FVR okay with 31st People Power celebration breaking tradition
Former President Fidel V. Ramos said he approves of the low-key commemoration of the 31st anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution that will break away from the traditional celebration at the People Power Monument.
Ramos, a 1986 People Power icon, said he heard about the plans
of holding a model celebration inside Camp Aguinaldo and not where it is traditionally held, at the People Power Monument on EDSA.
“I’ve heard that it has something to do with traffic problems on EDSA which has not yet been addressed, along with their solutions and proposals, because there no emergency powers yet. The celebration will be transferred to a smaller area inside Camp Aguinaldo so as not to disturb traffic,” said Ramos, during the launch of the “FVR Files: An Anthology of Controversies and Issues, Anecdotes and Trivia about Fidel V. Ramos” on Wednesday afternoon.
Ramos said he does not mind having a simpler EDSA celebration on February 25 as long the EDSA People Power Commission (EPPC) promises to do a better job next year.
“We have to understand the realities. This time, no schedule, guidelines or even traffic plan have been release yet because they are not on top of the problem,” the former president said.
To make up for next year, Ramos said he proposed putting up the longdelayed EDSA Learning Center.
“They (EPPC) can do it. They have to make an announcement this year,” said Ramos.
The plan to build a learning center started the term of Ramos but was not carried out because it lacked government fund. He expressed hope that President Duterte would sign an executive order creating the learning center.
“Hopefully the president himself would issue an executive order to make available about 2.5 hectares inside the military camp,” Ramos said.
In his proposal, the learning center can be built at the back of the People Power Momument.
He described the center as having an inter-active museum and information resource center that will have all data about the EDSA event and the democratic change of regime in the country, which will be made available in other countries.
Ramos said he discussed his proposal with EPPC, headed by Executive Secretary Salvador “Bingbong” Medialdea and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana. Medialdea was recently assigned to chair the EDSA People Power Commission.
“Hopefully the president himself would issue an executive order to make available about 2.5 hectares inside the military camp,” Ramos said.
Meanwhile, the former president launched his latest book – “FVR XYZ Files,” authored by Mel Velasco, biographer of the Ramos family. The 372page book explores the many facets of Ramos – as a young boy, a teenager, a military man, a President, and now a senior statesman.
Moving forward
In Malacañang, Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said it was time to “move on” from the past and focus on the task of nation-building.
Abella’s statement was a comment on this year’s commemoration of the EDSA People Power revolution will focus on moving the country forward instead of dwelling on the past.
A week before the 31st anniversary of the bloodless revolt that ousted the Marcos dictatorship, Abella said: “It’s going to be very simple and very quiet and the theme will be regarding, it will be about reflection on nation building,” Abella said in a Palace news conference.
“Basically, the whole thrust is moving the nation forward from just looking back at what happened in the past but moving forward to the future of the Philippines as everybody is encouraged to cooperate to nation building,” he added.
Abella argued that the country is “evolving,’ adding the nation cannot “get stuck in the past.”
“It’s time to move on from the celebrating the past, remembering the past and move on the task of nation building, to give it a more positive outlook, give it positive understanding,” he added.
Despite his endorsement of the burial of Marcos at the heroes’ cemetery, President Duterte is expected to join the EDSA commemorative rites on February 25, a special holiday in the country. (With a report from Genalyn D. Kabiling)