Tovic Salvador

Groups stage commemorative walk against historical revisionism

Article (news)

Kaxandra Salonga

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/174028394530320250223 (2).jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Group speaks out on January 26, 2025 against the removal of heroes in new polymer bills. <em>ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span>MANILA — The August Twenty One Movement (ATOM) held its commemorative walk on Sunday morning, to rally against historical revisionism and pay tribute to its historic 1983 protest against the Marcos dictatorship.</div><p>The walk was also In response to the new peso bill’s erasure of national heroes,</p><p>The walk began at 7 a.m. from Katigbak Parkway, near the Manila Hotel and Quirino Grandstand, where participants retraced the route of the 1983 protest led by Butz Aquino, brother of slain opposition figure Benigno &quot;Ninoy&quot; Aquino Jr. </p><p>Ninoy&#x27;s assassination on August 21, 1983 gave birth to ATOM and contributed to the eventual ouster of the dictator Ferdinand Marcos during the EDSA People Power Revolution.</p><p>Back then, ATOM members jogged along Roxas Boulevard to Baclaran Church in weekly demonstrations calling Marcos&#x27; resignation.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/2/19/walang-pasok-more-schools-suspend-classes-on-feb-25-2025-0929">More schools suspend classes on Feb. 25 for EDSA People Power anniversary</a></div><p>“Dapat malaman ng mga Pilipino na dito rin nagsimula yung magiging eventual tone ng buong EDSA Revolution. Dahil alam naman natin na although marami rin panganib ang kinaharap ng mga Pilipino dahil sa pagharang sa mga tangke noong panahong iyon, marami rin ang nagce-celebrate habang nagre-revolution,” said ATOM president Voltaire Bohol.</p><p>(The Filipinos should know that this is where the eventual tone of the EDSA Revolution began. We know that although many Filipinos were in danger from the tanks during that time, many were also celebrating while there was a revolution)</p><p>In commemoration of the second day of the EDSA Revolution,, Kiko Aquino Dee, grandson of Ninoy Aquino, and Emilio Aquino, grandson of Butz Aquino, joined the event.</p><p>Biker groups Siklista Pilipino and Kalye Serye, known for their involvement as Bikers for Leni during the 2022 elections, also supported the cause.</p><p>“Ngayon po ang ATOM na bagong generation ay pinagpapatuloy ito dahil maraming pagbubura ng kasaysayan ang nagaganap ngayon. Isa na rito ang pagpalit ng ating pera. Ang mga mukha ng ating bayani ay pinagtatanggal, pinalitan ng mga hayop. At sa aming palagay ay hindi nararapat ito,” Bohol said.</p><p>(The new generation of ATOM is reviving these activities because there has been a lot of erasure of history happening. One of those is removing heroes from the paper bills and replacing them with animals. To us, this is not right)</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2024/12/20/ph-money-with-heroes-stays-for-now-2302">PH money with heroes stays… for now</a></div><p>“I believe this gives us hope that the Filipinos are not just there to accept things as they are, and we are now remembering what the EDSA lessons taught us, which is, as a Filipino, pag nagsama-sama tayo, walang imposible,” he added.</p><p>The walk, which Bohol said drew fewer than 100 participants, concluded at the Ninoy and Cory Aquino statue, where Professor Xiao Chua led a prayer calling for continued vigilance against historical distortion.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OxHOZyLpKYg?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>The August Twenty One Movement (ATOM) held its commemorative walk on Sunday morning, to rally against historical revisionism and pay tribute to its historic 1983 protest against the Marcos dictatorship.</p>

The August Twenty One Movement (ATOM) held its commemorative walk on Sunday morning, to rally against historical revisionism and pay tribute to its historic 1983 protest against the Marcos dictatorship.