President Rodrigo Duterte in his message on the 35th anniversary of the People Power Revolution called on Filipinos to continue their vigilance in protecting rights and democratic institutions.
“As we contemplate the relevance of this occasion, let us proceed with renewed hope and optimism towards the realization of our shared aspirations for our nation,” the president stated.
“May this serve as a constant reminder for all of us to remain vigilant in safeguarding our democratic institutions, preserving our values, and upholding our rights as Filipinos,” he added.
The chief executive also encouraged the public to “set aside differences” and to unite in building a legacy for future Filipino generations.
This year’s commemoration of the first EDSA Revolution was simple with the traditional flag-raising ceremony followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Philippine Flag and a prayer.
Among the few personalities present in the event are Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte who led the offering of flowers and National Historical Commission Chairperson Rene Escalante.
“Ang malaking dahilan po ay ang pandemya. Alam naman natin restricted pa ‘yung ating mga social gatherings, isaalang-alang din natin na karamihan sa mga dating players EDSA may edad na (A big factor is the pandemic. Social gatherings remain restricted. We should consider that most of the players in EDSA are of old age),” Escalante said.
In Marikina, a tree-planting activity was conducted by members of the youth sector in line with the anniversary of People Power Revolution. Some groups staged protests on Thursday to call for the end of red-tagging and corruption. – Report from Cleizl Pardilla
