Filipinos fondly recall "people power"

But during the mini-museum’s launch, the Chief Executive struck a conciliatory tone and paid tribute to the significant role the former officials and uniformed men at the defense department played.  After all, the first people power revolt, aided by the armed forces, succeeded in ending the Marcos dictatorship and installing his mother, Corazon, as president.

“Senator (Gregorio) Honasan was right when he said that today we commemorate the date, the minute when the Armed Forces of the Philippines returned to serving the people,” Aquino said.

“It was the time when they followed their conscience, in light of the problems that they saw, that they will no longer serve just one person or one group. It was already the time to serve the people,” the President remarked.

Aquino lauded the military for the role it played through the years in taking care of the people and in responding to immediate needs in times of natural disasters and called on Filipinos to embrace their defenders in return.

For his part, Honasan, who became the face of rebel forces, said he was proud that the EDSA uprising, and that he, too, has no regrets about his role in it.

“We were and continue to be proud of that event 25 years ago. It was a shining time when in the name of God, country and family, the Filipino people loved, dreamed, dared and acted for the future,” he said.