IN OBSERVANCE of the 33rd anniversary of the Edsa People Power Revolution, President Rodrigo Duterte called on Filipinos to "deeply value the freedom and liberty" currently being enjoyed by the nation since the end of Marcos regime.
Duterte, in a message for the commemoration of the 1986 peaceful revolt against the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, acknowledged the Filipino people's efforts to go against an autocrat rule and fight for the country's independence.
"I am hopeful that this occasion will inspire all of us, especially the younger generation, to deeply value the freedom and liberty that we won in Edsa," the President said.
"Let us never forget the sacrifice of those who came before us so that we may always be motivated to preserve and protect the democratic way of life that we enjoy today. I wish everyone a meaningful commemoration," he added.
The 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution gathered millions of Filipinos from all walks of life to march along Edsa to end Marcos's dictatorship.
The peaceful uprising was a result of the long oppressed freedom and the massive human rights violations committed by the Marcos regime. Prayers were the only weapons the Filipinos used to bring back their freedom from the hands of Marcos.
Duterte said the 1986 Edsa revolution "has given rise to a Philippines that was reborn from the ashes of its tumultuous past."
He also noted that the revolt proved to other countries that "history can be rewritten without the need to resort to violent means."
"As the entire nation prepares for the upcoming midterm elections this May, let us always remember how this historic revolution restored our power to collectively chart our future through the ballot," Duterte said.
"May we all have a profound sense of appreciation and understanding of what we lost and what we reclaimed," he added.
Duterte, who is known to be a friend of the controversial Marcos family, issued the statement, even after he decided to skip for the third time the annual rites for the celebration of the 33rd Edsa anniversary.
In a separate statement, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo maintained that Duterte had to attend to "more pressing matters of the state," a reason for the Chief Executive's absence on the commemoration of the People Power Revolution.
He, nevertheless, guaranteed that Duterte would still join the Filipinos in recognizing that "our government is a fruit of democracy and our sovereignty resides in the people and all authority emanates from them."
"The lesson learned in Edsa is unmistakable. Power is transitional as life is ephemeral. You abuse either and it will be taken away from you," the Palace official said.
"As a wise sage says: Those whom the Gods wish to destroy they first make mad," he added. (VoxPop Philippines)
