Philippines commemorates 30th anniversary of bloodless people power revolt

Filipinos commemorated Thursday the 30th anniversary of a bloodless revolt that brought down the two-decade dictatorship of late President Ferdinand Marcos.

Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III led the celebration at the historic People Power Monument in Quezon City, Metro Manila and which was also attended by thousands of people, including the youth.

In his speech, Aquino reminded the Filipinos that the country was once placed under martial law wherein massive human rights violations were committed.

"I am now declaring, as part of the generation that suffered under dictatorship: the time of Mr. Marcos was not a golden age," he said.

Aquino's father, late Senator Benigno Aquino Jr., was assassinated at the now Ninoy Aquino International Airport when he returned to the country in August 1983 from exile in the United States. The President's father was one of the greatest critics of the Marcos regime.

The older Aquino's assassination triggered the people to fight the Marcos regime until his ouster in Feb. 25, 1986 through the so-called Edsa People Power Revolution and catapulted Corazon Aquino, the president's mother, to power.

Aquino said that because of the People Power Revolution, the Filipinos are now enjoying democracy. He urged them, especially the youth, to protect this freedom.