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Holiday or not, NHCP vows to commemorate EDSA People Power

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Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Several groups commemorated the 38th EDSA People Power Anniversary with a wreath-laying ceremony at the People Power Monument, a few meters away from the military camp where Filipinos once converged to call for the return of democracy in the Philippines.</p><p>Family members, friends, and supporters of democracy icons and martial law victims were among those who attended the event organized by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP).</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/2/25/cyclists-mark-people-power-anniversary-with-freedom-ride-1029">Cyclists mark People Power anniversary with &#x27;Freedom Ride&#x27;</a></div><p>“Ito po ay taon-taon naming gugunitain hangga&#x27;t mayroon kaming mandato,” said Ian Alfonso, supervising researcher of the NHCP’s Research, Publication and Heraldry Division.</p><p>“Hanggat maaari po sana ay manatili &#x27;yung alaala especially &#x27;yung naging pakinabang ng bayan after 1986. &#x27;Yun sana &#x27;yung maappreciate ng Pilipino sa kasalukuyan,” he said.</p><p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. — son of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. — did not include the EDSA People Power Anniversary in this year’s list of holidays.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/13/23/palace-explains-why-feb-25-not-in-2024-holidays-list">Palace explains why Feb. 25 not in 2024 holidays list</a></div><p>The NHCP said it could not accurately gauge if this was among the factors why the participants in this year’s commemoration at the People Power Monument were fewer compared to the previous years.</p><p>“Naninindigan po ang NCHP na nandiyan pa po ang EDSA People Power mandate at ito po ay inilipat sa NHCP kaya tuloy-tuloy lang ang ating paggunita. Kahit holiday siya o hindi, kailangan may umaalala,” Alfonso said.</p><p>“Yung pag-alaala hindi lang tuwing wreath-laying, flag-raising. Ito ay isinasabuhay araw-araw. Ano ba yung espiritu ng EDSA? Ano ang naging bunga niya? Ano ang naging pakinabang natin? &#x27;Yun siguro ang dapat nating i-highlight at i-emphasize palagi,” he said.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/2/24/nhcp-to-hold-simple-rites-to-commemorate-edsa-people-power-revolution-242">NHCP to hold simple rites to commemorate EDSA People Power Revolution</a></div><div><strong>DWINDLING NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS</strong></div><p>Among those who attended the wreath-laying ceremony was lawyer Jose Manuel &quot;Chel&quot; Diokno, son of late statesman and Martial Law victim Jose Diokno.</p><p>“This year has a lot more meaning and a sense of urgency because of the proliferation of fake news as well as attempts to diminish what happened at that time,” he told ABS-CBN News.</p><p>“It’s very important that we remember what happened… that democracy can be taken away overnight by a stroke of a pen and once it&#x27;s taken away it is very difficult to take it back,” he said.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/2/24/dwindling-interest-on-people-power-commemoration-concerning-senator-1209">Sen. Binay says dwindling interest on People Power commemoration concerning</a></div><p>Victims of human rights abuses during Martial Law, their families and supporters have agreed that the number of participants in EDSA Anniversary celebrations has dwindled over the years.</p><p>Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said among the factors that led to the diminished number of participants is how the “last administration tried to lessen the importance of the EDSA celebrations.”</p><p>Former President Rodrigo Duterte had snubbed EDSA Anniversary events during his term, and allowed Marcos Sr. to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, which had outraged the kin of Martial Law victims.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/2/25/cyclists-mark-people-power-anniversary-with-freedom-ride-1029">Cyclists mark People Power anniversary with &#x27;Freedom Ride&#x27;</a></div><div><strong>&#x27;NEVER TAKE LIBERTY FOR GRANTED&#x27;</strong></div><p>The younger generation needs “to learn or return to the love of reading” so that they can realize the gravity of the situation during martial law, and how Filipinos fought for democracy,&quot; Pimentel told ABS-CBN News in a separate interview.</p><p>“The idea of the EDSA revolution or the ideals behind it, the goals, the causes, are not bound to personalities,” said the son and namesake of opposition figure, human rights victim and former Sen. Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr.</p><p>“Ang demokrasya, dapat ipaglaban. Ang kalayan ng taong bayan dapat ipaglaban dahil malalaman lang natin &#x27;yung importansya nila kapag wala na,” he said.</p><p>“Never take liberty, democracy and freedom for granted,” he added.</p><p>Among the youngsters who attended the event at the People Power Monument was Emilio Aquino, grandson of former Sen. Agapito “Butz” Aquino.</p><p>The late lawmaker is the brother of democracy icon Ninoy Aquino and was among those who mounted protests against the Marcos Sr. dictatorship.</p><p>“EDSA is not just about politics. It is really about values,” the Aquino grandson told reporters.</p><p>“It’s really about remembering what we stood for, what the people stood for in 1986. Values like truth, justice and democracy,” he said.</p><p>The student government of De La Salle University also participated in the EDSA Anniversary commemoration.</p><p>“Gusto namin na nandito tayo in order to remember the lives at mga pinaglaban natin noon, na hindi ito mabubura sa ating historya,” said Raphael Hari-Ong, president of the DLSU Student Government.</p><p>“Kailangan binonoses natin bilang student representation na hindi lang tayo titigil sa mga statements natin online. Kailangan may on ground presence tayo,” he said.</p><p>“Pinapakita natin dito na even as students, mayroon tayong puwesto sa mga ganitong events o commemoration,” he added.</p><p>After the wreath-laying ceremony, a commemoration of the oath-taking of former President Corazon Aquino was held at Club Filipino in nearby San Juan City.</p><p>In the evening, protest groups are expected to converge at the EDSA Shrine for a mass in honor of the country’s liberation from autocratic rule in 1986.</p><p>EDSA revolution advocates and supporters will return to the People Power Monument in the evening to cap the 38th EDSA People Power Anniversary with a concert.</p><div><br/></div>

<p>'Kahit holiday siya o hindi, kailangan may umaalala,' said Ian Alfonso, supervising researcher of the NHCP's Research, Publication and Heraldry Division.</p>

'Kahit holiday siya o hindi, kailangan may umaalala,' said Ian Alfonso, supervising researcher of the NHCP's Research, Publication and Heraldry Division.

On 38th People Power anniversary, NHCP vows to remember EDSA 'holiday or not'

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On 38th People Power anniversary, NHCP vows to remember EDSA 'holiday or not'

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published February 25, 2024 11:42 AM PHT

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