To make the presentation, may I introduce Commissioner Emily Abrera of the EDSA People Power Commission.

ABRERA: Maraming salamat po Secretary Sonny. And good afternoon to everyone.
Of course, as you know we are celebrating a really significant milestone this year with the 30th anniversary of People Power. Ang theme po natin ay “Pagbabago: Ipinaglaban N’yo, Itutuloy Ko”. This is an expression that comes from the point of view of the youth. We would like to pass on the torch of social change to the millennial generation — they are a breed of young innovators, they’re informed netizens, proactive volunteers, they’re social entrepreneurs, who today enjoy the gift of freedom, and they thrive in the democratic space that we won back through People Power.

The 30th anniversary is a time to propel the spirit of social transformation to greater height… That’s our official banner – “EDSA Trenta: Pagbabago Ipinaglaban N’yo, Itutuloy Ko.” We have quite a line-up of activities to celebrate the 30th year. And let’s start with February 15, 17 and 19, we will have something that is called, “TalaKalayaan”. Okay, pinagsama itong talakayan at kalayaan so TalaKalayaan. It’s a series of dialogues to celebrate our freedom to think and to speak. They are dialogues that are patterned after the World Café format. Participants are given a chance to share their insights with small groups lang. Kasi it’s a small group, siyempre, you know you get a more intimate feeling and a more intimate idea of how things actually occurred during that time; and they will be representing different sectors of our society. Mas suitable ito sa mga kabataan dahil itong henerasyong ito ay parang gusto nila konektado sila sa source talaga, okay. At gusto nila kasama sila sa usapin, hindi iyong nililektyuran lang. So they can become part of it.

The sessions will be organized for youths coming from different sectors, like college and high school students, may religious, military, government, journalists, non-government organization. The EPPC will be inviting EDSA heroes and participants so that the youth can converse directly with these resource persons, and they can harvest new insights about the EDSA Revolution as it happened 30 years ago.

Ang isa pa po nating activity ay ang tinatawag nating special version of “Iskoolmates,” and this is being done in partnership with People’s Television Network (PTV4). We are producing a youth-oriented informal debate show that will discuss the relevance of People Power 30 years after the revolution.

The special “Iskoolmates” episode will be an avenue for today’s youth to voice out their views on People Power, so they can also see how they can use their freedom to serve the nation. The debate will be held at Cine Adarna Theater, University of the Philippines campus in Diliman. At UP students po ang magdi-debate, pero iniimbitahan po ang lahat ng ibang mga universities to join in the discussion and be part of the live audience.

The third activity is a book launch. We are launching a graphic novel called, “12:01.” Ito po ay comic book. Ito ang third and final installment sa series natin — ang youth-oriented books about the EDSA revolution. We are publishing this in partnership with Adarna Publishing House. This one is aimed at teenagers. Iyong unang-una po nating ginawa ay isang counting book for very young, for kindergarten kids. It was called “EDSA” and it was a counting book. It was beautifully rendered; may mga simbolo ng EDSA revolution. Iyong pangalawa po nating inihain sa public ay “Isang Harding Papel,” this one won the Filipino Reader’s Choice Award in the Children’s Picture Book category. And “Isang Harding Papel” was a children’s storybook about the story of a little girl who grew up without a mother because she was incarcerated during Martial Law. At ito naman po ang pangatlo, which is aimed at a slightly older group of teens and it’s a graphic novel; it’s very exciting. This is going to happen in the Quezon City Museum on February 21, in the afternoon.

The fourth activity is wreath relaying at the Libingan ng mga Bayani on February 22. This has been a traditional part of our celebration of EDSA People Power Day. And we honor all military heroes who fought for the nation’s freedom. Former President Fidel Ramos is a guest of honor, as he always is every year. And it’s meant to contextualize the EDSA Revolution as the culmination of a long struggle of Filipino people for freedom and self-governance.

Fifth activity: Mayroon po tayong Martial Law Chronicles music video. We have partnered here with the Foundation for Media Alternatives or FMA to produce videos that will counter all the—marami pong lumalabas kasi ngayong propaganda materials that kind of strive to revise what actually happened during Martial Law. Target audience are the millennials, born in the 1990s, who have had very little access to the historical facts on Martial Law years. The main feature of the project is the modern music video. It’s interactive. It will be shot in an unusual way using a 360 degree point of view, allowing the viewer to watch the scenes from various angles. This will be posted on a website created primarily for this campaign.

The creative team we are working with here is led by Susan Quimpo, and many of you would have heard of her. She is the author of “Subversive Lives”, a family memoire of the Martial Law years. Rody Vera who is a Palanca award winning writer will be partnering with Susan Quimpo to bring about Martial Law Chronicles.

Sixth activity, mayroon tayong PTV special forum na pinamagatang, “EDSA Trenta: Are We Still Worth Dying For?” May taping po ito on February 18, and it will be aired on February 24. It’s a special forum that seeks to engage Filipinos, encourage them to think critically about the history of Martial Law and the EDSA Revolution. Key participants will be invited as resource persons to discuss the topic with students and young bloggers and historians. Hopefully, this forum will inspire discourse and reflection on the gains of People Power. This is going to be held at the Mother Consuelo Auditorium, La Consolacion College in Manila.

