[Merged]Edsa Revolt Anniversary declared a Special Non-Working Holiday - Feb.25,2008

**chilli** · February 14th, 2008 09:56 AM

Edsa revolt anniversary no longer a holiday
By Marvin Sy
Thursday, February 14, 2008

The historic first People Power revolution that ousted the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos from office in February 1986 will no longer be considered a holiday, Malacañang said.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said Feb. 25 would be a “working holiday,” meaning there will be no suspension of work and classes.

Ermita said preparations are still being made to commemorate the historic day in which the people ended the 20-year regime of Marcos through a series of non-violent and peaceful protests witnessed worldwide.

Thousands of people converged along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, known more commonly by its acronym EDSA, to show their support for the soldiers who stood up against Marcos.

The protests, fueled by the growing resistance and opposition, lasted from Feb. 22 to 25 in 1986, when Marcos and his family fled Malacañang on a plane to Hawaii.

Feb. 25 is annually considered a non-working holiday to allow more people to celebrate the spirit of the first EDSA revolution.

But through the years of political turmoil following the succession of four presidents after Marcos, the celebration has waned and the key players of the 1986 EDSA revolt have gone their separate political ways.

Ermita said there would still be a series of events starting on Feb. 22 as has been observed since 1987.

The activities will kick off with a ceremony at the Libingan ng Bayani in Taguig where President Arroyo and the diplomatic corps would be attending.

As has been done in the past, Ermita said the principal players and former Presidents starting from Corazon Aquino would be invited to attend.

Ermita noted that the former Presidents were not able to attend past celebrations for their own reasons but emphasized that they were always invited.

“The objective really is to bring everybody together. After all, we are celebrating a very important national event, the restoration of democracy. Everybody wants that,” he said.

Ermita said the 1986 People Power Revolution must still be commemorated as a significant event in the nation’s history and it remains relevant to this day.
“We have to celebrate because we must call the people’s attention to the spirit of EDSA. What is the spirit of EDSA 1? The spirit of oneness, unity of purpose,” he said.

“It’s the spontaneity of the people’s movement known as People Power that even influenced other countries in the world about generating people power to regain their rights and democracy,” Ermita said.

Unlike the 1986 revolution, President Arroyo chose not to commemorate the other EDSA popular revolt that ousted her predecessor Joseph Estrada from office in January 2001.

Ermita said the decision not to celebrate EDSA II was made in deference to Estrada, who was granted pardon by Mrs. Arroyo after being convicted of plunder last year.

Source: http://www.philstar.com/index.php?He...id=20080213212

**uls** · February 14th, 2008 02:21 PM

Ganti ni GMA yan kay Cory

**CVT** · February 14th, 2008 02:32 PM

Para hindi magkaroon ng assembly ang mga tao at hindi makapag-rally iyan! Remember, the weather nowadays is comfortable, which means that it is conducive to sustained and successful gatherings and rallies.....

These guys are veterans and they're switik enough to know how to play their cards....

5404:knit:

**rsscertified** · February 14th, 2008 02:36 PM

been ebeen expecting this long vacation.. makakatipid na sa gastos for one day.. that's bad.. :down:

**uls** · February 14th, 2008 02:37 PM

How to get back at Cory:

i-release from jail ang accused sa Aquino assassination

make EDSA 1 anniv an ordinary day

**russpogi** · February 14th, 2008 05:07 PM

I believe na para di makapag-rally on that day. So since may pasok tayong lahat, at may magra-rally pa din (no matter what) tayong lahat na naman ang magdudusa sa traffic!!! Argh! :fire: