Cory, FVR shun new people power

DAVAO CITY — Former Presidents Corazon Aquino and Fidel Ramos — key figures in two successful people power revolts — shunned yesterday another civilian uprising to topple unpopular leaders.

Aquino, who was swept to the presidency by the people power 1 uprising that ousted the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos in 1986, said people power has been used once too often and Filipinos’ capacity for unity should be harnessed for more productive activities.

"We have used people power once too often to oust erring presidents," Aquino said. "Let us not make a habit of this."

While the Filipinos should make sure whoever would be put in power would be deserving of the presidency, Aquino said people power should be mobilized instead to eradicating poverty.

Aquino, widow of slain former Sen. Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, admitted that what used to called "Cory" magic may have waned but she said she was glad that people still like and respect her.

"I was never a movie actress, there I was coming from nowhere. But I am glad because it seems that people still like and respect me," Aquino said here.

Ramos, for his part, said that instead of taking to the streets to topple unpopular leaders, Filipinos should instead strengthen their democratic institutions to reflect a maturing democracy.

Ramos, a former national police chief who led the 1986 people power revolt, said depending on a cycle of people power uprisings would not do well for the actual or perceived stability of Philippine democracy.

"Every nation has a moment in its history when its people speak out in unison and take destiny into their own hands to chart the future of their country as they envision it," Ramos later told Agence France Presse..

"(But) I do not think there should be another momentous even like ‘EDSA I’ or ‘EDSA II’," Ramos said, referring to the first people power revolt in 1986 and the second uprising that ousted jailed former President Joseph Estrada last year.

"What we Filipinos have to do is to strengthen our democratic institutions that will lead to sustainable development and peace and security," he said.

Ramos said Filipinos should regard past revolts "as an opportunity to renew their commitment to democracy, to freedom, to human dignity," he said.

"Besides, I think it is not the responsibility of younger leaders and the younger citizens to build on the gains of the past so that we will not always be going back to square one in a recurring cycle of boom and bust," he added.

The two former presidents made their remarks on the eve of the 16th anniversary of the 1986 people power revolution which will be celebrated today at the Our Lady of Peace church, known as the EDSA Shrine, at the corner of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue and Ortigas Avenue in Mandaluyong City.

Malacañang said today’s celebration of the 16th anniversary of EDSA I will be " sober and solemn," with Presidential Spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao saying President Arroyo wanted to inculcate in the people the value of regaining democracy through peaceful means.

Meanwhile, the Department of Natural Resources Environment, headed by Secretary Heherson Alvarez, is set to rededicate this morning the Wildlife and Nature Park in Quezon City in honor of former Senator Aquino and other heroes of EDSA I.

The 1983 assassination of the former senator was among the events that led to the people power revolution that ousted Marcos and the park was named for him after the 1986 uprising.

However, ousted President Joseph Estrada renamed the park to Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center.

But Alvarez urged the government to revert the park’s name as a tribute to Aquino and other EDSA heroes and as a memorial against corruption.

The rededication event will be kicked off by a mass to be concelebrated by Fr. James Reuter S.J. and Fr. Ben Beltran and will be followed by a "truth forum" where human rights victims during the Marcos regime will retell their experiences at the height of Marcos’ martial law. - With Paolo Romero