President Aquino leads Edsa celebration in Cebu
Thousands of people converge at the Capitol grounds to celebrate the 28th anniversary of EDSA People Power revolution. (CDN PHOTO/ MARIAN Z. CODILLA)
At least 35,000 Cebuanos joined the celebration of the 28th anniversary of the first Edsa People Power revolution held for the first time in Cebu where Pres. Benigno Aquino’s mother, former president Corazon Aquino took refuge during the Martial Law years.
The reenactment of People Power led by Sen. Bam Aquino who played the role of his uncle, former senator Agapito “Butz” Aquino and actor Dingdong Dantes who enacted the role of general Fidel V. Ramos is one of the highlights of the anniversary celebration at the Provincial Capitol grounds.
The brief celebration started at 9 a.m. when Aquino arrived at the venue on a convoy. He was welcomed by Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III, Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and other government officials.
Aquino led the flag raising ceremony after the military rites before a sea of Cebuanos wearing yellow and white who converged in front of the Capitol building.
Singer, Ogie Alcasid, Commissioner of the Edsa People Power Commission is one of the hosts of the celebration. Aquino was asked several times why the observance was held in Cebu.
“Why not? As early as September 1983 it looked like there was no martial law here. The Cebuanos were united in what’s right and fighting what’s wrong and Cebu looked to be free. For me, if the last chapter in the revolt happened in an aircraft, we can say that a new chapter started in Cebu so that’s why it’s right to observe this in Cebu,” the President said in Filipino.
This year’s Edsa People Power theme is “Kapit Bisig tungo sa pagbabago (United Towards Change)” which the President said makes it more meaningful to mark in Cebu where all coordination for the relief and rehabilitation was done for the typhoon victims in central Philippines late last year.
Aquino gave credit to the millions of Filipinos who helped their neighbors during the earthquake in Bohol, the Zamboanga siege and the devastation of supertyphoon Yolanda.
“What drove my father (the late senator Benigno Aquino Jr.) was love, not greed. It was the same love shared by millions of Filipinos who helped re-pack goods to help those who were hit by typhoon Yolanda, the Zamboanga siege and the earthquake in Bohol. So long as there is values and faith in God and in our fellow Filipinos who are no different than us, what place can we not reach or problems we face that we cannot solve. As long as we face challenges in the world and in nature, we will overcome whatever trials that pass our way,” President Aquino said.
Alcasid sang “Pilipinas ay Babangon” while everyone waved their hands. Cebuanos also flashed the “L” or Laban sign while “Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo” was played on the background.
Some had their souvenir shots taken amid flying yellow confetti. A balloon of yellow ribbons was released to the air which signaled the end of the activity. Local government officials from different towns and cities in Cebu attended the event.
Rehabilitation czar Panfilo Lacson, Edsa People Power Commission Chairman Paquito Ochoa Jr., Secretary to the Cabinet Rene Almendras, among others were there.
Some people waited at the Capitol grounds as early as 5 a.m. to witness the 28th anniversary celebration of freedom from martial law imposed by the late president Ferdinand Marcos.
After the brief celebration a group of militants assembled at the Fuente Osmena to ventilate their sentiments on the pork barrel and the rehabilitation of typhoon-hit areas in Cebu.
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