Tapos we take ourselves to February 25 when, of course, we will have a Salubungan program at the People Power Monument. And in accordance with this year’s theme, we expect thousands of students to join the traditional re-enactment and program of the Salubungan. Siyempre, traditionally, we feature flag raising, commemorative program where His Excellency President Benigno Aquino III is the guest of honor. Iniimbitahan po namin dito ang mga anak ng EDSA heroes and other youth leaders. So we’re really trying to, you know, trying to beam it at the millennials, who will also take part in the Salubungan re-enactment and program to symbolize the new generation’s desire to keep aflame the idea of EDSA. At mayroon po tayong naiibang uri ng pag-celebrate ng 30th year. And that takes us to the People Power Experiential Museum. This is a very exciting project for the EPPC. In order to educate the youth about the history of martial law and the EDSA Revolution, an experiential museum on people power will be set up along White Plains Avenue. This combines elements of theater, cinema; may photography, performance…slide performance installations and other allied arts. We will recreate the experience of marital law and the struggle of courageous Filipinos to awaken the sleeping masses. Visitors enter various halls of the museum – we will have nine halls – and they journey through the various phases of the martial law experience. Each phase will guided by an actor who assumes the role or the character, either imagined or based on history. He will take the audience through the experience that each specific hall requires.

Just outside the museum on February 25, the rest of White Plains Avenue will be transformed into a festive strip. We’ll get a chance to relive the four amazing days of the EDSA Revolution. They will be able to gather with EDSA veterans, enjoy the meals at the food stalls, listen to songs, watch plays, talk about that period. Masarap pong sariwain ulit ang nangyari thirty years ago. There will also be EDSA-themed games and contests all throughout the day of February 25.

I’d like to share a little bit more about this concept. Can we call on Usec. Celso?

ASEC. CELSO SANTIAGO, JR.: Magandang hapon po. Ako po si Celso Santiago, Assistant Secretary po sa PCOO. Ako po ang naatasan ngayon maging tour ninyo dun sa Experiential Museum na itatayo sa White Plains Avenue. Shall we start? Okay. Mayroon po tayong dalawang tanong na gustong sagutin para po doon sa Experiential Museum kung bakit ba natin ito itatayo.

Ang unang tanong ay: “Are we still worth dying for?” At yung pangalawang tanong: “Paano ba natin kakausapin yung mga millennials tungkol sa Martial Law at ang nangyari sa EDSA, kasi gaya nga ng sabi ni Comm. Abrera kanina, sila yung mga pinanganak after nung EDSA, at napakaliit nung kaalaman nila tungkol sa nangyari.

Next slide, please. Isa kasing naging challenge nung Commission din, yung mga celebrations for the past few years. Mostly nag-cater tayo dun sa nostalgia nung mga na-andun sa EDSA nung 1986. Yung mga pinagdaanan, yung paghirap ng martial law at nung dumaan sa EDSA, naging nostalgia na lang nila yung celebration. So inisip nung Commission ngayon kung paano ba natin kakausapin yung mga kabataan, ano pa bang ibang paraan yung pwede nating gawin, kasi nga ibang lengwahe na yung binibigkas nila ngayon, di ba? Hindi na sila basta na nadadala lang sa picture na mayroong drawing or mayroong words. Hindi na uso iyon e. Ngayon kasi kailangan shocking na, So iyong Experiential Museum, it aims to shock the audience into re-thinking EDSA, and of course, the reason why EDSA happened – Martial Law.

So ano pong mangyayari? So February 25 po and 26, along White Plains Avenue po magtatayo po tayo ng Experiential Museum na mayroon pong nine halls. Yung laman po nun ay magkakaroon po tayo ng mga different multimedia and different platforms like theater, cinema, photography, performances and installations and others para po ma-awaken yung mga dadaan through the Museum.

Ang title po nung Experiential Museum ay ang ‘EDSA Trenta. Ipagpapatuloy ko ang Byahe Tungo sa Liwanag.’ Ang simbolismo po nito ay yung Martial Law, nire-represent po niya yung kadiliman nung labing apat na taon po tayong under dictatorship; at yung EDSA po, yung liwanag.

Simulan na po natin. So gaya po ng sinabi ni Comm. Abrera kanina dun po sa mga different halls, mayroon pong guided tour; mayroon pong isang magsasalita at magkukwento sa mga dadaan kung anong mangyayari bawat isa. Okay, simulan na po natin, Ayan, ito ulitin ko lang, mayroong mga performances, holograms, video mapping. This is opposed to yung the usual naartifact lang o yung mga picture na mayroong words, targeted of course to the millennials. Ito po yung itsura nya, overview.

Simula na natin, let’s go through each hall. Hall 1, ang unang hall ay the hall of Deadly Sleep. Papasok po kayo sa isang madilim na kwarto, at ang makikita n’yo lang mga kama sa both sides, tapos pag tingin n’yo sa mga kama, may makikita kayong mga natutulog. At mayroon ding mga walang laman. Pero yung mga walang laman, makikita n’yo salamin. Ang nire-represent po nito ay yung simula nung September 21, 1972, pinatulog ang bayan. Habang dumadaan ka doon sa hall, paulit-ulit mong maririnig si President Marcos declaring Martial Law. Paulit-ulit lang iyan, wala kang ibang maririnig kundi iyan. So iyan po, gaya nang nasabi ko kanina, mayroong mga kamang walang laman na may salamin, na kung tumingin ka, makikita mo na pati ikaw ay apektado pa rin nung legacy nung nangyari noong 1972. Iyan po ang itsura, iyan po yung hallway sa gitna, at both sides po mga kama, at may malaking video po ni President Marcos declaring Martial Law.

Now we go to the hall, to the second. Ito pong hall na ito ay mahahati sa dalawa. Mayroon po isang—yung unang kalahati po, mayroong mga nagpa-party, mayroong mga nagsasaya, at syempre maririnig mo yung Dahil sa Iyo, pero yung kabilang side, nakikita mo yung mga dumadaan, may mga peepholes dun sa pader kung saan nagpa-party, na kung saan pwede ka nang tumingin, na kung saan pag nakikita ka nilang sumasali at tumitingin, paalisin ka. Parang sinasabi nila na kami lang ang pwede dito, hindi kayo pwedeng magsaya; kami lang. Iyon lang, iyon lang yung makikita nila, ayun, pagtingin nila dun sa butas, ayun, dito po sa left side, yun po yun. Yung nagpa-party po yung nasa loob, at yung dadaan po, yun, po dun po sa black.

Next slide please, iyan. Pero dun po sa wall, hindi lang peepholes ang makikita ninyo, mayroon din po diyang pictures nung ano po ba yung tunay na nangyayari nung mga panahon na iyon, yung kahirapan, yung poverty po nung Martial Law, iyan po yung mga images na makikita nila. Iyan, kita ninyo po nasa loob po yung mga nagsasaya.

Ngayon, sunod po tayo sa next hall, The third hall po is the Hall of Orphans, ito po makikita ninyo na naman isang hallway, pero both sides po ay covered by chicken wire. Ang nasa loob po nung mga nasa likod po ng chicken wire ay yung mga bata. Mayroon din pong maliliit na manikin. So ano bang nangyayari dun sa hall na ‘to? Habang dumadaan ka, paulit-ulit lang nilang itatanung sa iyo, “Nasaan po ang Nanay ko? Nasaan po ang Tatay ko?” Paulit ulit lang itatanungin ng mga bata yan. These children represent the children of those who disappeared during Martial Law, and they will keep on asking you where their parents are. Paulit-ulit lang yan, “Nasaan ang Nanay ko? Nasaan ang tatay ko?” Ayan, ganito po yung itsura, papasok po kayo dito, iyan po yung chicken wire, yung mga bata po ay nasa both sides. Ang ending po dun sa hall ay yung pinahiram po ni…yung kanyang mga installation na desaparecidos.

Okay, ngayon po after po nung mga halls na yon, pupunta po tayo sa isang breather room kung saan pwedeng magpahinga yung mga dumadaan. Pero dun po sa breather room, nabibigyan po ng mukha yung mga desaparecidos dahil makikita nila yung mga pictures nung mga nawala and some data about them. So habang naghihintay ka dun sa susunod na hall, lakad-lakad ka lang, makikita mo yung pictures sa paa mo, sa dingding; at may mga nakasabit pa.

Okay, Now we go deeper through the experience. Ang next hall po natin ay yung The Hall of the Lost, ito po yung haharap sa kanila, bawal mamulat. Sana kayanin ninyo yung mga makikita ninyo, bawal magtanung, sunod lang ng sunod. Iyan, iyan po yung mag-gi-greet sa kanila sa hall na ‘to. Okay. Yung hall na po na ito ay papasok kayo sa isang maze, pero yung mga walls po nung maze, hindi po yun blanko dahil ang makikita po nila ay ang mga images ng mga ti-norture, mga pinahirapan, mga pinatay ng mga panahon na yan. Iyan, makikita ninyo po yung mga mukha. So habang you’re going through the maze, you will see the faces of those who were tortured and those who were killed during…and there will be a lot of disturbing images as well. Ito po yung itsura nung hall, nung maze, iyan po. And kung makikita ninyo po, mayroon pong mga design na yung mga upuan; that represents po the students, the lost generation, yung mga nawala nung mga panahon na iyon.

Now, we go to the next hall, which is the hall of Pain, which represents the torture that happened during the dark years of Martial Law. Pero kakaiba po yung pag-present dito ng torture. Yung una po ditong makikita ng mga visitors ay para pong circus na mayroong pong isang ringmaster at mayroong mga different areas kung saan pinapakita kung paano tino-torture. For example, mayroong, oh eto ganito nila lunurin, mayroon silang lobo na ilulubog sa balde; mayroong mga, let’s say, gulay na hihiwahiwain to represent the different kinds of torture. Pero pagkatapos niyang mag-spiel at sabihin yung mga different kinds of torture, tataas yung kurtina sa likod niya, at ipapakita kung ano ang itsura ng tunay na torture chamber. At doon sa loob ng torture chamber makikita ninyo yung mga talagang ginamit, na mga instruments para i-inflict yung torture.

Next slide, please. Iyan po, ang main na feature po noong torture chamber ay iyong mga bloodied handprints po noong mga tinorture noong panahon na iyon. Iyan po iyong representation, nakita ninyo po una po parang circus, tapos iyong kurtina po ‘pag tumaas na, makikita po iyong real torture chamber.

Now we go to the next hall which is the Hall of Forgotten Martyrs. Dito po, mayroong apat na actors who will play four characters namely si Edgar Jopson, si Macli-ing Dulag, si Evelio Javier and Lorena Barros – each one representing different sectors as you can see. At doon po sa hall na ‘to, magkukuwento po sila kung anong ginawa sa kanila. ‘Ayan, ganito po ang itsura niyan: mayroon pong mga stairs doon sa hall at mayroon pong mga parang stages, doon po tatayo bawat isa. Ang kakaiba po dito, habang nagkukuwento sila kung anong ginawa sa kanila, sila po ay mga nakaputi. Gagamit po tayo ng video mapping technology, na habang nagkukuwento po sila ng ginagawa sa kanila, nakikita ninyo po ang nangyayari.

For example, kung si Evelio Javier po ay ikukuwento niya kung paano siya binaril at pinatay sa harap ng kapitolyo, makikita ninyo sa katawan niya. Kunyari sabihin niya, “binaril ako sa ulo” makita kayo ng gunshot wound, mayroong blood na… para by the end of their speech or their spiel, alam ninyo na, nakita kung ano nang ginawa sa kanila. ‘Ayan po, siya po iyong nasa gitna. Okay.

Now we go to the next hall, which is the Hall of Awakening… para ‘andito na po nagsisimulang gumigising na ang bayan. Magsisimula po ito ng images noong… the iconic picture of Senator Ninoy Aquino being shot down at the Manila International Airport on August 21, 1983, iyan po. But as they go through the hall, makikita na po nila iyong euphoria, euphoria of EDSA – the four days. So in five minutes, papakita iyong confetti, nagkakapit-bisig na tao, they’ll hear the sounds, they’ll hear the announcement of the First Family fleeing. So, the success of EDSA. Iyan po iyong hall, they’ll go through that hallway, and the wall po will be covered with water, iyong images po ay makikita sa wall around.

Before we go to the Breather… naturally po iisipin po natin na since this is the EDSA celebration, we end there. But, the Commission wants to go further. We don’t just wanna end on the four days of EDSA. Parang we wanna talk about what happens after. That’s why the museum will continue. But before that, we go po to the Breather Room, iyong pinakita kanina. Ito po actually, ang gandang feature po nito, nahanap po ng AFP iyong isa sa mga tangke na ginamit po talaga noong 1986, at ilalagay po siya diyan as display. Diyan po, puwede iyong mga kabataan mag-selfie, magpa-picture, iyan, tambay lang po sila diyan before they wait, and while waiting to go to the next hall. Okay.

Iyong next hall po natin is the Hall of Reality. Dito po, makikita ninyo si… ang actor po playing a young Jose Rizal who will tell the participants… You know in 1898, we had an unfinished revolution. Will you allow yours to be unfinished as well?” Iyan… and while he’s doing that, he will show pictures and images of what has happened to the Philippines since 1986, specifically for those who were at EDSA. Iyong mga heroes, mga protagonist, nasaan na sila ngayon, papakita, so actual po iyan. For example si President Fidel Ramos, ‘di ba naging Chief of Staff ho siya, Defense Minister, naging Presidente, then ganoon po, papakita po lahat ng mga ano… and then uulitin lang niya: “Noong 1898, hindi namin natapos iyong rebolusyon namin. Iyong sa inyo, hindi dapat ganiyan. Do something.” Ito po iyong images, iyon po iyong mga nasa walls habang nasa gitna po si Jose Rizal. Okay.

Ang huli po na hall ay iyong The Hall of Action, kung saan gagamit po tayo ng hologram technology of the President who will talk to those who are going through the museum – telling them na they have to do something to build this nation. And the fight did not end at EDSA, it still continues today. So, ganoon po iyong mga message. Sasabihin niya na kailangan… we have to do our part like what we have done to accompany him in his administration, we have to continue. And at the end po ng kaniyang message, i-encourage po niya iyong mga participants to recite the old Panatang Makabayan with him. Iyan po iyong luma, iyong “Iniibig ko ang Pilipinas. Ito ang aking lupang sinilangan. Ito ang tahanan ng aking lahi…” iyan, itutuloy po niya iyan.

And then hopefully po, after that Panatang Makabayan, maybe they can also sing Bayan Ko. And then, after this hall po, they walk into the light. Puwede na po silang lumabas at makahalubilo po. Okay. So, I’ll turn over po again to Commissioner Emily Abrera to talk about po iyong ating traffic advisory.

COMM. ABRERA: Okay, shall we go to the slides on.. ito ang favorite na tanungin sa amin. What’s going to happen. From February… we start setting up for love of EDSA 30, on Valentines Day, February 14 at hanggang sa February 22, lanes 1,2 and 3 – westbound from Katipunan towards EDSA – will be used for the construction of the Experiential Museum. Okay. Lanes 4,5 and 6 will be open to two-way vehicular traffic – that is on White Plains Avenue. February 23-24, Lanes 1… we will take one more lane okay. It will used for the construction of the Experiential Museum. Okay, kasi patapos na iyon, that would be rehearsals and all sorts of other things going on. Lanes 5-6 will still be open to two-way vehicular traffic. So at no point is this area going to be closed off, alright?

