PHILIPPINES COMMEMORATES THE 25th ANNIVERSARY OF PEOPLE POWER REVOLUTION

25 years has passed after the historical non violent revolution that happened in the Philippines. On Friday, February 25, Filipinos are celebrating the 25th anniversary of EDSA Revolution. The term EDSA revolution was derived from the name of the main avenue where most of the non violent protest happened.  EDSA Revolution is one of the peaceful revolution that happened in history. This prayerful mass revolution became an inspiration to many countries.
What makes Filipinos unite and decide to make a human barricade which is composed of more that 2 million people is their longing for the restoration of freedom that was said to be stolen by the dictatorship of then Philippines' President Ferdinand Marcos.
Marcos won the presidential race during 1965 election against Diosdado Macapagal. In 1969,  he was  re-elected again as president defeating Sergio Osmena Jr. At this point in time, several Filipinos were already against his leadership.  He was not allowed to run again for presidency for the the third time. On September 23, 1972, President Marcos declared Martial law (Proclamation number 1081) and his reason is rising civil disobedience. He suppresses liberty. He ordered arrest of his political opponents including then Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino. By imposing Martial law, President Marcos prolonged his stay in power.
Benigno Ninoy Aquino who was explicitly refused permission to return and was threatened by death was determined to set his foot back to the Philippines. On August 21, 1983, the brave Aquino was assassinated at the Manila International Airport which is now known as the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. His assassination started a series of protests and rallies.  President Marcos announced a presidential snap election( Batas Pambansa number 883). Ninoy's widow, Corazon Cojuanco Aquino was encouraged by opposition leaders to run for presidency. During the election, there were several reports that Marcos alllegedly interfere illegally with the election process. Despite all of these allegations, he was still proclaimed by the Commission on Election as President on February 15. 1986.

On February 22, 1986, Defense Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile and AFP Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Fidel V. Ramos together with the Reformed The Armed Forces Movement (RAM), SFP and YOU (Young Officers Union) prepared to confront Marcos and his cronies.. Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin through Radio Veritas summoned every Filipinos to support the Rebel leaders by going to EDSA. Millions of Filipinos gathered at EDSA to show their support. Priest, nuns and civilian together formed a human chain to prevent government troops in full combat gear to come near the camps. Priests and nuns lead the prayer vigil holding in their hands their rosaries, civilians hold flowers which they offer to the government troops for peace. This scenario melted the heart of the soldiers, they retreated. The historical EDSA Revolution ended without bloodshed.

The will of the Filipinos to recover its democracy prevailed. Corazon Aquino was sworn in as President of the Philippines on February 25 and Marcos was exiled in Hawaii together with his family and his cronies.

What happened in EDSA 25 years ago made a lasting impact in the world. Let us all continue what we have started at EDSA. Let's continue in making the Philippines a unique nation.

PRESIDENT AQUINO LAUNCHES HIS OWN WEBSITE

President Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III launches his own website. It has been said that the website's main purpose is to make a way for the Filipino citizens to interact and reach out to him in order that he can know the peoples' thoughts and problems to make his administration more transparent and trustworthy. The website has sub-pages with the latest news about the President such as his policy statements, peoples' "vow for a change", his list of cabinet members with links to the website of the Government offices,  photos and videos taken from P-Noy's official activities, the president and his staff's contact information, links for his social networking site pages and a page dedicated for restoring the good traditional Filipino values specially for the young ones. This page also encourages everyone to post images just like in facebook which shows Filipino values such as saying "po and opo" ,"respect the Philippine Flag" and "the value of education"
After launching the site, it reaches 16,000 views within 3 hours from 94 different countries.  The Presidents new website is  www.president.gov.ph

HIS EXCELLENCY BENIGNO S. AQUINO III DELIVERS HIS FIRST SONA

Image via Wikipedia

This afternoon, lawmakers and guests gathered at the National Legislature (Batasang Pambansa) in Batasan Hills, Quezon City where his Excellency Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III, delivers his first State of the Nation Address.

    various groups started their rally along Comonwealth Avenue.

