MANILA, Philippines ? It?s the people?s victory and nobody?s ?exclusive property.?

The spirit of the 1986 People Power Revolution belongs to the people, and politicians, political groups and religious personalities should not use it for their own interest.

This was the warning issued Wednesday by former President Fidel V. Ramos at the 24th anniversary celebration of the historic event that toppled the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos and installed Corazon Aquino as President.

It was the first time Ramos took a swipe at political parties and candidates claiming credit for the success of EDSA I and using it for campaign purposes in the run-up to the national elections in May.

?The spirit of EDSA belongs to the people, particularly to the younger Filipinos and our impoverished kababayan (countrymen),? Ramos declared.

?It is not the exclusive property of any military commander, [or] any religious personality, [or] any political leader. It does not belong to any single political party, [or] any special cluster of advocates,? he said.

Ramos took the occasion to perform his trademark leap in the air?a reprise of his reaction 24 years ago when he heard that Marcos had fled Malacañang.

But Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, then the defense minister, was not present to reenact the meeting or ?Salubungan? with Ramos, then the chief of the Philippine Constabulary.

In that meeting, Ramos left Camp Crame to meet the Enrile-led forces from Camp Aguinaldo in the middle of EDSA (Epifanio delos Santos Avenue).

Legacy

Ramos said the spirit of EDSA was a legacy from those who had fought the dictatorship.
He said the legacy had been handed to all Filipinos, including those working overseas and the children yet to be born.

?For those who staked their lives and their futures for the cause of freedom, none can ever abandon the spirit of EDSA, or forget what EDSA stands for,? he said.

Noting the obvious absences, Ramos said the lack of enthusiasm in celebrating the 24th anniversary of EDSA I was deplorable and inexcusable for elected officials.

?Indeed, there are those who continue to be cynical of the EDSA experience, who say that the spirit of EDSA has been lost,? he said.

?Let me now reach out to them, despite their narrow and short-sighted attitudes, for them to join in our people?s crusade and aspirations to move our blessed Philippines faster forward and take the lead.?

Ramos said the struggles during EDSA I would be for naught unless the government and the people succeed in the war against poverty, inequity, lawlessness and corruption.

He urged the people to live as heroes by being responsible citizens, and said citizenship was not measured by heroic deeds alone but also by protecting the environment, voting wisely during elections, and raising the quality of life, among others.

?That is true nationhood. That is the true essence of the spirit of EDSA. Those crucial days tested us as a people. Those days showed the world what the Filipino is all about,? he said.

From the gates of the Corinthian Gardens subdivision, Agapito ?Butz? Aquino, leading the civilian contingent with Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, walked the short stretch of EDSA toward the People Power Monument in Quezon City.

The civilians were met by the military group led by Ramos, and Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, who came from Gate 3 of Camp Aguinaldo.

Butz Aquino, a brother of the martyred Benigno ?Ninoy? Aquino Jr., heads the August Twenty-One Movement. He is an uncle of Liberal Party standard-bearer Sen. Benigno ?Noynoy? Aquino III.

Despite earlier announcements that they would attend the anniversary celebration, Enrile and his protégé Sen. Gregorio Honasan were absent.

Ballsy Aquino-Cruz, the eldest daughter of the late former President Aquino and a sister of Noynoy Aquino, was likewise a no-show although the program indicated that she would attend.

Butz Aquino met and shook hands with Binay, the running mate of Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino standard-bearer Joseph Estrada. He later said they would try to make the event ?as neutral as possible.?

?The Aquino rally?that?s for tomorrow,? he said with a laugh.

Binay said he was present to remind the people, especially the youth, of his participation in EDSA I.

It was the opposition leader?s first time to be invited by the government to take part in the EDSA rites since President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo came to power.

No easy replication

The crowd was a mere fraction of the multitudes that took part in EDSA I. (The Inquirer estimated the number of people at about 3,000; the Quezon City police could not immediately give a figure.)

But for Ramos, the spirit of EDSA must continue to be celebrated, even among the most cynical Filipinos.

?[Another EDSA] will not be replicated so easily again,? he told reporters as he walked to meet the civilian contingent.

A crowd of civic leaders, office workers, students, out-of-school youths, government employees and blue-collar workers assembled at a portion of the EDSA-Ortigas Avenue intersection before joining the civilian group.

A Simba armored vehicle festooned with yellow flowers joined the march along with uniformed soldiers.

A helicopter flew overhead and dropped yellow confetti, drawing cheers and applause.

After the two groups converged, retired Maj. Gen. Antonio Sotelo went onstage and, facing Ramos, executed a snappy salute before handing him a Philippine flag.

Ramos handed the flag to Ermita to symbolize ?love and sacrifice? for the country.

Butz Aquino then handed a piece of barbed wire with yellow ribbons tied to it to a youth representative as a symbol of the ?youth?s vigilance and active participation in safeguarding democracy.?

More than 1,000 civil disturbance management troops were deployed to secure the anniversary celebration that began at 4:30 p.m.

Fireworks lit the skies two hours later as the People Power anthem ?Magkaisa? was played, signaling the end of the ceremony.