 2012. He said that 22
percent of the total investment poured in at PEZA is under the current
administration at P439 billion.
Aquino also said that last year, PEZA enjoyed a P288.3 billion surge in
investment, a proof of investor confidence in the country.
The other news is the survey by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)
that points to the Philippines as the No.1 ideal destination of businessmen in
Asia.
He attributed the choice to the quality of jobs, efficiency of Filipino
workers, and improved business climate in the country.
Later in the day Aquino signed a pledge on the Commitment Wall at the People
Power Monument, White Plains,Epifanio de los Santos Ave, (EDSA).
His pledge: To do things right every day "as we remember the freedom fought
by Filipinos during the 1986 People Power Revolution on EDSA."
Aside from the President, governors belonging to the Union of Local
Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) led by ULAP National President Alfonso
Umali Jr., members of religious organizations, and ordinary Filipinos wrote
their pledge on the Commitment Wall.
Camarines Sur Gov. El Rey Villafuerte pledged unity in the government,
progress, and prosperity for the country, while Albay Gov. Joey Salceda hopes
for more tourists in the country; Maguindanao Gov. Esmael "Toto" Mangudadatu and
Agusan del Sur Gov. Adolph Edward Plaza pledged a peaceful and progressive
Philippines; Palawan Gov. Abraham Kahlil Mitra committed environmental
protection, good governance, and transparency, while Autonomous Region in Muslim
Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Mujiv Hataman said it is the first time in two decades
that ARMM has joined the celebration of the EDSA People Power Revolution.
Also signing were People Power Commissioner Jose Pardo, Philippine Chamber of
Commerce and Industry (PCCI) president and chairman Miguel Varela; Francis Chua,
president, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Philippine China Business
Council; Employers' Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) president Edgardo
Lacson, Federation of Filipino – Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc.
(FFCCCII) president Tan Ching; and President of the Philippine Exporters
Confederation, Inc. (PHILEXPORT) Sergio Ortiz – Luis, Jr. All of them pledged to
help the country in accelerating economic growth, providing more jobs, enhancing
target for export, promoting Filipino products, and boosting corporate social
responsibility programs.
Aquino also witnessed the presentation of a plaque of recognition to this
year's Spirit of EDSA Foundation awardees.
The trophies were presented by Edsa Foundation founding chairman Chris
Carrion to this year's awardees – Mark Benjamin Lozano and Catherine Felicia
Marie Peralta. He likewise witnessed the "Salubungan" rites of the military,
non-governmental organizations (NGOs), religious groups, business, youth, and
government sectors. A helicopter dropping yellow confetti completed the
"Salubungan," while the crowd sang "Handog ng Pilipino" and "Bayan Ko."
Among those who attended the 26th anniversary of the 1986 People Power
Revolution were Vice President Jejomar Binay, former Presidents Fidel V. Ramos
and Joseph Estrada, Senate President and former Defense Minister Juan Ponce
Enrile, Senator Gringo Honasan, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr., Executive
Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Jr., Cabinet members, and local government officials.
The event was also attended by former Senator Agapito "Butz" Aquino III,
chairman emeritus of the August Twenty-One Movement (ATOM). PHOTO: BUTZ AQUINO
SHARING LIGHT MOMENT WITH FORMER GMA.
In his homily during the anniversary mass at the EDSA Shrine, Manila
Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle said EDSA is not about leaving it to elected
political leaders to re-create a new, peaceful community. Rather, it should
follow the Lord's way – look for co-workers to create a peaceful environment.
(Additional reporting from Carlo Suerte Felipe)
VIDEO: THE EDSA 1 SONG: HANDOG NG
PILIPINO
Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE
NEWS ONLINE
All rights reserved
PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS
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