People power rites in Cebu, not at Edsa

THE REVOLUTION HAPPENED HERE A worker puts small Philippine flags in the hands of statues representing the Filipino people in the People Power Monument on Epifanio de los Santos Avenue in Quezon City on Thursday, ahead of the 28th anniversary of the Edsa Revolution next Tuesday. MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

MANILA, Philippines—From Edsa to Malacañang to Cebu.

For the first time in nearly three decades, the anniversary of the historic 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution will not be celebrated at the place where it happened.

Organizers on Thursday said the festivities marking the Feb. 22-25, 1986, uprising that ended Ferdinand Marcos’ dictatorial rule would be held not on Edsa but in the “Queen City of the South”—Cebu City—partly to accommodate President Aquino’s wish “to be one with the people.”

Unlike in the past, Aquino will commemorate the 28th anniversary of the 1986 revolution by holding “town hall” meetings with victims of Typhoons “Pablo” and “Yolanda” and the 7.2-magnitude earthquake that struck the Visayas region.

Solidarity with victims

“He wants to be one with the people, especially those who were affected by the natural calamities,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing.

Lacierda said the meetings—called “pulong-bayan”—would give Aquino with a “good opportunity” to show his “solidarity with those people affected” by the natural disasters.

A group of Yolanda victims has traveled all the way to Manila to express their concern over the supposedly slow pace of rehabilitation in the Leyte area.

The group appealed for a P40,000 cash aid for each of the affected families to help them get back on their feet.

P40,000 not enough

The President has rejected the appeal, saying: “It’s easy to suggest, ‘Come, join us, you’ll get P40,000.’ But how long would it sustain their families? Would they be able to rebuild their houses with that?”

Lacierda defended Aquino’s remarks, saying that “the actions of the President have shown that he is anything but insensitive.”

“We cannot discount the fact that there are people who will not be satisfied with the work that we do, but that’s free expression,” Lacierda said. “We will continue to do our job.”

He reiterated the government’s rehabilitation plan, which is anchored on the so-called “build-back-better” approach.

Homes better than money

“We have a reason why it is better to give them homes rather than give them money,” Lacierda said. “We would prefer to give them employment rather than give them P40,000. We’d rather give them the tools to fish rather than just give them the fish.”

On the eve of the Edsa rites in Cebu, the President will fly to Cateel, Davao Oriental province, which suffered from the onslaught of Typhoon Pablo in 2012, and then to Loon, Bohol province, which was hit by a big earthquake last October.

After the traditional Edsa “salubungan (encounter)” at the Cebu provincial capitol, the President will proceed to Bantayan Island, then to Leyte and Samar provinces, which were devastated by Yolanda in November.

Malaysia visit

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma earlier said the Edsa rites would be held at the Malacañang complex. But the Edsa People Power Commission (EPPC), which organizes the affair, said later it would be held in Cebu.

“The decision to move the celebrations away from Edsa is also to give consideration to commuters who use the thoroughfare where various government infrastructure projects have already been initiated,” the commission said in a media advisory.

In his latest statement, Coloma said the original plan was “shelved” after the President met with Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa “and conveyed his decision to revisit the areas affected by recent natural calamities before he leaves for his official visit to Malaysia on Feb. 27 to 28.”

Ochoa chairs the EPPC.

RELATED STORIES

Aquino to spend People Power anniversary with calamity survivors

‘People Power’ 1 anniversary rites moved from Edsa to Malacañang

Aquino questions P40,000 financial relief sought by ‘Yolanda’ victims