Remembering EDSA 1: February 22-25, 1986

For those asking if February 25, 2013 is a holiday, YES, it’s a national holiday. But whether you’ll be sad or happy depends on whether you’re still in school. While EDSA People Power Revolution Anniversary is a national holiday, it’s only for schools. It means no classes for students. It also means it’s a regular working day if you’re no longer a student. Gone are the days when February 25 was a national holiday for all.

What was the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution (EDSA 1) all about?

EDSA in 1986 was a nationwide civil uprising against then dictator President Ferdinand E. Marcos, with President Corazon “Cory” Aquino succeeding in a revolutionary government.

EDSA 1 is extra-constitutional. EDSA 1 involves the “exercise of the people power of revolution which overthrew the whole government”. The Aquino government was the result of a successful revolution (although a peaceful one) by the sovereign people. No less than the Freedom Constitution (Proclamation No. 3) declared that the Aquino government was installed through a direct exercise of the power of the Filipino people “in defiance of the provisions of the 1973 Constitution, as amended.

The original People Power, the one which inspired the whole world and became a model for peaceful transitions of governments, was the culmination of the years of protest against the government of President Ferdinand Marcos.

The protests were already existing before September 21, 1972, the date when President Marcos declared Martial Law throughout the Philippines. Many people died as a result of the abuses by the military. Many opposition personalities were arrested. One of those arrested was Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr. Ninoy became a unifying force of the people’s opposition against Marcos.

Ninoy was allowed to be released from jail to undergo a heart bypass in the United States. He was warned not to go back to the Philippines. Ninoy was assasinated on August 21, 1983, as he was going down the plane upon his return to the Philippines. Instead of diffusing the mounting unrest against Marcos, the assasination of Ninoy only served to add more fuel to the highly combustible and raw emotions against Marcos.

To put some semblance of legitimacy to his government, President Marcos called for a snap election in February 1986. His opponent in the elections was a simple housewife with no government experience. The opposition Presidential candidate goes by the name of Corazon “Cory” Aquino, the wife of Ninoy. Some say the 1986 Presidential election was the most corrupt and deceitful election in Philippine history.

On February 15, 1986, the Batasang Pambansa declared Marcos as the winner, with 10,807,197 votes as against Aquino’s 9,291,761. The rest of the country, however, was convinced that massive cheating marred the elections. The tally of the accredited poll watcher, the National Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL), was 7,835,070 votes for Cory and 7,053,068 votes for Marcos.

On February 22, 1986, a group of renegade soldiers led by Juan Ponce Enrile, then Defense Minister, and Lt. Gen. Fidel V. Ramos, then Vice-Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, made a public declaration that they are withdrawing support from the government. They holed up at Camp Aguinaldo, along EDSA. Knowing that they will be annihilated by the superior forces of Marcos. Minister Enrile and Gen. Ramos called for the people’s help.

The late Jaime Cardinal Sin, then Catholic Archbishop of Manila, aired his appeal through Radio Veritas, for the people to support Gen. Ramos and Enrile.

And help they came. By the thousands, and towards the end, an estimated 6 million were on the streets.

Between February 22 to February 25, the people flocked to EDSA, facing tanks with nothing but prayers. They offered flowers and food to the battle-equipped government soldiers. Helicopters and fighter planes flew overhead. The people, though scared, stood their ground.

President Marcos left Malacanang on February 25, heading for Hawaii.

And so the world witnessed the People Power.

“The Filipino is worth dying for.”

by Ninoy Aquino
a Philippine Hero

Original posting here

 

Philippine holidays for 2013: Proclamation 459

2013 Calendar Holidays Philippines

President Benigno Aquino III has issued Proclamation 459 which lists all national holidays for the year 2013. The proclamation was signed last August 16, 2012. Filipinos will enjoy at least 15 holidays for 2013, regular holidays and special non-working days combined. They are the following:

Regular Holidays

January 1, 2013 – New Year’s Day (Tues)

March 28, 2013 – Maundy Thursday

March 29, 2013 – Good Friday

April 9, 2013 – Araw ng Kagitingan (Fall of Bataan) (Tues)

May 1, 2013 – Labor Day (Wed)

June 12, 2013 – Araw ng Kalayaan (Independence Day) (Wed)

August 26, 2013 – National Heroes Day (Mon)

November 30, 2013 – Bonifacio Day (Sat)

