It's all yellow on EDSA People Power's silver anniversary

It's the silver anniversary of the 1986 People Power revolution but it's all yellow at the People Power Monument along EDSA, Quezon City, where the main celebration is being held on Friday. Everything's yellow — yellow ribbons, yellow posters, yellow shirts, yellow umbrellas. Yellow was the symbolic color used in the 1986 protest led by the mother of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III, the late President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino, who rose to power after the 1986 peaceful revolution. The people's revolution ended the 21-year reign of the late President Ferdinand Marcos, the 10th President of the Philippines. On the 25th anniversary of the People Power revolution on Friday, thousands of people flocked to the People Power Monument, most of them were wearing yellow shirts. Many bikes were tied with yellow ribbons too.

These bracelets are a colorful way of celebrating People Power. Carmela Lapeña

Volunteers wearing yellow shirts manned the stretch of tables covered with banana leaves for a boodle fight. Vendors offered People Power souvenirs, from stickers to umbrellas. The celebration began at 7:00 am and is expected to last until midnight, with some 30,000 people expected to attend the festivities. Security was tight, with soldiers, cops, and Metro Manila Development Authority personnel working together to ensure a safe celebration. Students join the celebration Classes having been called off in observance of the anniversary and thus, many students were present during the celebration. Armed with cellphone cameras, the students took pictures in front of the EDSA Shrine. Some students climbed armored tanks and had their pictures taken with soldiers. Blown-up photographs taken during the bloodless revolt lined the walls, which also displayed snippets of the sequence of events that happened there 25 years ago.

Rain or shine, these yellow umbrellas are a good thing to have during the festivities. Carmela Lapeña

A few people stopped to read, but most were busy mingling. "What are you doing here?" one girl asked. "Wala lang, nakikigulo lang," was her friend's answer. Food to dog clothing The closed portion of EDSA — from Ortigas Avenue to Boni Serrano Avenue — was dotted with stalls selling everything from food to dog clothing. Some stalls even offered services like manicures, pedicures, haircuts and massages. To celebrate 25 years since the People Power revolution, P25-peso deals were everywhere — from buy one, take one mineral water to fifty percent off on P50 fruit shakes. An airline, Cebu Pacific, even offered P25 seat sales from February 25 to 26 for all of its domestic flights in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the People Power revolution. The travel period is from June 1 to September 30 this year.

In 1986, soldiers marched alongside people in Kapitbisig. Carmela Lapeña

Reminiscing Those who are below 25 years old would know about EDSA 1 only through textbooks or the stories of their elders. However, some of those who were taking part in the 25th anniversary celebration were present during present at EDSA in 1986. "Andito ako nun, nagdala kami ng pagkain. Diyan kami naka-puwesto," a man says, gesturing excitedly. In the background, "Bayan Ko" played on repeat, while performers from all over took the stage next to the People Power Monument, where people paused to watch before moving on find well-shaded areas. The Flickhoundz from Malabon wowed onlookers with their dance moves, while Ka Benny Rodriguez told his EDSA story onstage. Strangers smiled at each other, despite the midday heat.

25 years later, the soldiers pose for pictures in front of their tanks. Carmela Lapeña

Vendors wove through the crowd selling hats, fans, face towels and ice candy. A man selling necklaces gave an impromptu speech. "Ang spirit, yan ang 'di mamamatay. Pagkatapos ng 25 years dapat hindi mawala na proud tayo. Kasi sa Pilipinas ang pinakamagagandang produkto sa mundo, at ang pinakamagaling na magtratrabaho, pati ang pinakamagandang mga babae," he said as he placed a necklace around a girl's neck. Such profound words. He was just one among the thousands of people who were there at EDSA for the 25th anniversary celebration of the People Power revolution. But perhaps, many people felt the same sentiment. – VVP, GMA News