World joins Pinoys in commemorating EDSA
The world is joining the Filipinos in the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the 1986 bloodless EDSA People Power Revolution that inspired other nations worldwide to uphold democracy.
In separate statements, leaders of the Federal Republic of Germany, Republic of Korea, Czech Republic and Republic of Chile extended their congratulations to the Filipino people for regaining their freedom through peaceful means.
German President Christian Wulff said the EDSA People Power was an inspiration for the Germans to stand up and unify for peace and freedom.
“Only a few months later, the Berlin Wall came down and we Germans were able to make our unified state a reality in peace and freedom,” Wulf said, adding that recent developments in the Arab world “demonstrate that people’s desire for freedom is universal and remains as strong as ever.”
Chilean President Sebastian Pinera Echenique lauded the Filipinos for their solidarity in achieving democracy through peaceful means.
Czech Foreign Affairs Minister Karel Schwarzenberg said the February 1986 revolution “meant a historical landmark on the road to democracy of your country and inspiration for many others.”
Korean President Lee Myung-bak said the People Power of 1986 offered hope that the vision for the development and growth of true democracy can be realized by the people in Asia despite of hardships and adversity.
“The revolution will continue to be remembered as an exemplary example for people around the world who crave freedom and democracy,” he added.
The democratic winds created by the 1986 People Power Revolution swept throughout the world: a year after the EDSA uprising, South Koreans challenged strongman former general Chun Doo-hwa which eventually led to democratic reforms; Chile’s Pinochet lost his iron grip in power in 1989.
From then on, it was a democratic domino effect: Poland’s people power revolution in turn inspired the Singing Revolutions in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in the Baltic States in 1989, as well as the East German democracy movement where ordinary people finally tore the Berlin Wall down; and Czechoslovakia’s Velvet Revolution on Wenceslas Square, which all contributed to the demise of one of the two most powerful anti-democratic states in the world and returned democracy to Czechoslovakia.
Many more nations followed including those in eastern Europe, spreading to central Europe where democracy lifted the Iron Curtain and swept away the Soviet Union.
Democracy and people power inspired by the Filipinos under President Corazon Aquino indeed ended the Cold War. (PCOO)
Gov't eyes several options to move out OFWs in Libya
President Benigno S. Aquino III said the government has been exploring all possible land, sea and air options to move out Filipino professionals working in Libya as he stressed that Alert Level 3 or the voluntary repatriation, has been declared by the Philippine Embassy in Libya.
“Our duty is to protect the welfare of all Filipinos working in that country and to ensure their continued safety until they reach our country,” the President said during a media briefing at the New Executive Building in Malacañang on Thursday.
The President disclosed that a standby fund of P100 million is now available for the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Labor and Employment to be used in repatriating and evacuating Filipinos in Libya by land, sea and air. This will be augmented depending on the need for more funds, he said.
Giving the media a lesson on geography of Libya, he said the country is surrounded by neighbors that are politically unstable. These neighbors are Tunisia (the first one to have civil unrest) Egypt (which remains to be uncertain), Algeria and Chad.
He said Tripoli and Benghazi are on the opposite ends of the country with Benghazi as the traditional opposition center vis a vis Moamar Khaddafy. He said Khaddafy has been perceived as a stable regime until the bombing in the late seventies near the residence of Khaddafy.
The President explained that the Philippine Embassy is present only in the capital in Tripoli and has no consulate in Benghazi, and this is the first difficulty.
“If we move [the OFWs] out of the troubled area we can take them to Malta—the nearest point—which would require shipping them out. The ports are closed and so with the airports of Tripoli and Benghazi,” the President said.
He said he was informed that there are two planes of multinational companies with expatriates in Libya -- one is stranded in Tripoli while the other one could not land in Libya. He said unlike the situation in Egypt where the 6,000 to 7,000 Filipinos were mostly students and domestic helpers with less capability to take care of themselves, the 26,000 Filipinos in Libya were mostly professionals employed by multinational companies with their respective evacuation programs.
He said the Philippines being a member of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is being assisted by the said group in safeguarding the migrants in Libya. “We are participating in their efforts and we are asking for their assistance,” the President said adding that the first contingent of 13,000 of the 26,000 is now being processed for repatriation. (PCOO)
Aquino exhorts Filipinos to show worldwide that EDSA spirit is alive
President Benigno S. Aquino III on Friday called on the Filipino people to show the whole world that the EDSA spirit is very much alive.
