25th anniversary of ‘86 People Power a private-public partnership event

The eight-day 25th anniversary of the People Power Revolution will be a private-public partnership, mostly spearheaded by the private sector, in which government won’t be spending too much money, Malacañang said Tuesday. A number of companies, including members of the Philippine Franchise Association, will be sponsoring the activities-packed event this Feb. 17-18, 21-25, and 27. “This celebration is a private endeavor… a private-public partnership but more of the private. They are now spearheading this and the government will just support it in whatever way it can," said Maria Montelibano, head of the EDSA 25th Anniversary celebrations, at a briefing in Malacañang. “We are still collating the expenses and the budget. But don’t worry, we will be very prudent in the celebration. A lot of it will be really on volunteer basis," she said.
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV The franchise association will be in charge of some of the booths. “They are doing it on their own. We have not talked of cost and they will take care of whatever resources they need for that day," according to her. Artists, singers, and dancers participating in the concert will get a small honorarium, said singer-composer Ogie Alcasid, a member of the EDSA People Power Commission “Iyong mga artista merong konting honorarium. Siyempre ako walang bayad," he said. “I think all of the artists understand the essence of volunteerism. Nakakatuwa, dahil lahat sila excited. Lahat sila very cooperative. Totoo po iyong sinabi ni Tita Maria, bagamat masaya at very festive ang mode ng selebrasyon, eh, nagtitipid naman kami," he said. Policemen’s salaries Government will be shelling out a minimal amount, which includes the salary of policemen who will secure portions of EDSA for the celebrations, Montelibano said. “I’m sure the government will be spending something — the Philippine National Police for all their security preparations and all that. It is the usual government spending that will be incurred but nothing out of pocket," she said. In a conservative estimate, Malacañang said some 35,000 people are expected to attend the celebration. The commission, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, and the National Capital Region Police Office are still discussing the traffic rerouting for Feb. 25 — the day 25 years ago then strongman Ferdinand Marcos, his close relatives, cronies, and associates left the country, after ruling the Philippines for 20 years since he was first elected president in 1966. “We would like to minimize disruption and we would like to ensure continuity of traffic flow. There will be appropriate announcement on rerouting," Secretary Herminio Coloma, head of the Presidential Communications Operations Office, said. Malacañang has invited former presidents Fidel V. Ramos, Joseph Estrada, and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo — now the respresentative of Pampanga’s 2nd District — to grace the event, Montelibano said. Family of Stephen Solarz invited Also invited was the family of former US Congressman Stephen Solarz who “was very integral and very strategic to what happened to us," Montelibano said, referring to the fact that Solarz was one of the US officials, including then President Ronald Regan, who convinced Marcos to step down from Malacañang at the height of People Power revolution in 1986. Coloma also sent invitations to the ambassadors, consuls, and chargé d’affaires of the countries that have experienced the Philippines in February 1986. “We are awaiting for the messages of solidarities that will be coming from their respective heads of states," he said. The 25th anniversary of People Power will run on a theme of “Pilipino Ako, Ako Ang Lakas ng Pagbabago." The celebrations will include a concert of original Pilipino music, book launching, photo exhibits, planting of 50,000 trees, unveiling of markers, cultural shows, and “Freedom Tours." A 40-hour vigil starting Feb. 23 in 25 churches across the country will culminate on Feb. 25 with a flag-raising raising ceremony at the EDSA People Power Monument, followed by an Ecumenical Mass at Edsa Shrine and the reenactment of the “salubong" in which the military and the civilians will meet at the Edsa strip. Boodle lunch with PNoy In Camp Aguinaldo, there will be a medical-dental mission, sports events, entrepreneurial and cultural activities. One of the celebrations’ highlights is a boodle lunch with President Benigno S. Aquino III and some 2,500 people along the Edsa strip to rekindle the spirit of sharing that transpired 25 years ago. At that time, countless civilians converged on the streets of Metro Manila to keep the Marcos loyalist military from attacking camps Crame and Aguinaldo, where rebel soldiers took positions in defiance of the strongman’s order for them to surrender. For its part, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration will hold a job fair featuring 5,000 overseas jobs. In Malacañang, a Kalayaan marker will be unveiled on Feb. 26 where the personalities who played significant roles during the Edsa People Power Revolution, including then Minister of Defense Juan Ponce Enrile — now the Senate President — and Ramos who was the Armed Forces vice chief of staff in 1986, will be recognized. Capping the celebrations is a marathon — the People Power Run — on the Feb. 27. — VS, GMA News