BY: REY ANTHONY H. CHIU
TAGBILARAN CITY, February 28, 2014
(PIA) –The spirit of People’s Power is alive in Bohol.
A day before the 28th anniversary of
the People’s Power Revolution in EDSA, President Benigno S. Aquino
III hailed Bohol for enlivening the unifying spirit of helping each other
in achieving a common goal.
During the pre-event celebration of the
anniversary of the People’s Power on February 24, in Loon, Bohol, the President
said this year’s celebration focuses on recognizing the spirit of EDSA that is
alive in the country.
Twenty eight years ago, Filipinos
gathered at the Epifanio delos Santos Avenue to prevent a war from breaking out
between former strongman President Ferdinand Marcos and his government troops
and military officers who defected to the opposition.
Bringing nothing but flowers and
rosaries, thousands of Filipinos from all walks of life united and initiated a
peaceful revolution that ousted a dictator and placed the Philippines in the
international consciousness as a country with a formidable people’s
power.
On the eve of the 28th anniversary of
the revolution, Pres. Aquino came to Bohol for an inspection of
government-built emergency shelter for quake victims.
On his third visit to Bohol after the
quake, Pres. Aquino said he has always carried the message that has
unified people in facing every challenge- the message that has been the source
of hope for those who struggle to stand up.
"Hindi kayo nag-iisa,"
he said, echoing the famous EDSA catchword which became a password for
defecting soldiers that fateful day in 1986.
Stressing a truth that only the
Filipinos can liberate the Filipinos, the president said the government chose
to acknowledge the often unrecognized spirit of the people’s power which is the
every Filipino.
They are those in any part of the
country who are facing the challenges and still struggles to alleviate their
selves and the community, Aquino said in Tagalog before hundreds of
Boholanos.
These people are the ones who carry the
true meaning of EDSA in their hearts.
Then he continued on to say, “Your
province showed a vivid example of this consciousness. Hindi po biro
and pagsubok na dinadaanan ninyo noong Oktubre nga nakaraang taon," the President recalled.
Then, many Boholanos died, many of the
lifetimes savings in properties , and even historical buildings crumbled in the
earthquake.
But above all these, Boholanos
showed true grit, the ability to enliven People’s power, he pointed out.
In Bohol, Aquino shared that the people’s power has made it
possible for 88,600 affected families to receive food packs in most areas
affected by the quake, and more or less 8,560 affected families in Loon.
(rmn/RAHC/PIA Bohol)