‘Prayer power’ needed – Cory

"Prayer power in troubled times."

This was what former President Corazon Aquino emphasized in Davao City yesterday as the country continued to grapple with terrorism.

"I am certain that I would not be alone in saying that prayer has been and continues to be the greatest source of comfort in these troubled times," she said during ecumenical services at Rizal Park in Davao City to celebrate the 16th anniversary of the EDSA people power revolt.

"It is our faith in God and our faith in our fellowmen" which is paramount, she added.

Aquino stressed that there is no other path to lasting peace but through prayer, and no matter what the individual religious inclinations might be, everyone still comes back to the fundamental principle of caring for the least fortunate.

She said it was divine intervention and the confluence of spontaneous events that led to the peaceful gathering of Filipinos in a stretch of EDSA, signifying that they would no longer stand for the dictatorship.

The mass protests spread to other major cities in the country, including Davao, beginning the night of Feb. 22, 1986.

"But I would rather remind all about the challenges that confront us at present and the role that people power can and should play in addressing these different concerns," Aquino said.

She pointed out how people power has been used too often in ousting erring presidents.

"Let us not make a habit of this. Let us make sure that whoever we put in Malacañang is deserving of the presidency, and use people power positively to support him or her," she added.

Aquino said people power can be utilized for various concerns such as monitoring government and making sure it does its job well. With it, she said, the necessary services have to be brought to the poor and help in the alleviation of poverty, ignorance and disease.

"People power can also be used to ensure that the law is implemented and justice is dispensed with an even hand. It can also be used to keep our cities and homes safe from criminality," she added.

The former president explained that people power can be a very good tool in mobilizing committees to come to the aid of Filipinos who are victims of strife and disasters, both natural and man-made.

The environment, she said, can also benefit from people power when concerned citizens ensure the proper disposal of industrial waste and other garbage.

She said much still needs to be done in Mindanao, and that hopefully the task can be done using peaceful means which are the best weapon against age-old evils.

Aquino also reminded her audience here of the greatness of the true heroes of people power who risked everything in standing up to the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos and his martial law regime.

She cited as well the importance of the role Davaoeños played during the 1986 revolution, and who to this day have been holding protest actions.

"It was here where I found solace in the warmth of friends and supporters even during the darkest days of the Marcos regime," Aquino said.

Meanwhile, former President Fidel Ramos also arrived here late yesterday afternoon but was unable to make it to the Rizal Park gathering. He will lead guests in the golf tournament at Ranchos Palos Verdes golf course today.