34th EDSA People Power rites toned down amid COVID-19, Taal eruption

The 34th anniversary of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution was commemorated in a simpler and more solemn ceremony on Tuesday, officials said.

Only around 1,000 people, most of them government employees, attended the ceremony held at the EDSA People Power Monument, site of the historic mass uprising 34 years ago that toppled the Marcos regime.

“It is toned down to basically just the flag ceremony and wreath-laying,” said Commissioner Joey Concepcion of EDSA People Power Commission.

The ceremony, which started at 8 a.m., lasted for only 12 minutes, according National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Police Major General Debold Sinas.

“The program finished orderly and peacefully. As of now, wala kami makitang nagra-rally. Nagiging safe,” Sinas said.

“Ngayon mas solemn siya, mas madali. Mga few government officers lang ang dumating, unlike before,” he added.

The NCRPO chief said he prefers the toned down ceremony.

According to Spirit of EDSA Foundation Inc. Commissioner Christopher Carrion, the program was scaled down in light of the COVID-19 threat and the Taal Volcano eruption.

“Now, we celebrated simple because of the coronavirus. And also the victims of Taal,” he said.

According to Concepcion, a bigger ceremony for the 35th anniversary of the revolution next year is being planned.

Other involved agencies in the ceremony were the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, Department of Education, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Presidential Communications Operations Office, and the and Metro Manila Development Authority. —KBK, GMA News