Iyong February 25, for a half day, it will definitely be closed to traffic, okay? Now, we’d like to remind everyone, of course that this is a non-working holiday ang February 25, and this is for the official celebration of EDSA Trenta. From 12 a.m., 12:01 a.m. hanggang 1 p.m., right after lunch, okay. So, from EDSA northbound Ortigas to Santolan closed po iyan, and the whole day 12 a.m. hanggang midnight, White Plains Avenue will also be closed because the Experiential Museum will be open, we will be entertaining students going through them, and there will be all the other activities, attendant activities going on around the area.

Pagdating po ng February 26, that is Day 2 of the Experiential Museum. But of course, bukas na ulit ang lanes 4-6 – that will be open to two-way vehicular traffic. And on the 27th, that’s a weekend, lanes 1-3… 1, 2, and 3 westbound, we will be starting to dismantle the museum, the Experiential Museum. So, that will be Day 1 of dismantling, and then… yeah, dismantling of the museum, lanes 4, 5 and 6 still open to vehicular traffic.

Pagdating ng February 28, patuloy ang pag-dismantle. Ganoon din, open pa rin ang 4-6, lanes 4,5 and 6 will still be open to two-way vehicular traffic. So, iyong Feb. 25, iyon lang ang temporary closure of that area. So the road will be usable, it will just be limited, but we think that gives for a really good cause and we think that we should afford as many young people who can go through the Experiential Museum. Once it’s dismantled we are looking for a home for it, kung saan namin itatayo siya ulit para patuloy na ma—you know, young people can still come and experience this museum. We are still looking for a place where we can set it up. For more information you can contact these numbers kung may mga questions, katanungan.

MR. LIWANAG: Good Afternoon Ma’am. Ma’am number 1, magkano yung ginugol nung gobyerno dito po sa mismong celebration of EDSA 30?

ABRERA: EDSA Trenta. We are still putting together what it’s going to cost, but we think it’s gonna be in the area of about 30-35 million.

MR: LIWANAG: Okay. Ma’am, dun sa yung walk through dun sa museum makikita ba, mape-feel din ba nung mga tao like us the heroes, kagaya nung sinabi ni USEC kanina — the heroes like Senator Enrile. Meron din ba or baka mamaya ang ipalabas lang yung mga FVR lang or something, makikita rin ba namin na Gringo Honasan and yung the other ano…?

ABRERA: I would assume that the story of EDSA is going to be told and they are part of the story of EDSA. So, miske dun sa Salubungan eh, hindi naman po tayo hindi naman po nawawala ang mga characters na yan, they’re always there.

MR. LIWANAG: Did you invite them ma’am? Dun sa Salubungan?

ABRERA: Yeah, the recent open invitation (was) for everyone to come and celebrate EDSA Trenta.

MR. LIWANAG: But there’s no formal invitation to the Senator Enrile or…

ABRERA: Okay, this is always a delicate time, okay, and particularly this year it’s election season – election season is open. And in order that there be no misconstruing any of the messages, we have decided to just make an open invitation rather than specify who will come and who will not. Kasi po baka meron pang interpretation na ibigay.

MR. LIWANAG: But Senator Enrile will not be running in this election.

ABRERA: Yes, pero we would rather not choose and pick. He’s always been free naman to attend the celebration.

MR. LIWANAG: Okay, Thank you.

MS. ROSE NOVENARIO: Hi, Good afternoon po. Since nasa K-12 na yung ating educational system at gusto ninyong i-counter yung historical revisionism para mamulat yung young generation, meron po bang panukala yung EDSA People Power Commission sa DepEd na ilagay sa curriculum ng elementary or high school itong tungkol sa Martial Law, sa EDSA People Power I and II para po maituro sa paaralan sa mga bata?

ABRERA: Well, since we were convened, you know 5 years ago, iyan po ang one of the first things that we addressed and the books — the history books were already being re-written by the National Historical Commission, the groups of teachers and so on from the DepEd in conjunction with the National Historical Commission have already been rewriting all the historical data.

MS. NOVENARIO: So hindi pa po tapos?

ABRERA: Meron pong tapos na, yun ang pagkaalam ko.

MS. NOVENARIO: Kasi wala pang available sa ano… sa mga public schools or sa private schools.

ABRERA: Ang nangyayari po kasi, I think this is how we understood the problem noon, dahil sa kakulangan noon ng mga classrooms and so on, children rarely finish the whole curriculum. So parang iyan pag-aaralan ang history natin pero yung nangyari noon, noon, noon pa at hindi na tayo nakakarating sa recent history. So that tends to get glossed over towards the end of the year. Kung baga hindi nauubos yung materyales, kung baga hindi na nabubuo ang kwento ng ating history. So I think they have re-organized all that material para mas makita ang kabuuan ng kwento natin.

MR. LIWANAG: Ma’am, papano natin mailalabas yung… I know dun sa sinasabi niyo, you would like na iwasan yung politika, but EDSA is color yellow — the administration is using yellow. Baka mapulaan kayo nung other na tumatakbo rin on this election ng why are you using—of course, you’re going to use yellow, but it reflects also the administration and the administration candidate. Ano, ma’am, yung magandang sagot or tugon on this?

