MANILA, Philippines -- Former President Fidel Ramos lamented Friday how the gains of the 1986 and 2001 "people power" uprisings were being lost to "greed, apathy, and corruption," in an apparent swipe at the administration.

Speaking before an audience that includes President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Ramos, one of the key players in the 1986 revolt, also issued a call to action: ?History might yet call us to come together again -- to offer our lives and fortunes on the altar of our civic leaders.?

He said there were "oligarchies, dynasties, [and] opportunists [that we have] yet to banish"

"It is customary nowadays to denigrate the EDSA events -- perhaps because the greed, the apathy, the corruption we brought down then are once again rearing their heads," Ramos said.

"Ironically, Filipinos have always found it easier to die for our country -- than to live for it. Times of peace and social stability, we seem to fritter away in bickering -- in quarreling like crabs caught in a bamboo trap -- with each one pursuing his or her self-interest," he said.

Ramos and Arroyo were at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (Heroes Cemetery) where the President laid a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to mark celebrations for the 22nd anniversary of the 1986 People Power revolt.

"Around the world, the Philippines included, there are new tyrannies in the form of self-serving leaders, immoderately greedy autocrats, and cliques of corrupt officials that we still confront," he said.

Arroyo is fighting off fresh calls for her resignation triggered by allegations that her husband, First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, and former Commission on Elections chairman Benjamin Abalos allegedly pocketed kickbacks from the overprice of the government's $329-million contract with China' ZTE Corp. for the national broadband network (NBN) project.

Asked if he considered Ramos' speech a swipe against the administration, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said: "Not necessarily."

"What President Ramos said has been mentioned in the newspapers. Ang ibig sabihin, isang paalala yan na kung hindi tayo magsumikap e baka magpatuloy-tuloy [He meant it as a reminder that if we don't work
hard, this will continue]," he said.

"Nobody in this world is a saint. I hope I don't sound sacrilegious, but even Jesus Christ had to sacrifice to save mankind from sin," he said.

Asked if the government was doing enough to fight corruption, Ermita said: "Government will always do enough, but you can't control the minds and behavior of everyone."

When pressed by reporters, Ermita said he did not see the NBN scandal developing into another "people power" uprising. "Hardly, I'm not seeing it that way."

Referring to past crises under the Arroyo administration, Ermita said:
"This happened before, and it did not develop into the manner people thought it would develop."

"Hindi naniniwala pa ang sambayanan, marami pang kulang [The people don't have faith yet. Many elements are missing," he said.