Philippine Embassy Tokyo Commemorates 30th Anniversary of People Power
Ambassador Manuel M. Lopez floral offering during the ceremony.
(25 February 2016) The officers and staff of the Embassy of the Philippines led by Philippine Ambassador to Japan Manuel M. Lopez held a simple ceremony today to commemorate 30th Anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution.
The ceremony started with the singing of the national anthem, followed by the reading of the message of President Benigno S. Aquino III by Consul General Marian Jocelyn R. Tirol-Ignacio.
The highlight of the ceremony was the remarks given by Ambassador Lopez. Noting that some Embassy personnel had not yet been born when the People Power Revolution occurred, the Ambassador shared his personal experiences of the events leading to and during this momentous event in Philippine history.
Ambassador Lopez recalled that his brother was put to prison during Martial Law, and that they lost their family-owned businesses to the dictatorship. His family strived hard to survive during those times. “The assasination of Senator Benigno Aquino in 1983 became the catalyst for EDSA,” noted Ambassador Lopez, who was present, together with other members of his family, at EDSA from day one. He expressed the hope that Filipinos will never forget EDSA and will always cherish the freedom we now all enjoy, living in a democratic society. The ceremony ended with the singing of “Bayan Ko” by all Embassy personnel while a video clip of scenes from the People Power Revolution was being shown.
Ambassador Manuel M. Lopez (seated in the middle) with the officers and staff of the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo during the Embassy’s commemoration of the 30th Anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution.
Ambassador Manuel M. Lopez and Embassy personnel singing the national anthem.
Consul-General Marian Jocelyn R. Tirol-Ignacio (right) reading the message of President Benigno S. Aquino III on the 30th Anniversary of the People Power Revolution.