ABRERA: Kapag siguro tinanong natin ang kahit sino na nasa EDSA 30 years ago at tanungin natin, what was the color of those 3 days? I think the answer is going to be yellow and so if you want to bring back what it felt like, what that experience was like — the color, the sounds, some of those visuals, some of those the objects that were there and I mean, we can also say, you know, bakit napaka religious ng overtone? That’s what it was eh. That was the reality of those 3-4 days at EDSA. It so happens that happens to be a color picked up by this administration; but let’s not forget that yellow is the color of EDSA.

MR. LIWANAG: Okay, but no politics?

ABRERA: People will read all sort of things and interpret things the way they would like to but there is none intended. We would rather none be intended. This is a triumph of the Filipino people. It belongs to all of us. And I don’t think you can say, ‘ito para sa amin lang, hindi ‘to para sa inyo.’ Nanggaling na tayo dun eh, lumagpas na tayo dun.

MR. LIWANAG: Would there be people from the Liberal Party that would also grace the occasion?

ABRERA: Well as I said it’s an open invitation. Doesn’t matter what party you belong to. By all means, join the celebration.

MR. LIWANAG: Thank you.

AC/CNN: Ma’am, follow up to that question. You said that you don’t want any misinterpretation, but you know… there’s politics here, but you are going to end the Museum with the hologram of the President talking to the youth. Hindi po ba na factor in yun when you were thinking about it; and then after that you tell them come into the light. So how are they supposed to interpret/look at that?

ABRERA: Well, he’s the leader of the country, he is the President of the Philippines. I think he can have something to say on that day, on two counts. I mean, he is connected by blood to two very, very important people that are connected to the EDSA Revolution. And his parents, we can’t escape that, we can’t pretend that that isn’t so, because it is so.
So I think a message that he can deliver to the youth is I think can be accepted by the youth and certainly it’s in place to be able to listen to a short message. Young people naman have their own way of seeing history. What we’d like to do is just give them all the inf0rmation and allow them to come to their own conclusions. It’s kinda hard naman today to ram anything down any ones throat.

VICTORIA TULAD/GMA 7: Good afternoon, ma’am. Ma’am, very interesting lang iyong museum. How much po iyong cost doon, kung 30 to 35 iyong total?

ABRERA: I think, maybe about… almost half siguro.

VICTORIA TULAD/GMA 7: And then paano po iyong tour, ma’am? Every 30 minutes, every hour?

ABRERA: There are nine halls, and their estimate is at least five minutes per hall. So, maybe, mga 45 minutes to go through the whole thing. I mean, that could be somewhat brisk pace. But, of course, once a group is already in the second or the third hall, the new group will start to come in. So it will be a continuous streaming. And then there are enough activities around para hindi naman nakakabagot iyong maghihintay ng kanilang turn.

CELERINA MONTE/MANILA SHIMBUN: Regarding that museum, ilan po iyong target ninyo na pupunta doon? And if ever, how are you going to invite people or may target people na ba kayo, like from certain universities or colleges?

ABRERA: Well, our team has kind of worked out the invitations. I think, almost all barangay will have chance to send a group of young people. And then, we’re trying to organize them lang para nang sa ganoon hindi magulo iyong entry and exit of the students. We think, all in all, according to our calculation, maybe about 6,000 students will be able to experience it during those two days. Is that a lot of few people? Is that a too few? We think, of course, we would like more people to experience it, and that’s why we’re seeking to re-set it up somewhere else so that more young people can view it.

CELERINA MONTE/MANILA SHIMBUN: Regarding the invitation, I’d just want to ask if the Vice President was also invited or covered na siya ng open invitation?

ABRERA: I think covered na siya siguro ng open invitation.

CELERINA MONTE/MANILA SHIMBUN: So walang specific or formal invitation that was sent to him?

ABRERA: None that I know of.

CELERINA MONTE/MANILA SHIMBUN: So, if mayroon kayong pinadalang formal invitation, sino lang iyong mayroong mga formal invitation?

ABRERA: Participants, I think, in the official program, the opening program.

Q: [Off mic]

ABRERA: Ha?

Q: [Off mic]

ABRERA: Yah, the mayors who raised the flag—iyong traditional na nandoon, traditionally they’re there.

WENG DELA FUENTE/NET25: Good afternoon, ma’am. Ma’am, kasi kanina iyong Experiential Museum was described as to shock the audience and to experience what happened during the Martial Law. Bakit ngayon lang ho gagawin iyan, throughout the administration of the President? And one question pa rin ho is, nakikita ninyo ba na—kasi sabi ‘di ba, ‘History will judge the leader who ran the country before.’ Nakikita ba natin na nag-iiba iyong pananaw ng mga kabataan doon sa diktador nung nakaraang panahon kaya kailangang gawin natin ito?

ABRERA: Sa tinging namin, napakarami sa ating millennials ang talagang blanko. I mean, to them, Martial law is a surreal thing and, you know, as if it never happened. Okay. Let’s not fool ourselves. We had a peaceful revolution. There was no blood shed, but that doesn’t mean that there was no blood shed leading up to it. We went through so many years of Martial Law, so many people were tortured, were killed. I mean, there is no way you can cover that up. And I think, it’s important that young people today understand that — that Martial Law was not a time when people just got disciplined. There are many other aspects to it. And that the chills like a horror show, that’s what it was. I think young people should understand that.

