AS PART OF their ongoing commitment to commemorate the 39th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution, the Bedan Advocacy and Consciousness Society (BACES) attended the wreath-laying ceremony, hosted by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) and the Quezon City (QC) local government, at the EDSA People Power Monument, thereafter joining the rally that followed on February 25.
“This activity is actually a follow-through of our ‘Martial Law Noon: Ano Na Ngayon?’ event last September, as it clearly showed that injustice and tyranny come in many forms. Even though we are not under Martial Law, there are still blatant abuses of our fundamental rights,” BACES President Aldrich Rivera explained.
Rivera added that their initial plan for honoring the EDSA anniversary was different, stating, “What we had in mind was to hold a seminar or a school-based activity at best. It was only when our partner organization from the ML (Martial Law) activity, ‘Buhay Ang People Power Network,’ invited us to attend the wreath-laying that we got the idea to go there ourselves.”
QC Mayor Josefina “Joy” Belmonte and the NHCP spearheaded both the flag-raising and wreath-laying ceremonies. Both ceremonies were attended by local government officials and representatives from various organizations, including the Human Rights Violations Victims’ Memorial Commission (HRVVMC), Spirit of EDSA, Bantayog ng mga Bayani Foundation, Inc., August 21 Movement, Chino Roces Foundation, Project Gunita PH, and the Ateneo Martial Law Museum and Library.
Following the flag-raising ceremony, students from Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo High School (CGEAHS) and Sr. Mary John Mananzan presided over the Pledge of Allegiance to the Philippine flag and the invocation. Sequentially, the wreath-laying ceremony commenced, with participating organizations, including BACES, placing their wreaths in a line before the EDSA monument.
In the afternoon, Rivera, along with his members, Mari Aldwindrei Ambayec, Samantha Catimon, Julia Francisco, John Dave Francisco, Jesse Rebuelta, Reuben De Leon, and organization Moderator, Prof. Zernan de Ramos, participated in a rally that started at the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace and proceeded to the EDSA Monument, where an assembly took place.
Rivera encouraged his organization to join the rally as a “learning experience,” emphasizing that “the spirit of EDSA belongs to the people, not to a single person or family.”
“I think it was an eye-opening experience for them. Since some of them are from STEM-related courses, and a few have only known about activists and protests from books and cases we’ve read. They have acquired knowledge through practical experience, which is something you can’t learn by merely reading books,” he further shared.
Extending the organization’s resolve to the Bedan community, Rivera asserted, “With the current Marcos administration attempting to erase the memory of EDSA from the Filipino people, it is our duty as youth to continue, remember, and embody its spirit and ideals… Just like the people in EDSA 39 years ago, let’s stand together for a genuine unity. A unity built by love, patriotism and care for our countrymen; not by greed and personal agenda.”