Vice President Leni Robredo (Photo by Jay Ganzon/OVP)
MANILA, Philippines — On the 35th anniversary of the Edsa People Power Revolution, Vice President Leni Robredo said that the challenge now is to find the “strength, faith and fire” to continue the work that remains to be done as this is what is needed to get through the pandemic.
“Today, 35 years after, we renew our faith in this fundamental truth of Edsa: That our people, standing united, can never be defeated,” Robredo said in a statement.
“We affirm this truth, even as we acknowledge that the promise of Edsa has not yet been completely fulfilled.”
“Our democracy, ever fragile, is still under constant threat,” Robredo added, noting that there are efforts to revise history for “personal agenda of a powerful few.”
“The challenge now is this: We must find within ourselves that strength, that faith, that fire to continue the work that remains to be done. And in doing so, we must find a way to walk forward together,” she said.
“Ito ang pinakamahalagang aral ng Edsa, at ito rin mismo ang kailangan natin para malagpasan ang mga hamon ng pandemya at ng kasalukuyang panahon: Na ang sagot sa mga suliranin natin, hindi iisa, kundi bawat isa,” she added.
(This is the most valuable lesson of Edsa, and this is what we need to surpass the obstacles of the pandemic and the recent times: That the answer to our problems is one, but everyone.)
“Today, we are reminded of what we can do, marching towards a shared horizon, bound not only by the crisis we face, but by our collective resolve to truly achieve the promise articulated 35 years ago—isang lipunang mas malaya, mas makatarungan, at mas makatao (one society that is more free, more fair and more humane.)”
Robredo added:“At dahil magkakasama tayo sa adhikaing ito, buo ang loob ko: Kayang-kaya nating abutin, kahit ang pinakamatatayog nating mga pangarap,”
(And since we are in this together, my belief is firm: We can achieve anything, including our loftiest aspirations and dreams.)