In his message at the flag-raising ceremony at the People Power Monument along Edsa commemorating the 25th anniversary of the 1986 bloodless People Power Revolution, the President stressed that people empowerment still prevails.
“Ang taumbayan ang boss at hindi iisang tao (The people are the boss and not only one person),” the President, speaking in Pilipino, said as he stressed the true essence of the EDSA spirit.
“The challenge of EDSA today is for us to show that people power is alive. It did not end in the four days of 1986,” he added.
The President stressed that the EDSA spirit means freedom from hunger and poverty and that it is, through good governance, and the eradication of corruption that the Philippines will achieve this goal.
“We are determined to give the Filipino people a brighter future. We are well on our way to achieve that goal. Let us all join hands in fulfilling this dream,” the President said.
The President noted that government is exerting all efforts to implement reforms so it can efficiently deliver the needs of the people.
The President, upon his arrival at the People Power Monument to lead in the flag-raising ceremony that kicked-off a whole day of festivities in celebration of the regained democracy through peaceful means 25 years ago, was accorded full military arrival honors. He then trooped the line and inspected the honor guards.
The President, together with former President Fidel Ramos, Vice President Jejomar Binay and Executive Secretary and EDSA People Power Commission Chair Paquito Ochoa, among others, released the Philippine flag balloons with the inscription of this year’s theme: “EDSA 25: Pilipino Ako, Ako Ang Lakas ng Pagbabago.”
Later, the President also unveiled the People Power Monument marker. (PCOO)
PH on its way towards making democracy felt by Filipinos - Aquino
President Benigno S. Aquino III said that the challenge of making progress irreversible and growth equitable in the country is nearly at hand once the strict implementations of reform measures and the serious campaign to rid graft and corruption in the public office is completed.
In his message during the 25th anniversary of EDSA Eucharistic celebration at the EDSA Shrine on Thursday, the President said that 25 years after the restoration of democracy through the successful people power uprising in 1986, the Philippines should be well on its way towards making democracy be truly felt by the people.
“We unfortunately are not quite there yet,” the President said noting that his administration is still confronted with backsliding and would at times take two steps forward and one step backward in dealing with the situation.
The President said that one of the significant things that his administration had successfully won was the passage of the national budget on time that occurred for the first time in 11 years, and which puts an end to the excessive bonuses of government-owned and controlled corporations.
Recently, the President issued Executive Order No. 23, declaring a moratorium on the cutting and harvesting of timber in the natural and residual forests and forming an anti-illegal task force to protect the environment for the sake of future generations.
This year, he said, the government is building new irrigation system to help farmers produce an additional 1.56 million metric tons of palay a year.
He stressed that his administration will not stop until it finally unveiled the truth behind the unjust plea bargaining agreement between the Office of the Ombudsman and former Armed Forces of the Philippines comptrollership head retired General Carlos Garcia.
He also said that in order to help common soldiers and police officers, the government will build 20,000 housing units for them.
“This year we will build 20,000 housing units for our soldiers and policemen by providing them very low housing prices which is very much lower than what they are currently paying to rent dwellings that they do not own,” the President said.
The President said that although EDSA happened 25 years ago, the uprising now in Egypt and Tunisia clearly shows that the human passion and thirst for freedom are still the shout anywhere in the world, particularly against autocratic regimes that wanted to stay in power forever.
“But compared to Egypt and Tunisia, the uprising in EDSA in 1986 had less violence,” he added. (PCOO)
Aquino unveils Cardinal Sin monument
President Benigno S. Aquino III cited the important elements that led to the peaceful and bloodless people power revolt 25 years ago in Edsa.
In addressing the participants after unveiling of the life-sized monument of Jaime Cardinal Sin at P. Burgos corner Bonifacio Drive in Manila on Friday morning, the President said that freedom can be attained peacefully through unity, prayers and love for others as exemplified by the late Catholic leader 25 years ago during the Edsa People Power Revolution that toppled a regime of dictatorship.
“Mayroon po tayong mga kinikilalang bayani tulad ni Cardinal Sin, na ginamit ng Poong Maykapal para tayong lahat ay mabigyan ng diwa ng pagmamahal sa ating kapwa…rebolusyon at pagbabago nagmula sa pagmamahalan na nag-resulta ng mapayapang pagbabago,” the Chief Executive said.