Why only now? Well, it’s the 30th. It’s a nice—what do you call it? Maybe it’s a culmination also of so much that we’ve gone through. It’s a culmination as well of the President’s administration. We know that … as we told you last year, we stood here and we said, we had a very quiet celebration last year because we knew we didn’t want to spend that much money, which we knew we would like to have a bigger and more meaningful than usual 30th anniversary celebration. So that’s what we’re doing.

CELERINA MONTE/MANILA SHIMBUN: Factor din po ba, ma’am — kasi ngayon may mga discussions din kasi — those people who lived during that time ng Martial Law, they were parang … kinukuwento po nila sa mga apo nila iyong magandang experience nila during the Martial Law. So, ika-counter ninyo iyon through this Experiential Museum?

ABRERA: It’s not so much countering. As giving also information from those who did not have a wonderful experience during Martial Law. I have to tell you, I mean, historically you can go through any of the other Latin American countries who went through this kind of ruling, and it wasn’t very much fun. So anyone who says it was fun may have seen it from a very narrow point of view. I mean, I think young people ought to know that. And I think young people would like to know that.

VICTORIA TULAD/GMA7: Ma’am, isn’t 30 to 35 million too big?

ABRERA: Is it too big? We spent—how much did we spend, Celso? 25th, on 25th natin?

CEDLSO: [Off mic]

ABRERA: Mga 14 million we spent on the 25th, and that was mostly concerts and so on. A lot of the money also being raised—yah, we’re fund raising ha. It’s not just somebody just hands us a budget ‘no. For a lot of this, it’s in cooperation with and so on and so forth, thru the kindness of. Now when we add that all up, it’s a hefty sum. But a lot of people are helping.

AC/CNN PHILIPPINES : Is it covered, ma’am… the museum?

ABRERA: Yes.

AC/CNN PHILIPPINES: It’s covered.

ABRERA: Yah, kasi may sound din siya. May sound eh, multi-media.
BENJIE LIWANAG/DZBB: So how much did the government spend on this occasion?

ABRERA: How much did the government spent? As I said, we’re still even, you know—

BENJIE LIWANAG/DZBB: So the ballpark figure—

ABRERA: Yah, we think it’s going to be about 35.

BENJIE LIWANAG/DZBB: —half of that or …

ABRERA: No, majority of that.

BENJIE LIWANAG/DZBB: … because there are sponsors and there—

ABRERA: Yah, there will be sponsors. The majority of that will still be government.

SWEDEN VELADO/PTV4: Ma’am, iyong Experiential Museum ba, is it free? And because as presented earlier, it’s really shocking. So ilang taon po iyong mga kailangang pumasok doon sa loob ng Museum?

SANTIAGO: Kinausap namin iyong DepEd kasi nga ayaw naming …baka may mga kabataang magulat. Sabi nila, Grade 9 up iyong puwede. And to answer the first question: Yes, libre po siya.

SEC. COLOMA: I would like to thank Commissioner Abrera. Executive Director and Commissioner Maria Montelibano is also here, Assistant Secretary Santiago. All other inquiries please forward them to our office.

\There is also a media sneak preview on February 24, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. So, you are all cordially invited. And the EDSA People Power Commission is also looking to being able to produce a video clip, a video version, so that those that may not able to witness it themselves at the celebration of EDSA Trenta may be able to view it separately.

Okay, I’m now prepared to answer your questions.

I have forwarded to your email the copy of the Executive Order 198, signed by the President on February 4 on the operational merger between the Landbank of the Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines.

WENG DELA FUENTE/NET 25: Sir, follow up. May we know the reason for the merger of the two — Landbank and DBP?

SEC. COLOMA: It is in the Executive Order. It says there that there is a need to rationalize the operations of Government Owned and Control Corporations, including Government Financial Institutions. There are some similarities and common functions performed by the two institutions; their opportunities for synergy and for greater efficiency. And so that is the basis… in one section here, it says here the functions of DPB and LBP duplicate and/or unnecessarily overlap with one another. The merger will further enhanced the financing of priority projects and sectors such as infrastructure, public services, agriculture, agrarian reform and SMEs. The merger will provide better access and extend quality financial services and products to more unbanked and underserved areas, and it is expected to build a stronger and more competitive universal development bank that will provide banking services to propel countryside development and to contribute to sustainable and inclusive growth. Those are the reasons cited in the Executive Order.

WENG/NET25: So wala naman pong dapat ikabahala iyong mga customers or iyong mga clients nila?

SEC. COLOMA: The merger is particularly designed to improve the services and to make the institution more responsive to the needs of development.

WENG/NET 25: Sir, kailan daw po effective iyong merger?

SEC. COLOMA: Ayon doon sa Executive Order ang GCG o Governance Commission on GOCCs shall undertake, approve, and implement a reorganization plan and implement a compensation position classification system. So this is an operational merger, they will work out the details and inform their clients accordingly. Wala naman dapat alalahanin ang mga kliyente. Patuloy pa rin naman iyong mga serbisyong ibinibigay sa kanila, iyong mga loans, iyong mga deposits taking services. Hindi tayo gumagawa ng anumang hakbang na magreresulta sa pagkabalam o… that would negatively affect the services of the institutions.

WENG/NET 25: Pero, sir, hindi ba magreresulta ito sa retrenchments ng mga employees?