December 25, 2013 – Christmas Day (Wed)

December 30, 2013 – Rizal Day (Mon)

Special non-working days

February 25, 2013 – EDSA People Power Anniversary (for schools only) (Mon)

March 30, 2013 – Black Saturday

August 21, 2013 – Ninoy Aquino Day(Wed)

November 1, 2013 – All Saints’ Day (Fri)

Additional non-working days

November 2, 2013 – All Soul’s Day (Sat)

December 24, 2013 – Christmas Eve (Tue)

December 31, 2013 – New Year’s Eve (Tue)

Two additional holidays will be declared in the second half of the year in connection with the observance of Eid’l Fitr and Eidul Adha. The dates for the said Islamic feasts, which are both national holidays, will be determined by the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos based on the Islamic calendar (Hijra) or the lunar calendar, or upon Islamic astronomical calculations.

The anniversary of the 1986 EDSA People Power, which is commemorated every February 25, is a holiday for all schools only. Interestingly, the Chinese New Year is no longer listed as a special non-working holiday.

 

2013 RP Holidays declared by Malacanang

President Noynoy Aquino issues Proclamation No. 459, s. 2012 declaring the following 2013 Regular and Special Non-working Holidays &
Special Holidays (for schools only).

A. Regular Holidays
New Year’s Day Maundy Thursday Good Friday Araw ng Kagitingan	January 1 (Tuesday) March 28 March 29 April 9 (Tuesday)
Labor Day Independence Day National Heroes Day Bonifacio Day Christmas Day Rizal Day	May 1 (Wednesday) June 12 (Wednesday) August 26 (Last Monday of August) November 30 (Saturday) December 25 (Wednesday) December 30 (Monday)
B. Special (Non-Working) Days
Black Saturday Ninoy Aquino Day All Saints Day Additional special (non-working) days – Last Day of the Year	March 30 August 21 (Wednesday) November 1 (Friday) November 2 (Saturday) December 24 (Tuesday) December 31 (Tuesday)
C. Special Holiday (for all schools)
EDSA Revolution Anniversary	February 25 (Monday)

Full Proclamation text here

 

North Rail ‘reconfigured’

Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II Thursday told Filipino journalists here that the problematic North Rail project, which has a Chinese contractor, would have to be “reconfigured.”

“The Chinese ministers said that they are open to discussing it,” Roxas said. Roxas, who was among the handful of Cabinet secretaries who accompanied President Benigno “Noynoy” S. Aquino III in his visit to the historic Forbidden City in the Chinese capital, said that only through reconfiguration would North Rail move forward. He was quick to differentiate “reconfiguration” from “renegotiation,” the latter being the operating word that Philippine authorities had been in connection with the project just prior to President Aquino’s state visit in the People’s Republic of China (PROC).

“In diplomatic terms, renegotiation means seeking changes to the existing contract; reconfiguration means that the project itself is going to change,” Roxas said. “Our intent is to write up a whole new project.”

The former senator said the topic was brought up during the bilateral meeting between President Aquino and President Hu Jintao of China on Wednesday afternoon. Approved by the previous government, the railway project has been plagued by cost overruns: from an original price tag of $503 million, it would now apparently require $1.8 billion to complete. Asked about what was said by Chinese officials on the project, Aquino on Wednesday said: “They emphasized that a Chinese entity did spend time, effort, finances, and that the rights of this Chinese corporation should be respected.”

Roxas Thursday assured that the present builder would be compensated for their total work output thus far, although it may not be much based on his assessment. “Out of the 90-kilometer line, I think they’ve just put up one kilometer.” Roxas said the government is now eyeing the construction of an even longer train line, from Clark in Pampanga to the Manila’s “Central Business District.”

He said that the reconfiguration of North Rail was vital in three aspects. “First, the Philippines will be the one to write the terms of reference. Second, we will determine first the accomplishments before paying the builders and third, the contract would be bid out (as opposed to being designated) to a Chinese company that is experienced and accredited in railway construction.”

As for the cost of the new project, Roxas said that they would be leaving it to the hands of the engineers. The constructions on North Rail were halted last April to make way for a review of the contract.

By ELLSON A. QUISMORIO

 

House acts on prices

The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a bill that will include bottled water, instant noodles, liquefied petroleum gas, and fruits among the commodities that will be protected against hoarding, price manipulation, and other unfair trade acts in times of emergency. Getting unanimous support from congressmen, House Bill 4801 seeks to amend the Price Act by adding more basic goods in the list of commodities and services that may be placed under automatic price control in areas hit by natural or man-made disasters.