President Aquino asked for the people’s help in battling poverty and other problems hounding the country at present through the same formula that Cardinal Sin upheld in the bloodless revolt.
“Gamitin po natin yan parehong pananaw dahil hindi pa po tapos ang laban… hanggang may gutom sa bayan natin, hanggang may mga walang katiyakan o walang pagkakataong umasenso, hindi pa ho tapos ang laban natin, pagtulungan po natin ito,” President Aquino said.
The Chief Executive also noted the relevant role Cardinal Sin played during the Edsa People Power 1. “Despite threats to his life and his people, the Catholic leader chose to devote his time and prayers to restore the peace and freedom of the country,” he said.
The Catholic Prelate called on the people to participate in the mass actions, not through violent means, but through faith in God, prayers, unity and love for others.
Before the unveiling of the Cardinal Sin monument, the President also led the wreath laying ceremonies at the adjacent monument of his mother, the late President Corazon C. Aquino.
Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim assisted the President together with other national and local officials.
Cardinal Sin was known for his instrumental role in the People Power Revolution, which toppled the regime of Ferdinand Marcos and installed Corazon C. Aquino as the 11th Philippine president.
Sin was appointed archbishop of Manila in January 1974 and served at the archdiocese until 2003, or 17 years after the successful people power revolution. He was succeeded by Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales.
Two years after retiring as archbishop of Manila, he died of renal failure in 2005. He was 76.
Also in attendance during the event organized by the City of Manila include were Vice President Jejomar Binay, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Jr., Mayor Alfredo Lim, cabinet officials, the Aquino sisters, religious leaders, and the clergy, as well as students from various schools, colleges and universities. (PCOO)
Bahrain travel ban up for review -- Aquino
President Benigno Aquino III on Friday said he will have the ban on travel to Bahrain reviewed.
In a teleconference, a Filipino worker in Bahrain said that the Filipino community there was surprised that the ban included travel to Bahrain.
“We are okay here sir. There are no problems,” the OFW from Bahrain said.
“We are just concerned with the Filipinos safety there considering the recent developments in the Middle East but I’ll have that studied,” the President replied.
The teleconference with three OFWs, (one each from Hong Kong, Bahrain and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) was held at the Philippine Overseas Employment Authority. It was part of the 25th anniversary celebration of the 1986 People Power Revolution and the government’s way of listening to the concerns and needs of the so-called modern-day heroes.
The Department of Foreign Affairs on Monday urged Filipinos to postpone non-essential travels to Libya, Bahrain and Yemen.
The DFA also said it was studying whether to defer the deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in those troubled countries.
The Aquino administration made the move in the wake of the unrest that recently toppled regimes in Tunisia and Egypt and spread to other countries in the Middle East and North Africa.
At the POEA, the President unveiled the historical marker at the exact location where former President Corazon Aquino delivered her speech during the 1986 EDSA Revolution.
The President also visited the Jobs Fair where 28 employment agencies committed some 25,000 jobs both local and abroad. (PCOO)
Ochoa: Del Rosario is presidential adviser for international relations
Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. clarified on Friday that former ambassador Albert F. Del Rosario had been appointed by President Benigno S. Aquino III as presidential adviser for international relations and acting foreign secretary in concurrent capacity so he could immediately take over the post vacated by Secretary Alberto Romulo.
“The President administered Secretary Del Rosario’s oath of office as presidential adviser for international affairs to allow him to immediately take over the responsibilities of heading the Department of Foreign Affairs following the resignation of Sec. Romulo,” Ochoa told reporters at the sidelights of the unveiling of the statue of Cardinal Sin in Manila.
Ad interim appointments of Cabinet secretaries are prohibited when Congress is in session.
According to Ochoa, the President wanted to ensure a quick and seamless transition at the foreign affairs department in light of developments in Libya.
The Executive Secretary added that Del Rosario was chosen for his experience as former ambassador and his sterling record in public service.
Del Rosario, who was head of the Philippine mission to the United States from 2001 to 2006, is a recipient of the Order of Sikatuna, Rank of Datu; the EDSA II Presidential Heroes Award for fostering Philippine democracy; and the Philippine Army Award from for his accomplishments as chairman of the Makati Foundation for Education. (PCOO)
