Anniversary Of 'People Power' To Be Commemorated In The Philippines

February 24, 2008 9:05 a.m. EST

Manila, Philippines (AHN)-The 22nd anniversary of the bloodless revolt dubbed as 'People Power' will be commemorated by Filipinos on Monday through prayer masses, protest demonstrations, and other mass activities.

The 'People Power' or Edsa 1 remembrance will kick off with a thanksgiving mass to be led by former President Corazon Aquino with opposition and militant groups. Other activities will be held at the 'People Power' monument and EDSA shrine in Quezon City (venues of the first People Power).

To recall, in 1986, a bloodless revolution where tens of thousands of Filipinos took to the streets of Epifanio delos Santos Avenue or Edsa in Ortigas (near the capital Manila) toppled the over 20-year dictatorial rule of the late Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos. Aquino was then sworn in as the president of the country.

A similar event, dubbed as People Power 2, also happened in 2001 wherein former President Joseph Estrada was ousted due to graft and corruption allegations. Estrada's vice president then, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, was installed by the people as the new president.

Leftists groups as well as some organizations from the business, church and youth sectors will continue to stage rallies and holy masses in the weeks after February 25 to protest corruption under the Arroyo administration. A major pro-administration rally has been slated for today to counter the anti-government rallies.

Anti-government sentiments prevail in the country as Arroyo, members of her family and Cabinet face allegations of corruption in the botched national broadband deal with China ZTE Corp. Thus, protest rallies seeking the ouster of Arroyo are timed for the People Power anniversary celebration on Monday.

Arroyo in fact downplays the celebration and even the protest rallies. She also ruled out the possibility of People Power 3. "The world embraced Edsa I in 1986. The world tolerated Edsa II. The world will not forgive an Edsa III. Instead, it will condemn the Philippines as a country whose political system is hopelessly unstable. And if that happens (again), who will invest in the Philippines?" she said in an interview.

Meanwhile, People Power icon former president Aquino called on the people to relive the Edsa spirit. Aquino said, "We proved to the whole world that we Filipinos value our democracy and that we are willing to offer our lives and to make the necessary sacrifices to make this possible. It is up to us now, people who are benefiting from the restoration of our rights and freedoms, to make sure that this democracy works not only for us but for each and every Filipino."

Feb. 25 has been declared as a special non-working holiday in the country.