People Power Monument, Quezon City
25 February 2016

President Benigno S. Aquino III relived the historic days of the EDSA People Power Revolution as the country united in celebrating its 30th anniversary, saying that Filipinos should always remember how the nation strived to achieve democracy and freedom against Martial Law.

Speaking before hundreds of people that gathered at the People Power Monument, President Aquino called on the new generation to know the history behind the EDSA People Power, and reiterated that Filipinos must be grateful for the liberty that everyone is experiencing at present, compared to the so-called “dark days” during the Marcos regime. He enumerated several rights that were taken away from the people that prevented them from living freely.

“Gusto ko ngang idiin: Hindi kathang-isip ang lahat ng ito. Hindi ito teorya o pananaw ng iilan lang. Totoong naganap ang Martial Law. May isang diktador, kasama ng kanyang pamilya at mga crony, na nagpakasasa sa puwesto, at ang naging kapalit nito, mismong buhay at kalayaan ng Pilipino,” he said.

Likewise, President Aquino condoled with the real victims of Martial Law, or those who suffered more and felt the fury of the dictatorship.

The President said, “Sa totoo lang po, bagama’t masasabi kong nabiktima ang aming pamilya noong Batas Militar, buwenas pa kami dahil kahit papaano nabisita ko ang aming ama habang nakakulong at nang siya’y pinaslang, may nailibing kami at may puntod kaming mapupuntahan. Ang iba po, hindi kasingpalad namin.”

This year’s 30th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution saw hundreds of Filipinos gathering along EDSA to revisit the scenes in that fateful year of 1986. One of the highlights was the reenactment of the “Salubungan” wherein former President Fidel V. Ramos led the group of military that broke away from the dictatorship, converging with the Filipino demonstrators that included the religious sector, along EDSA.

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