First SONA effigy of Pres. Noynoy Aquino with bubbles shooting out of his left hand which according to them symbolizes his promises.      

more or less 7800 policemen were deployed around the Congress for  President Aquino's first SONA at least 300 of them were posted at the BP gate also placed at the gates were firetruck and ambulances.
               
2:58 PM - Pres. Aquino leaves his house, on his way to Batasan Pambansa on board the black presidential Mercedez Benz escorted by his PSG's, HPG's and ambulances. Media groups followed the convoy.
3:17 PM - The convoy was seen entering the Batasan Complex
3:35 PM - The presidential convoy reached the rear entrance of the Batasang Pambansa.
3:50 PM - Pres. Aquino with lawmakers at Presidential Legislative Liaison Office

3:54 PM - P-Noy leaves the liason office heading to the session hall with him is former Sen. Pres. Franklin Drilon, Rep. Anna York Bondoc of 4th district of Pampanga and Rep. Janet Guarin of 1st district Iloilo.
3:57 PM - The joint session begins
3:58 PM - The Philippine National anthem
3:59 PM - The National Prayer 
4:03 PM - President Aquino started his SONA

click here for the english version of the SONA
click here for the transcript of the SONA

4:39 PM - P-Noy's finished his SONA
4:40 pm -  joint session was adjourned
4:47 PM - P-Noy exited the Batasan Pambansa plenary hall.


Surveys shows that 8 out of 10 Filipinos trusted President Aquino. People had seen sincerity on P-Noys promises. Let's all hope and do our responsibilities as Filipinos that his visions of a progressive Philippines will pursue.

(I would like to thank ANC/ABS-CBN for allowing me to post their photos on this article)

JUNE 30, 2010: HISTORICAL EVENT IN THE LIFE OF THE FILIPINOS

 Today marks another historical event in the Philippines, this is the day that the 15th President of the Philippines takes his oath in front of the Filipinos at the Quirino Grandstand. Early this morning an estimated crowd of 500,000 people gathered to witness the historical Inauguration of President-elect Benigno "Noynoy" Simeon Aquino III and Vice President-elect Jejomar "Jojo" Cabautan Binay. The event was attended by invited foreign and local dignitaries including President Jose Ramos Horta of East Timor, U.S. Trade secretary Ron Kirk as head of the US delegation sent by President Barrack Obama.  There are also more or less 100 joint foreign and local media groups who were given invitation to witness the inauguration. Selected individuals from Makati City served as ushers and usherettes in the event.

HERE ARE SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EVENT:

  9:45 AM - President-elect Noynoy Aquino left Times Street.

10:00 AM - P-Noy arrive at Malacanang Palace and waited at the Bonifacio Hall formerly

                   known as the Premiere Guest House.

10:05 AM - President Arroyo comes out of the Music Room (Rizal Hall) after her arrival to

                  Malacanang Palace. She then take some moment to pose for some pictorials

                  with some of Malacanang employees.

10:23 AM - PGMA and P-Noy met at the hallway (where they shake their hands 4 times)

10:26 AM - PGMA and P-Noy board the presidential car (a new Mercedez Benz 500) on

                  their way to Qurino Grandstand.

10:35 AM - The presidential convoy arrived at the Quirino Grandstand.

10:37 AM - PGMA receives honors  from the AFP where she serves as the

                  head of the state for 9 years 5 months and 10 days.

10:42 AM - P-Noy escorted GMA to her private vehicle which will then proceed

                  to her hometown, Pampanga where she will also take oath as Congresswoman

                  of the 2nd district of Pampanga.

10:43 AM - President-elect Aquino takes his place on the stage followed by the arrival

                  of VP elect Jejomar Binay who was onboard by BJEEP (Binay Jeep or

                  Battery operated jeepneys) which was driven by Mr. Red Constantino.

10:47 AM - Charice Pempengco sings the Philippine National Anthem.

10:49 AM - Ecumenical Invocation by Roman Catholic Archbishop, an Imam and a

                  Protestant priest.

