Palace exec on EDSA rites: Less pomp does not mean less significance

Simpler commemoration does not mean the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte has taken for granted the spirit of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution, a Malacañang official said Tuesday.

At a press briefing, Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra defended the administration's move to transfer the venue of the anniversary rites to Camp Aguinanldo from the People Power Monument on EDSA.

"I guess it does not indicate that the present administration or the EPPC (EDSA People Power Commission) is giving any less significance to the celebration of the 31st anniversary," he said.

"Just like any young lady who’s celebrating her 18th birthday, we normally celebrate it with pomp. But when she celebrates her 19th birthday, that doesn't mean that if there's no celebration similar to her debut that her birthday is given any less significance," Guevarra added.

Guevarra said that the simpler anniversary rites, to be held on Friday or a day before the actual anniversary, also reflects the theme of this year's commemoration, "A Day of Reflection.".

"It’s a time to settle down, to quiet a bit, and think of what has happened over the past 30 years. Do we still have that spirit of EDSA within our hearts? Have we done things that are supposed to guide us after that momentous event in our history?" he said.

"So that’s why we want to quiet down a bit and do some reflection on this matter. But again, just to assure you, this simplicity does not mean in any way that we are giving any less significance to the 31st anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution." Guevarra added.

EPPC vice chairperson Jose Concepcion said Malacañang has allotted P1 million for this year's celebration.

Palace holds briefing with Communications Sec. Andanar, Spox Abella, and EDSA People Power Commission vice chair Joey Concepcion @gmanews pic.twitter.com/0pfRFtxRYi

— Trisha Macas (@trishamacas) February 21, 2017

Guevarra, however, could not confirm if President Rodrigo Duterte, who is tasked to give the keynote speech, would attend the commemoration rites. He added that invitations were sent to former Presidents Fidel Ramos and Benigno Aquino III to Friday's event.

Aquino's mother, the late President Corazon Aquino, was catapulted to power by the 1986 EDSA People Power, which also saw the end of the decades-old reign of then-President Ferdinand Marcos.  —KBK, GMA News