EDSA 30 Celebration To Focus On ‘Millenial’ Youth

The country will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution on February 25, which is centered on urging the “millenial” youth to learn from history.

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said that those who were young when the EDSA People Power Revolution happened in 1986 have to know and understand the significance of the event, which ended the dictatorship in the country.

“Pagbabago: Ipinaglaban Ninyo, Itutuloy Ko,” ang tema ng selebrasyon ng EDSA 30. Ang espesyal na selebrasyon ngayong taon ay nakatuon sa mga kabataang musmos pa nang maganap ang EDSA People Power Revolution noong 1986, ang mga tinatawag natin ngayong ‘millennial’, said Coloma in an interview over Radyo ng Bayan on Sunday.

“Mahalagang malaman at maunawaan nila ang kasaysayan ng EDSA. Sa pamamagitan ng kilos-protesta ng libo-libong Pilipino, natanggal sa kapangyarihan ang diktadurya na namayani sa bansa nang pairalin ang Batas Militar simula pa noong 1972. Pagkatapos ng pagpaslang kay dating Senador Ninoy Aquino noong 1983, umigting ang pagtutol ng sambayanan sa pagkitil sa mga demokratikong karapatan at sistematikong paglustay ng kaban ng bayan,” said the Palace official.

“Lubos na mahalagang matuto tayo sa mga aral ng kasaysayan. Dapat tayong manindigan at ipaglaban natin ang ating mga karapatan sapagkat maaari itong agawin at ipagkait ng isang diktaduryang mapang-abuso at mapang-api. Nagkaisa tayo sa EDSA noong 1986 batay sa mga prinsipyo ng demokrasya, kalayaan at katarungan. Ito ang tunay na diwa ng ating pagdiriwang ng EDSA 30,” Coloma further said.

Coloma said a wreath-laying ceremony at the Libingan ng mga Bayani for those who fought for the country’s independence will be held today and will be led by former President Fidel V. Ramos.

On the other hand, President Benigno S. Aquino III will lead the EDSA 30 celebration on February 25, which is a non-working holiday.

Coloma said thousands of students will join the traditional “salubungan” in front of the People Power Monument, where a program will also be held.

The Palace official invited the public to visit the People Power experiential museum at the Camp Aguinaldo parade grounds.

“Inaanyayahan ang lahat na magtungo sa People Power experiential museum na nasa parade grounds ng Camp Aguinaldo upang saksihan at maranasan ang iba’t ibang aspeto ng kalupitan at karahasang umiral noong panahon ng Batas Militar. Ang People Power experiential museum ay bukas nang buong araw sa darating na Huwebes at Biyernes, Pebrero 25 at 26, mula ika-walo ng umaga hanggang hatinggabi,” said Coloma.

The People Power experiential museum combines elements of theater, cinema, photography, performances, installations and other allied arts, as it recreates the experience of Martial Law and the struggle of courageous Filipinos to awaken the sleeping masses.

The visitors enter the various halls of the museum such as the Hall of Deadly Sleep, the Hall of False Dreams, the Hall of Forgotten Martyrs, and the Hall of Awakening, as they journey through various phases of the Martial Law experience and the eventual triumph of the EDSA People Power Revolution.

“Each phase is guided by an actor who assumes the role or character, either imagined or based on history, and takes the audience through the experience that the specific site represents. We especially invite young Filipinos who were born or were growing up at the time of the EDSA People Power Revolution to visit the museum with their parents and elders,” Coloma said.

The EDSA People Power Commission has set up an online appointment procedure to ensure the smooth flow of museum visitors. Visit the Facebook page at edsapeoplepower.com. Interested parties may register at this email address: edsa30museum@gmail.com. After registering online, a confirmation email will be received with the timeslot and guidelines.

“Mayroon ngang kasabihan na ‘those who don’t learn from the lessons of history are doomed to repeat those mistakes,’ parang ganoon ang kasabihan. Kaya mahalaga ang pag-alala sa kasaysayan at matuto sa mga aral ng kasaysayan,” Coloma said. (PND/PCOO)