Thousands of protesters, composed of various civic, religious, and progressive groups convened across the EDSA Shrine on Saturday, February 23 to commemorate the 33rd anniversary of the EDSA People Power uprising.
Organized by the United People’s Action, along with the One Faith, One Nation, One Voice and other groups, the #UnitedPeoplePower aimed to emulate the unity and collective aspiration of the people 33 years ago in hopes that justice prevail once more amidst the current political climate.
‘Tayo ang EDSA, Tayo ang Pag-asa’
Various leaders from different groups highlighted the worsening attacks experienced by the people under the current Duterte administration. Issues concerning repression, poverty, escalating killings, attacks on the youth, and the martial law in Mindanao were discussed, inciting the resolve to strengthen the people’s resistance against such policies.
A chunk of the contingent was composed of various youth organizations. The youth assailed the recent attacks on their self-expression, as well as the slew of policies concerning them that they deem as anti-youth and repressive.
Raoul Manuel, the convener of Youth Act Now Against Tyranny, also highlighted the youth’s response to recent pronouncements made by the current National Youth Commission chair Ronald Cardema.
“The youth here today are unafraid of such threats! We will continue to fight the tyrannical rule,” Manuel said.
Meanwhile, religious leaders also gathered to stand against the attacks on the Church and the killings in the country.
Mother Mary John Mananzan, OSB, a convener of Movement Against Tyranny urged the people to unite against the continuing tyranny.
Also present in the protest is former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. In her speech, she also passed a message to the current government.
“Lahat ng kapangyarihan ay matatapos din. When this all ends, how will you face your conscience? Our struggle will succeed because it is based on God, Justice, and the People,” Sereno said.
The former Chief Justice also called on to the Filipino people to continue to fight and stand united.
Activists, not terrorists
Following the culmination of the #UnitedPeoplePower, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN), the umbrella organization of various national democratic mass organizations, continued the commemoration protest to Camp Aguinaldo, the national headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
In the short program, progressives also hit the continuing impunity and rampant poverty.
Edith Burgos, mother of Jonas Burgos, a desaparecido from the Arroyo administration, stood against AFP’s move to delist the desaparecido cases.
The groups also assailed the continuing attacks against ordinary people, especially with the slew of red-tagging and malicious pronouncements made against dissenters.
“Duterte and his Armed Forces are the ones who sowed fear and terror especially in the countryside,” said Paco Perez, spokesperson of Anakbayan Metro Manila.
Former Department of Agrarian Reform secretary Rafael Mariano closed the program by urging the people to unite and fight in spoiling another looming tyrannical rule.
