Experiential museum, air show highlights of EDSA anniversary

MANILA, Philippines – An “experiential” museum and an air show will be among the highlights of tomorrow’s commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the people power revolution that toppled the Marcos dictatorship.

The military yesterday reminded those who want to visit the People Power Experiential Museum at Camp Aguinaldo to follow camp rules and to cooperate with organizers of the tour.

The People Power Experiential Museum that combines elements of theater, cinema, photography, performances and installations will be open to the public from Feb. 25 to 26.

The museum was set up to educate the youth about martial law and the 1986 revolt. The experiential museum has nine halls depicting the oppression of martial rule, the struggle of Filipinos to awaken the nationalistic spirit of the masses and the unity of those who went to EDSA to call for democracy.

“The provisions of the Comelec (Commission on Elections) gun ban are also in effect. We have security personnel at each gate. They just need to follow directions,” Armed Forces public affairs chief Col. Noel Detoyato said.

Detoyato said the first screening of visitors would be conducted by the EDSA People Power Commission. He said museum visitors may use Gate 5 of Camp Aguinaldo on White Plains Avenue.

“We will have very limited parking space because our parking space here will be occupied by portions of the experiential museum. We recommend that they leave their cars along White Plains,” he added.

Air show

The Air Force, for its part, will show off close to 30 air assets during the celebration.

Air Force spokesman Col. Enrico Canaya said the two newly acquired lead-in fighter trainer jets would perform a high-speed opener pass during the program.

Fifteen SF-260FH aircraft, three Bell 412 combat utility helicopters, three UH-1D helicopters and three AW-109 helicopters will also perform a fly-by.

The military has not monitored threats that could disrupt the celebration of the EDSA Revolution’s 30th anniversary.

Col. Vic Tomas, deputy commander of the Armed Forces Joint Task Force National Capital Region, said they are working closely with their police counterparts to ensure the safety of those who will join the EDSA rites.

“I believe it will be something worth remembering again. We were the first in the world to come up with a very peaceful revolution and many countries followed suit,” Tomas, who was a young lieutenant during the 1986 bloodless revolt, said.

However, National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Joel Pagdilao said the 18,000-strong NCRPO would be on full alert status as they have to deal with anti- and pro-people power revolt rallies in several areas of the metropolis.

“We received no intelligence report regarding any threat on the people power anniversary as of today. But we are on high alert to secure the area of celebration and other parts of Metro Manila where protest rallies are scheduled to be held,” said Pagdilao in an interview. “We are still on full alert status.”

Essay writing tilt

Also part of remembering the heroes of the anti-dictatorship struggle, campus journalists in high schools and colleges in Metro Manila are invited to take part in the Ditto Sarmiento Essay Writing Competition.

Now on its second run, the competition is a tribute to young campus journalists who lost their lives fighting for freedom of expression during martial law.

The competition was named after Abraham “Ditto” Sarmiento Jr. who was a 27-year-old editor-in-chief of the Philippine Collegian. He died of illness shortly after his release from months of detention.

The Ditto Sarmiento Essay Writing Competition is organized by the UP Alpha Phi Beta Fraternity in partnership with the Philippine Collegian.

The 30th anniversary of the People Power revolt will also feature the traditional salubungan, a reenactment of the solidarity between soldiers and civilians that led to the toppling of the Marcos dictatorship.

Children of EDSA heroes and youth leaders will also participate in the salubungan to symbolize their commitment to keep the ideals of EDSA alive.