The price ceilings may also be imposed in areas placed under martial law and in state of rebellion or war. The suspension of the writ of habeas corpus is also included as a condition for the price control. The bill provides that price ceiling may also be imposed when there is a threat, existence, or effect of an emergency, widespread acts of illegal price manipulation, impendency, unreasonable increase in the price of the basic necessity or prime-commodity and whenever the prevailing price of any basic necessity or prime commodity has risen to unreasonable levels.

HB 4801 is a consolidation of bills filed by Reps. Joseph Victor Ejercito (PMP, San Juan City); Teodoro Casino (Bayan Muna Party-list); Roman Romulo (Lakas-Kampi, Pasig City); Luzviminda Ilagan (Gabriela Party-list); Catalina Bagasina (ALE Party-list) and Elmer Panotes (Lakas-Kampi, Camarines Norte). Romulo said the measure seeks to enforce appropriate measures to stabilize the price of drinking and bottled water and strengthen consumer security especially during severe shortages, calamities, and economic crises. Ejercito has pushed for the inclusion of instant noodles as he noted that this has been “placed in the ranks of basic necessities such as rice, corn, bread, fish, and pork.” For her part, Bagasina stressed that the bill provides that prime commodities shall mean goods not considered as basic necessities but are essential to consumers during emergency situations.

“Traders who take advantage of crisis situations usually target noodles and LPG in their hoard list. We hope this bill will provide the government the necessary weapon against these unscrupulous businessmen,” Bagasina said. Panotes said the bill stresses that price control for basic necessities that are wholly imported and deregulated under existing laws will be limited to a period of 15 percent, unless sooner lifted.

In lifting price controls on such basic necessities, government will have to consider the current inventory or supply levels, the opposition lawmaker added.

By BEN R. ROSARIO
August 16, 2011, 6:33pm

 

No more parking fees for Elderly in QC

Good news for elderly residents of Quezon City who are vehicle owners.

15Aug2011, 12:02AM: With the recent signing of city ordinance that took effect on August 8, senior citizens are now exempted from paying parking fees in city-based establishments. According to Mayor Herbert Bautista, the exemption was “part of the continuing benefits for [the] elderly in the Quezon City.”

For those who want to avail themselves of the privilege, they must present a valid senior citizens identification card upon entry into establishments such as malls, hospitals or any similar businesses which charge parking fees.

Overnight parking excluded

The exemption, however, will not extend to overnight parking, Bautista said. He added that parking lot operators who insist on collecting payment from qualified senior citizens would be penalized.

Based on a provision in the ordinance, cashiers or booth tellers (who violate) the ordinance shall be penalized with a fine of P500 or imprisonment of one to 30 days, or both at the discretion of the court.

The approved resolution, which was passed by the 26-member city council in June, also imposes a fine of P2,000 or  imprisonment of one to 30 days for any operator or manager caught violating it. The license of parking operators may also also be suspended or revoked if they fail to give an exemption to qualified senior citizens living in the city, Bautista said.

 

By Nancy C. Carvajal for the Philippine Daily Inquirer

 

The Dengue-carrying mosquito

Eliminate or Control the Vector to eradicate the disease

In an earlier report, Health Secretary Enrique Ona explained that while dengue is a year-round disease, more dengue cases are recorded on rainy days when there also more breeding sites for the dengue-carrying “Aedes aegypti” mosquitoes.

Ona urged the public to get rid of possible breeding sites for mosquitoes such as discarded tires and tin cans which can become filled with stagnant water if left outdoors.

Water in flower vases should also be regularly replaced. Roof gutters should always be checked for any accumulation of stagnant water.

Mosquito nets and protective clothing can also be used to prevent mosquito bites.

Meanwhile, Tayag said, there are more dengue cases this year compared to last year.

Tayag said there are dengue cases all over the country. “As a matter of fact, from January 1 to July 31, 328 persons have died. There are 40,648 dengue cases in the country,” said Tayag.

The number of dengue cases this year is almost 50% higher compared to the same period last year, when 27,473 cases were recorded, the DOH said in a report.

Tayag said, aside from dengue, the public should also watch out for influenza this rainy season. He advises those who have not yet received vaccinations to do so.