MANILA (UCAN): The 35th anniversary of the People Power Revolution in the Philippines, which saw millions of people come out in protest joined by, among others, the then archbishop of Manila, Jaime Cardinal Sin, at Epifanio De Los Santos Avenue (EDSA), between 22 and 25 February 1986, calling for the removal of late dictator, Ferdinand Marcos.
Thirty-five years later, papal nuncio, Archbishop Charles John Brown, celebrated Mass on February 24 at the Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace, Our Lady of EDSA—more popularly the EDSA shrine, which was built to remember the revolution dubbed by locals as the “most peaceful” political rally in history.
“Justice is the foundation of peace in society. When there is no justice, when people can’t receive justice, they react in violent ways,” the archbishop said in his homily.
Archbishop Brown said what happened more than three decades ago taught the world that peace is the product of justice.
“One cannot separate peace from justice. Peace is the product of justice. So, whenever we can promote justice in society, we are promoting peace,” Archbishop Brown added.
“Let us protect the spirit of EDSA. It teaches us that democracy is real and precious, yet needs to be protected against those who threaten it. Let us oppose all attempts to control us and to scare us off in expressing ourselves’
Bishop Broderick Pabillo
The papal nuncio stressed that the revolution was a reminder to Filipinos that unity between rich and poor was possible for social change.
“Fairness and justice mean that equality in dignity is respected … in order to have peace in society there needs to be justice, people need to be treated fairly,” he said.
The apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Manila, Bishop Broderick Pabillo, called on people to protect the spirit of the revolution for a brighter future of the nation.
“Let us protect the spirit of EDSA. It teaches us that democracy is real and precious, yet needs to be protected against those who threaten it. Let us oppose all attempts to control us and to scare us off in expressing ourselves,” the bishop said in his homily at Manila Cathedral.
However, Bishop Ruperto Santos of Balanga, lamented that despite the annual celebration, the spirit of people power was being threatened by those who were supposed to protect it.
“Some leaders from that time failed to live up to our trust and to the legacy of EDSA. Let us commemorate it to give what is best, right and moral to our country and to God; not to oneself or to a particular party or colour,” the bishop told Radio Veritas.
Meanwhile, three priests led the Way of the Cross on February 24 for families and friends of those killed in extrajudicial killings during the administration of Rodrigo Duterte, the current president.
As we celebrate the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines. The Chaplaincy to Filipino Migrants organises an on-line talk every Tuesday at 9.00pm. You can join us at:
https://www.Facebook.com/CFM-Gifted-to-give-101039001847033
Divine Word Father Flavie Villanueva, Jesuit Father Albert Alejo and Father Robert Reyes—known as the running priest—walked through the streets of Quezon City in Manila carrying a large cross. The three are staunch critics of Duterte’s war on illegal drugs which rights groups say has claimed the lives of thousands of victims.
Government figures indicate at least 8,663 people have been killed, but some estimates from rights groups put the toll at triple that number.
Fathers Alejo and Villanueva are facing sedition charges, while Father Reyes has claimed he has received death threats for publicly criticising drug-related killings in his parish in Manila.
