People Power not DEAD

Contrary to what President Arroyo and Malacañang would like people believe, People Power and the yearning for change are not dead.This was the message of the Redemptorist priest who delivered the homily at the mass for truth and accountability held to mark the 22nd anniversary of the EDSA revolt at the Baclaran Church Monday afternoon."Huwag tayong magpalinlang na ang ang People Power ay wala na katulad ng nais ipaniwala sa ating ng mga nasa kapangyarihan ... Ang pagkakabalisa, pagkabigo, ang matinding pagnanais ng pagbabago, ang paghahangad natin ng pagkakaisa ay buhay na buhay pa rin sa atin (Do not believe those in power who try to convince us that People Power is dead. Our yearning for change and unity remains very much alive),"Fr. Joey Echano said, as the crowd applauded.Echano's statement was an apparent retort to President Arroyo's statements last weekend that the world will not tolerate another EDSA revolt, after embracing EDSA 1 and tolerating EDSA 2.He said that while rallies and protests have not been as loud as before, people are merely looking for a new form of communal action.The people, he added, are merely looking for a new rallying symbol. Besides, he said communal action should not be based on the dictates of politicians."Hindi patay ang people power. Ito ay sisibol sa darating na panahon na may malakas na kapangyarihan at mas mayamang kahulungan (People power is certainly not dead. It will surface again, in a more powerful and more meaningful manner)," he said. Excerpts of his homily were aired on Church-run Radio Veritas.Echano also scored the government for allowing greed and corruption to rule. Radio dzRH reported that he likened graft to "tooth decay" in the government.On the other hand, he said it is not enough for people to stay at the sidelines, reminding them of a passage in the "Divine Comedy" that the hottest flames in hell are reserved for those who choose to do nothing."Ang People Power ay di natatapos sa pagtanggal sa luklukan ng mga may kapangyarihan at wala nang moralidad na umupo ... Ang People Power ay pagbabago ng buong sistema sa ating lipunan at ng ating sarili ...Tama na, sobra na, kumilos na (People power does not end with removing a leader and letting just anyone take his place. People power is changing the system and our society and ourselves ... We must say enough, too much, let us act)!" he said.Among those who attended the mass were ZTE witness Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr., former President Corazon Aquino, Georgina de Venecia, Fernando Poe Jr.'s daughter Grace Llamanzares, Reps. Darlene Custodio, Roilo Golez and Liza Maza, Sen. Benigno Aquino III, Armida Siguion-Reyna and Rez Cortez.- GMANews.TV