By Rene V. Carbayas
ISABELA CITY, Basilan – The Province of Basilan played host to the 28th EDSA People Power Anniversary “Regional Salubungan” Thursday, Feb. 13, as a prelude to the annual commemoration of EDSA revolution on Feb. 25.
Jamju A. Rivera, local project officer for EDSA 28 Regional Salubungan, said that Basilan was chosen to be the venue for the said “Salubungan” in the ARMM provinces and cities.
“During our last meeting at Bahay Ugnayan (formerly Malacañang Executive Guest House), with the EDSA People Power Commission (EPPC) on Jan. 29, 2014 we were informed that EPPC had chosen Basilan to be the venue for the ‘Regional Salubungan’ celebration which will be telecast nationwide during the EDSA People Power anniversary activities on NBN4, RPN9, IBC11 via Radio-TV Malacañang (RTVM) on Feb. 25, 2014,” he said.
He explained that the event was held earlier to facilitate the documentation and editing of programmed activities by RTVM, in time for its showing on the Feb. 25.
Aunell Ross Angcos of the EPPC and project office of “Salubungan” workshops said in an interview that the EPPC is trying to show the new people power – such as the “bayanihan” and volunteerism—to commemorate the EDSA revolution that involves the entire nation and veer away from the so-called “Manila-centered” celebration.
“We wanted to introduce the new people power, wherein at the height of the EDSA People Power Revolution in Manila, a version of people power also happened in the different areas of the country, like Mindanao and Basilan in particular,” he said.
Angcos said that every province and city has its own stories of people power during the Marcos regime. He cited former Basilan Governor Louie Alano’s story about how Basilan politicians first created an opposition and eventually won elections—who were said to have been summoned to Malacañang by former first lady Imelda Marcos to woo them back to support the Marcos regime, but failed to no avail.
“The spirit of ‘bayanihan’ and volunteerism resides in every heart of the Filipino. This is what the commission wanted to showcase about the new people power today. We wanted that power to be harnessed towards affecting change in the society,” he said.
This year’s theme, “EDSA 28: Kapit Bisig tungo sa Pagbangon” highlights the Filipinos resiliency, courage, and generosity that in spite of the worse calamities and challenges befall the nation recently—the Filipino stands tall.
“The world has witnessed the ‘bayanihan’ spirit of the Filipinos when typhoons and natural calamities wrought the nation with ‘Yolanda’ (Haiyan), Zamboanga siege, and Bohol earthquake, among others. This proves that the people power is in every heart of the Filipino wherever they are,” he said.
Dubbed “Handog ng Basileño sa Mundo,” the regional “Salubungan” last Feb. 13 kicked-off with the people power bike for freedom caravan spearheaded by the Basilan Bikers Club followed by an online photo competition and exhibit at the provincial Capitol auditorium.
In the afternoon, the Voice of the Philippines Democracy 2014 inter-collegiate extemporaneous speech competition and parliamentary debate competition were held. Among the college institutions invited, only the Claret College of Isabela (CCI) sent competitors in both categories. The different high schools in the province also engaged in the Mental Gymnastica 2014 people power academic triathlon quiz bee competition.
At twilight, the Kabataang Pinoy Konsert ng Bayan started where groups of young people compete for the hip-hop dance showdown and Fliptop-takan (rapping) competition.
With the above activities, the organizers hope to give the Philippines a good impression of Basilan, “that people power is very much alive in Basilan”. (PIA9)