LOS ANGELES – On Tuesday, February 25, the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles celebrated the 28th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution.
In an intimate gathering with members of the Filipino community, consulate officials led the commemoration of the peaceful revolution, which toppled the Marcos dictatorship in 1986.
“Twenty-eight years ago, the Philippines showed the entire world that change can be effected through peaceful and non-violent means. The events of that fateful week inspired freedom-loving peoples in other parts of the globe to rise, to let their voices be heard, and to free them from the oppressive systems that curtailed their rights and liberties,” Deputy Consul General Imelda Panolong said in her remarks.
Speaking to Asian Journal, Panolong said that the legacy of EDSA is in its power to unify Filipinos across the archipelago. She said that EDSA is more than just remembering the historic event which ended a dictatorship.
“The symbolism that EDSA represents for me includes unity, vigilance, and brotherhood. And those three are present everywhere wherever Filipinos are,” Panolong said.
The newly-installed Deputy Consul General said that as Filipinos celebrate EDSA, they should recognize the Philippines’ impressive economic gains in recent years, and remember that there is still much to be done, in order for these gains to become meaningful for all Filipinos.
“The growth has to be inclusive so the dividends can really be felt by the ordinary man-on-the-street,” Panolong said.
This year’s EDSA celebration theme (“Kapit Bisig Tungo sa Pagbangon”) is timely and appropriate, Panolong said.
In light of the recent disasters which ravaged the country, Panolong said it is more important than ever for Filipinos to demonstrate the unity of EDSA, as the Philippines recovers from the destruction of Typhoon Haiyan.
Prior to the program, a holy mass was celebrated by Fr. Albert Avenido.
During his homily, Fr. Avenido said that he couldn’t help but tear up whenever people talk about the EDSA People Power revolt. Just the mere mention or a photo of that event in history brings back vivid memories, Avenido said.
Avenido was among the lay persons, who were at the front lines of the 1986 revolution.
He also lauded the power of EDSA to unify the whole nation.
The Peace Project
PCG-LA introduced a non-profit organization , which is working to provide shelter for the residents of Bantayan Island in Northern Cebu.
The Peace Project Founder Lisa Schultz spoke about the rebuilding efforts being made by the organization for the typhoon victims.
The non-profit previously worked in Sierra Leone, Africa, where they distributed 10,000 pairs of crutches to the crippled.
“When I saw the news after Typhoon Haiyan struck, I really felt a calling and felt I can do something to help, I realized that something was shelter,” Schultz said.
Schultz also founded thewhole9.com — a website for creative professionals (e.g. artists, musicians, writers, filmmakers, designers, architects, engineers etc.).
“I thought that with our team of [creative] people [who] can tell a story…we could design a house that could be built quickly and affordably and help people rebuild their lives,” Schultz told Asian Journal.
The Peace Project was able to identify a place in the Philippines “where help was needed, but [where] aid has fallen short” — Bantayan Island, which is located in the northern tip of Cebu Island.
Schultz said they chose the town of Santa Fe in Bantayan Island as a beneficiary community and that they are aiming to build 200 houses for Santa Fe residents in late April.
She said that they were hoping to be able to build the houses earlier, but that they had to make adjustments for the local government to be able to issue the required building permits.
They also wanted enough time to allow “thoughtful building” and to properly integrate thoughtful design into the houses that they will build.
“I see people working on Bantayan Island … basically, they’re just throwing these shoddily-built houses up right on top of debris, with no floors or anything. And so we’re really trying to plan thoughtfully, to help turn turn this tragedy for many people into an opportunity for a better life,” Schultz said.
Schultz claimed that they have developed “really innovative ways to build,” which allow them to put up the houses even during the rainy season. Their design includes fortified foundations, proper concrete flooring, and other elements that help address the needs of the families living in the disaster zones. Their design also allows them to build a house in five hours.
Schultz urged families and organizations in LA to support a Filipino family in Santa Fe by donating $500 — enough to cover the construction materials for a single housing unit.
The program also allows donors to select a family to sponsor in the Philippines. Interested donors can go to www.thepeaceproject.com/buyahouse for more information about supporting the cause.
“People can donate any amount. But if they want to mobilize their family and friends, they can sponsor a house. We can actually show them photos as it’s being built. Skype them in with the family, so there’s real connection, versus giving money to an organization and not really knowing where it’s gonna go,” Schultz said.
(www.asianjournal.com)
(LA Weekend March 1-4, 2014 Sec A pg.1)
