MANILA — The spirit of the historic 1986 EDSA People Power peaceful revolution that restored democracy in the Philippines will be relived in a thousand- and-one photo exhibit by veteran photo-journalist Sonny Camarillo at Trinoma in Quezon City on Feb. 22.
Former President Fidel V. Ramos, one of the key players at EDSA People Power on Feb. 22-25, 1986, has accepted the invitation to be the guest of honor and speaker at the opening day of the exhibit.
The other key players during that historic event at EDSA were former Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile, who later was elected as senator, the late Jaime Cardinal Sin, arch bishop of Manila, former Army Colonel and now Sen. Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan, and the late Sen. Butz Aquino, to name a few.
Camarillo, a daring photo-journalist and past president of the Camera Club of the Philippines and Press Photographers of the Philippines, covered the historic event that stunned the whole world in that four-day peaceful revolt when over three million people went to Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) in Quezon City following an urgent call by Cardinal Sin over Radio Veritas to protect the people gathered at EDSA where rebel soldiers led by Enrile and Ramos were holed out at Camp Aguinaldo and Camp Crame amid the threat of being attacked by government forces loyal to Marcos.
The millions of people gathered at EDSA prayed the rosary and refused to budge an inch and with Divine intervention the government troops sided with the civilians and military and police forces of Enrile and Ramos that toppled the 20-year regime of President Ferdinand E. Marcos.
Marcos and his family fled to Hawaii in exile.
Corazon C. Aquino, the presidential candidate of the opposition, was installed as the 12th President of the Philippines on Feb. 25, 1986.
Images in pictures taken and preserved for posterity by Camarillo during that historic event will be displayed during the photo exhibit for the public, especially the young generation to see.
Camarillo said that this year’s 32nd anniversary will be called “EDSA 1986, Before & Beyond – FVR Legacy of Philippines 2000” is sponsored by the Ayala Land, Inc., the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, Spirit of EDSA Foundation, EDSA People Power Commission, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Philippine Amusement Gaming Corporation, JRS Express, CWC International Corporation, YKL Digital Imaging/Wonder Photo Shop and CAMERAHAUS. (Ben Cal/PNA)
