Insisting that no one has the monopoly of the spirit of EDSA, President Duterte has called on Filipinos to continue to show heroism and contribute to nation-building.
As the country commemorated the 31st anniversary of the bloodless popular revolt in 1986 yesterday, the President said the people should “renew our energies and do our share” in building a better and brighter future for the country.
“EDSA lives on and its spirit should continue to inspire heroism in all of us for the greater glory of God and country,” the President said in a message read by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea during the EDSA anniversary in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
“True heroes, after all, are found in every one of us who do, with each passing day, our quiet work of nation-
building – dutifully, joyfully, passionately – in spite of our occasional differences,” he said.
Duterte said the EDSA commemoration was a “perfect time” to reflect on the gains as well as the losses of the nation since the historic event.
He also emphasized that EDSA belongs to all Filipinos who believe in a democratic way of life, not just a single group, ideology, or religion.
“EDSA was not just a cry against years of abuse and corruption of government power. More importantly, it was a demonstration of the power that a united citizenry could muster. It was a movement of, by, and for the Filipino people brought about by their profound love of country,” he said.
“No single party, ideology, religions or individual could claim credit for the bloodless revolution of EDSA, in the same way that no single party, ideology, religion or individual could claim a monopoly of patriotism.”
The President skipped the simple EDSA ceremony at the military headquarters, the first commemoration under his term, and instead sent Medialdea as representative. Duterte was in Davao City for other public engagements, including the relaunching of the government’s peace efforts in Mindanao. (Genalyn D. Kabiling)