10:52 AM - Madrigal Singers sings "Bayan Ko", APo Hiking Society sings " Minamahal

                  kong Pilipinas", Christian Bautista performs acapella version of " You

                  raise me up", Ogie Alcasid "Si Noynoy" and Regine Velasques sings Aquino's

                  campaign jingle " Hindi Ka Nag-iisa" .

11:15 AM - Performers from both giant stations including Gary Valenciano sings the

                  Inaugural song entitled " Bagong Pilipinas" which was composed by

                  Ogie Alcasid and Noel Cabangon.

11:24 AM - Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile read the joint resolution of the 14th

                  congress which declares Aquino and Binay as the duly elected President and

                  Vice President of the Republic of the Philippines.

11:27 AM - P-Noy and V-nay were serenated by Mr. Noel Cabangon

11:50 AM - Vice President Jejomar Binay took his oath to Associate Justice Conchita

                  Carpio Morales, his wife Mrs. Elenita Binay held the bible.

11:53 AM - President Noynoy Aquino took his oath before SC Associate Justice Conchita

                  Carpio Morales, Jesuit priest Fr. Catalino Arevalo held the bible.

11:54 AM - President Noynoy Aquino was honored by the AFP with yellow confetties

                  dropped 2 choppers followed by a 21 gun salute as a welcome to the new

                  head of the state.

11:56 AM - President Aquino delivers his inaugural address.

12:23 PM - President Noynoy Aquino descends the stage to review the Ceremonial troops.

12:30 PM - President Aquino now left Quirino Grandstand onboard with the presidential

                  car together with his new Presidential Security Group commander. The

                  President's car was accompanied by PSGs proceeding to Malacanang for the

                  Inaugural Lunch.

               

MAY AASAHAN BA TAYONG PAGBABAGO?

 Di pa man opisyal na naihahayag, nasa 90 porsyento na ng bilang ng boto ng pinoy ang pabor kay Sen. Noynoy bilang Pangulo ng Pilipinas. Ilan na rin sa kanyang mga katunggali ang umatras upang bigyan siya ng daan. Ayon kay Manong Johnny, maaring opisyal na itong ihayag sa pagitan ng Hunyo 4 hanggang 15  pero sabi nga nila e virtually confirmed na ito mula pa noong Mayo 11 sa tulong ng "automated election". Maliwanag na sa Hunyo 30, sa pagbaba ng kasalukuyang pangulo ay may bago na naman na mamumuno ng ating bansa.
 Ngunit may aasahan kaya tayong pagbabago sa ating bansa ngayon na may bago nang manunugkulan sa pinakamataas na posisyon ng gobyerno? Sana nga!!!! marahil sambit ng halos ng nakakaraming pinoy.  Mula pa noon ay marami na ang umaasa ng pagbabago, umaasang makakaahon sa kahirapan ang masa, umaasang ang mga mauupo sa puwesto sa gobyerno ay may malasakit sa bansa at sa kapwa. Sana matapos na maiproklama ang mga nanalo sa nagdaang halalan ay magkaisa't magkasundo ang lahat ng pulitko anuman ang partido nila upang malabanan ang corruption sa ating bansa na isang malaking sanhi ng kahirapan. nawa'y maibigay sa tao ang dapat ay kanilang benepisyo mula sa gobyerno. bawat proyekto nawa ng mga bagong halal na manunungkulan sa ating bansa ay pabor sa ating mga mahihirap at hindi sa mga pansariling interes lamang. nawa'y masolusyunan ang lumalalang krisis at patuloy na pagtaas ng mga bilihin. Di nga ba't lahat sila'y ay nangakong gagawa ng paraan upang mabigyan ng disenteng hanapbuhay ang bawat pilipino. Hindi ba't kay ganda kung lahat ay may trabaho, maaring mabawasan ang lumalalang krimen dahil sa kagutuman at makakaiwas ang mga lulong sa droga kung sila ay may pagkakaabalahan na at ang bawat matatanda ay makatanggap ng sapat na benepisyo mula sa pamahalaan. Sana nga!, sana nga! makaasa tayo ng malaking pagbabago sa ating bansa.