Bohol was one with the whole Filipino nation Thursday in commemorating the most celebrated bloodless uprising in history, the EDSA People Power Revolution.

“EDSA would always remind us that revolutions need not be bloody,” Gov. Edgar M. Chatto reminisced, saying “that freedom and justice could never be bought, and would always be worth fighting for.”

Gov. Chatto, SEEM Cluster Head Liza M. Quirog, Monsignor Jeffrey P. Malanog of the Diocese of Tagbilaran and City Administrator Edi Borja led all Boholanos in observing EDSA’s 30^th anniversary commemoration.

The celebration kicked-off with the unveiling of photo exhibits at Plaza Rizal, followed by a short program at the Tagbilaran City Square.

Religious groups, civil society organizations, students, youth organizations, the Philippine Army, Philippine National Police, the academe and all other sectors participated in the commemoration of EDSA People Power.

Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) is the main thoroughfare and longest road in Metro Manila passing through six of the capital region’s major cities, namely Caloocan, Quezon City, San Juan, Mandaluyong, Makati and Pasay; and this was where the EDSA revolt was staged thirty years ago.

A dance drama theater presentation of “The Gains of EDSA Revolution,” a reenactment of the most famous and bloodless revolution in history, was carried out by the students of BISU Bingag Campus Performing Group.

This, right after Msgr. Malanog shared his own EDSA experience while still a very young student in the Capital.

The short stage play showed how the death of Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino and the courage of one woman, his widow and a mere housewife and Former President Corazon Cojuangco-Aquino, the first and only woman President of the Republic, toppled down the 20-year Marcos Dictatorship and put to death Martial Law in the Philippines.

Gov. Chatto talked about the lessons learned from EDSA, and how the Freedom of Assembly as a people, symbolizes one’s own Freedom to Dream “so that you could work on your own destiny and be ready to steadfastly stand against corruption and those enslaved by its glitter, carrying out your actions, which to you are right and just, through the end.”

“Through EDSA,” continued the governor, “democracy was restored to the people by the people, which should always be for the people.”

This, he added, should “make the memories of EDSA encourage the youth to bring unity, participation and connectivity to everything they do to realize their dreams; and to commit themselves always to freedom and justice.” (JLV/PGBh/EDCom)