People power commission revived

Amid criticisms of becoming lukewarm in the celebration of two popular revolutions that restored democracy and helped install her in power, President Arroyo has revived the EDSA People Power Commission (EPPC) to oversee activities marking the historic events.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the President revived the EPPC to focus on the legacies of the two popular revolts that changed the country’s political landscape.

The EPPC was created in 1999 by then President Joseph Estrada, who ironically ended up as the target of the second EDSA revolution a little less than two years later.

Mrs. Arroyo revived the EPPC but with fewer members and new faces.

Ermita said the move would douse criticisms that the President is no longer interested in celebrating the EDSA II revolution that installed her in power in 2001 and the first people power revolt in 1986 that ended the regime of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos.

"Filipinos must understand the true meaning of People Power, which is not only making preparations and making speeches, but also taking charge of their lives through hard work," Ermita said.

"We should not only focus on the show of events and celebrations, but most importantly, also on its legacy," he said.

In reviving the EPPC through Executive Order 82, Ermita was appointed chairman with a representative from the private sector as co-chairman.

Ermita claimed he is not sure who will be his co-chairman but there were reports that businessman Enrique Razon would be appointed.

The EPPC’s membership under the EO 82 has been reduced from 25 to 15. Ermita, however, declined to disclose the names of the new members.

He said the EPPC would hold its meeting this week to finalize plans for the celebration of EDSA I from Feb. 22 to 25.

Ermita could not also say whether Mrs. Arroyo would join the traditional celebration at the EDSA Shrine with her erstwhile ally, former President Corazon Aquino.

The former president had a falling out with Mrs. Arroyo after she joined the opposition accusing the President of cheating in the May 10, 2004 elections and urged her to step down,

In an apparent attempt to trigger calls to force the President to step down, Mrs. Aquino tried to rack up support in a vain attempt to launch another people power movement, but to no avail.

The opposition, militant groups and supporters of Estrada also tried to spark daily protest actions but their numbers fell short of those seen during the two EDSA revolts.

Before his ouster, Estrada created the EPPC in February 1999 to institutionalize the legacy of the first EDSA Revolution and "to perpetuate and propagate the spirit of EDSA."

Less than two year later however, Estrada himself was toppled by the second people power amid an impeachment trial at the Senate on allegations of massive corruption and plunder.

All the 19 commissioners he appointed in the EPPC have resigned.

Presidential chief of staff Michael Defensor said there is no final schedule for the President despite proposals for her to attend the flag-raising ceremony at the EDSA Shrine together with Aquino and Estrada.

Defensor said Mrs. Arroyo plans to visit many of her socio-economic and infrastructure projects throughout the four-day celebration to impart to Filipinos the true meaning of "people power" by working in unity and cooperation to uplift the lives of the people.

This is one reason why, according to Defensor, that the President has not been too "showy" in people power celebrations as in the past.

"One of the important messages of EDSA I and III is change to alleviate poverty, justice, using our freedoms and democratic space in a responsible manner, all to improve the lives of Filipinos and ensure sustained economic progress," Defensor said. — Paolo Romero