Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 24) – Days before the 37th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution, the grandson of the late former president Cory Aquino said commemorating the peaceful revolution is all about democracy.
In a media forum on Thursday, Kiko Aquino Dee said the country should strengthen institutions that support democracy and prioritize the dignity and life of every Filipino.
“‘Yong EDSA ‘yon po ang naging susi ng pagbalik ng demokrasya,” Dee said.
[Translation: EDSA revolution was key to the return of democracy.]
“Mahalaga sa kanya [late President Cory Aquino] na ‘yong next transition of power, from her time, would be a peaceful transition of power to an elected president, kasi ‘yon ang essence of democracy,” he added.
[Translation: It was important for her that the next transition of power, from her time, would be a peaceful transition of power to an elected president, because that is the essence of democracy.]
Meanwhile, Ronald Llamas, former Presidential Adviser for Political Affairs of late former President Noynoy Aquino, the democracy icon’s son, admitted that the generation who participated in the people power failed to retell truths of the martial law era to the next generations.
He said this led to the quick return of the Marcoses to power, as well as their allies who strengthened political ties in the regions.
“Ang problema, after ng EDSA, hindi natin na-institutionalize ‘yong espiritu tsaka esensya ng people power,” he said.
[Translation: The problem was that, after EDSA, we weren’t able to institutionalize the spirit and essence of people power.]
“‘Yong aming henerasyon ay hindi naituro sa kanila yong nangyari noong martial law, ‘yong nangyari noong nakaraan kaya mas madali silang hubugin ng bagong teknolohiya, ng social media,” Llamas added.
[Translation: Our generation was not able to teach what really happened during martial law, what happened in the past, which is why it was easier to shape their consciousness through new technologies and social media.]
Fr. Robert Reyes of the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Quezon City agreed, saying that the church could become irrelevant by choosing not to have a stance on national issues.
He recalled how the late Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin would always respond to issues, which he said reflects a church that is for the poor, as he hopes for a more responsive church — noting how Pope Francis remains relevant by addressing global issues.
Sin played a vital role in the historic and peaceful revolution in 1986.
