Edsa People Power: ‘Preserve flame’ of PH’s ‘greatest victory over dark times,’ says Sotto
Senate President Vicente Sotto III. (Voltaire F. Domingo/Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines — The “flames” of the Edsa People Power Revolution should be protected and preserved from those who wish to drag Filipinos into a “dungeon of lies.”
This was the call of Senate President Vicente Sotto III, who described the Edsa People Power Revolution as the country’s “greatest victory over the dark times.”
“PROTECT the flame of EDSA. As a people who lived through this history, it is our duty to the fallen – the victims of human rights violations under martial law – to honor their sacrifice,” he said in a statement on Thursday, the eve of the 36th anniversary of the 1986 Edsa People Power.
“PRESERVE the flame of ESDA. It is our badge of honor and courage, our legacy to our children’s children and the future generations,” added Sotto, who composed the patriotic Filipino song, “Magkaisa,” which is also considered the ‘‘anthem’’ of the Edsa People Power Revolution.
Sotto said what happened along Edsa on February 25, 1986, serves as a “constant reminder how the Filipino people stood up against those who brought suffering on their lives during martial law.”
He then warned against letting anyone revise the truth about the historic event.
‘Dungeon of lies’
“History is history. It has happened already. How can we forget?” he said. “Let us protect history from those who wish to revise it and from those who speak untruthfully about the horrors of the past.”
READ: Marcos revisionism? ‘You’ll never be able to revise history’ — Sotto
“Let us not allow those who wish to mislead the younger generation and paint a rosy picture of the life after from being successful. Let us protect the Edsa flames from those who wish to drag us again into the dungeon of lies,” Sotto added.
He said the EDSA People Power Revolution is the “flame that fires the embers of nationalism among Filipinos.”
READ: Año: Filipino people not Reds overthrew the Marcos regime
“It is our symbol of courage and unity, a light of truth that gives us our sense of freedom,” he added.
He then urged fellow Filipinos to “constantly keep this fire burning and honor the flame bearers by showing them that history was not wasted on us.”
“We must protect it because as men and women of God who have been commanded by the Divine, we must always speak the truth. As truthful lips endure forever, a lying tongue lasts only a moment,” the Senate president said.
He stressed that everyone has the responsibility to speak the truth, to give importance to the past, and to encourage others to be socially conscious.
READ: CHR urges Filipinos to ‘fight historical revisionism, recall martial law abuses’
“Tayo’y muling magkaisa. Mahalin natin ang ating mga sarili, ang ating kapwa, at ang ating bayan [Let us unite again. Let’s love each other, and our nation,” Sotto continued.
“Ipagdiwang natin ang tagumpay ng Edsa sa pamamagitan ng patuloy na pagbabahagi ng katotohanan tungkol sa nakaraan upang ito ang mamayani sa bawat Pilipino [Let’s celebrate the victory of EDSA by continuously spreading truth about the past so that this will prevail among each Filipino] ,” he added.
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KGA
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