The 27th Anniversary of People Power I that shocked the world with the overthrow of the long dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos in February 1986 was celebrated in a grand fashion at the Edsa People Power Monument.  The rites held last Monday were led by no less than the President of the Philippines himself, President Ninoy Aquino, son of the heroes of the "Bloodless Revolution," Ninoy and Cory Aquino. 

President Aquino also signed a landmark law, the Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013, which stipulates the payment of compensation to close to 10,000 victims of human rights abused during the Marcos regime with close to 10 billion pesos.  This amount is to be derived from the sequestered assets and bank accounts of the Marcoses.  This is hoped to be in some measure serve as a gesture of justice and a gesture of healing from an era in the Philippine history that people should learn from so the country can move forward.

A speech by the President was the highlight of the event, as prayers were offered and recognition givent to the recognized and also the unsung heroes of People Power I.  The event culminated in the reenactment of the "salubungan" of retired General Ramon Montaño and Former President Fidel V. Ramos after defecting from the Marcos side.  there were also reenactments of the religious, like nuns, giving flowers to uniformed police and military personell.  Tanks decorated with yellow flowers also paraded and a shower of yellow confetti from helicopters brought delight to the thousands of people in attendance.