Feb. 25 declared a special holiday

President Arroyo yesterday declared Saturday, Feb. 25, as a special non-working holiday to give Filipinos time to join celebrations commemorating the 20th anniversary of the EDSA 1 people power revolt.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the decision was made after the Palace, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and other concerned government agencies met to discuss the matter.

Ermita said they were concerned about the possible objections of the business sector to the declaration though some groups had been requesting it.

The Palace had been planning austere and low-key celebrations for this year’s EDSA 1 anniversary.

Palace officials insist that the EDSA spirit "lives in the hearts" of the people and thus, grand performances are no longer needed to commemorate the event.

Mrs. Arroyo, who led the wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Libingan ng mga Bayani at Fort Bonifacio in Makati City yesterday, said Filipinos need not look far for the spirit of EDSA 1 as it can be seen among people who work selflessly for their country.

She added that people can easily relive EDSA 1 by conscientiously performing their civic duties such as paying taxes.

"Whenever we rush to the side of a neighbor in need, a community in distress or a stranger in despair, we relive the spirit of EDSA," Mrs. Arroyo said.

In Cebu, the President told the Philippine Business for Social Progress that "political revolution without economic revolution is meaningless."

"Indeed the people are tired of continuous politics and want to settle into a system that is focused on fundamental and social reform without having to take to the streets to achieve that goal," she said.

On Saturday, a flag-raising ceremony will be held at the People Power Monument with Vice President Noli de Castro leading the rites along with former President Fidel Ramos who will deliver a message.

Ramos, along with then defense minister and now Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, led the withdrawal of support from the Marcos administration in 1986.

De Castro and Enrile were also invited to lead the ribbon-cutting ceremonies together with retired Gen. Antonio Sotelo at the EDSA ’86 Freedom Trail.

Special awards will be given to the late Jaime Cardinal Sin, the gold medallists of the 23rd Southeast Asian Games and Para games, top Filipino professional boxers, one overseas Filipino worker, the Gawad Kalinga and Pondo ng Pinoy.

Good Citizenship awards will also be given to Christina Bugayong, Police Superintendent Dominador Arevalo and banker Fidel Cu for their honest deeds.

A eucharistic celebration will be held at 12:15 p.m. Later at 3 p.m., Mrs. Arroyo will grace the opening of an Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Housing project dubbed "A Tribute to the Filipino Soldier."

Members of the military, religious and non-government organizations will meet at the People Power Monument at 3:30 p.m. for "Salubungan" and the event will be capped by a fireworks display.

Meanwhile, various youth leaders headed by EDSA People Power Commissioner Bam Aquino will make the rounds of radio and television stations to talk about EDSA 1.

On Friday, a eucharistic celebration will be held at the Our Lady of Queen of Peace Church at the EDSA Shrine at 5:30 a.m., before the procession at the Corinthian Gardens begins.

There will also be an audio-visual presentation at the EDSA Shrine followed by a simple fiesta get-together.

In the midst of preparations for the EDSA anniversary, however, former President Corazon Aquino has called on concerned authorities to reinvestigate the "Hello, Garci" tapes.

"It would do us good if we come to know the truth. This would not just be for the benefit of the Filipino people but for the President herself," Aquino told reporters after she emerged from a meeting with the Makati Business Club.

Aquino will attend the wreath-laying ceremony to be held at the Ninoy Aquino Monument along Ayala Avenue on Friday. — Aurea Calica, Paolo Romero, Rhodina Villanueva