SEC. COLOMA: Kaya nga at mayroong pag-aaral ang isasagawa ng GCG at nakalagay naman dito… ayon doon sa GOCC Governance Act of 2011: “All employees of the constituent banks who will be retained under the said organization plan shall not suffer any break in service or tenure or any diminution of salaries and lawful benefits.” At iyon ding mga ibang apektado are entitled to separation and retirement benefits under applicable laws. Kung meron mang affected — separation from service, they are entitled to a merger incentive pay. Nakalagay iyong table sa EO, depending on the number of years of service.

CELERINA MONTE/MLA SHIMBUN: So, sir, may estimate ba kung ilan, if ever, iyong maapektuhan, mare-retrench?

SEC. COLOMA: Wala pa akong datos hinggil diyan, pero pag-aaralan ng husto para maging makatuwiran ang ipapatupad na reogranisasyon.

CELERINA/MLA SHIMBUN: With this merger, how big now iyong bank at ano iyong magiging tawag sa kanya? Would it be DBP or Landbank of the Philippines?

SEC. COLOMA: Wala pang nakasaad doon sa EO. Nakalagay lang dito sa Section II: Operational Merger of the Development Bank of the Philippines and the Landbank of the Philippines. The operational merger of DBP and LBP, through the transfer of assets and liabilities of DBP to LBP as the surviving entity is here by approved. So, iisang bangko ang surviving entity, iyong mga assets and liabilities ng DBP ililipat para isa na lamang. At ang surviving entity ay iyong Landbank of the Philippines, subject to the written consent of the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation and approval of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

WENG/NET 25: Sir, just your thoughts on the latest survey on the joblessness. Mukhang ito daw po iyong pinakamababa for the past 11 years?

SEC. COLOMA: Merong ipinahayag si Secretary Edwin Lacierda, at nais kong banggitin dito na iyon ang pinakamababang naitala na joblessness figure. This annual average is the lowest in 11 years since 2004. At bukod pa roon ay nagkaroon ng uptrend doon sa optimism tungkol sa job availability. Sa aming palagay ito ay nagpapahiwatig ng pagiging epektibo ng mga programa ng pamahalaan sa pagdagdag ng hanapbuhay. At ito ay repleksyon ng mga epektibong istratihiya na nagbunsod ng pinakamataas na GDP growth na natamo ng Pilipinas sa loob ng anim na taon, na pinakamataas in almost 40 years. Kaya ito ay manipestasyon noong mahusay at kapaki-pakinabang na resulta ng mabuting pamamahala; at katulad ng palaging binabanggit ni Pangulong Aquino, iyong mabuting pamamahala ang nagiging panimula ng mahusay na economic performance — good governance leads to good economic performance.

WENG/NET 25: Sir, how would the administration candidate take advantage of this po?

SEC. COLOMA: Naniniwala kami na ang ating mga Boss, ang mga mamamayang Pilipino, ay kinikilala ang mga pagbabagong nararanasan nila mismo at isasaalang-alang nila ito kapag sila ay lumahok sa pambansang halalan sa darating na Mayo.

WENG/NET 25: Speaking of election po, sir. Kick off na ng campaign today and the President will be participating doon sa campaign ng administration bets. May mga nagtatanong po: “How would the President delineate iyong governance to partisan activities?”

SEC. COLOMA: Tinanong na iyan at sinagot na rin iyan ni Undersecretary Quezon. Nagmula sa inyong hanay nung nakaraang Sabado. Dadagdagan ko na lamang sa pamamagitan ng pagsabi na ang Pangulo ng Pilipinas ay patuloy na nagbibigay ng prayoridad na atensyion sa lahat ng mga mahalagang programa ng pamahalan, sinusubaybayan at tinututukan ang lahat ng mga kaganapang umaapekto sa kabuhayan at kapakanan ng mga mamamayan. Napaka-hands on ang approach ng ating Pangulo sa kanyang pagiging Chief Executive ng ating bansa at hindi kailanman maapektuhan ang kanyang pagiging epektibong Chief Executive sa kanyang paglahok sa mga aktibidad na patungkol sa kampanya.

WENG/NET 25: So, hindi po dapat ipagkamali na pamumulitika iyong lahat ng ginagawa ng Pangulo?

SEC. COLOMA: Iisa lamang ang pagkatao ng Pangulo, hindi naman puwedeng magpabago-bago ng kasuotan o ng katauhan. Maging reyalistiko tayo, iyan ang reyalidad sa ating sistema ng demokrasya. Sa lahat naman ng bansa, meron naman talagang reyalidad na iyong incumbent Head of State or Head of Government ay nagiging participant din sa mga democratic or electoral processes. At hindi naman tuluyang o ganap na maipaghihiwalay ang mga bagay na iyan.

VICTORIA TULAD/GMA-7: Good afternoon, sir. Sir, may lumabas po na survey today – Laylo survey. 29 % po si Senator Grace Poe and 22% po si Sec. Mar. Any comment on this?

SEC. COLOMA: Ang lahat ng mga survey na ating natutunghayan ay nagbibigay ng snap shot doon sa preferences ng mga mamamayan. Ayon diyan sa survey na iyan — ang lumahok diyan ay mga merong election biometrics, dahil sila ay registered voters. At dapat sigurong pag-aralan ng mga kandidato iyong mga resulta. Nakita ko iyung buong report at detalyado ito in terms of demographic results, iyong by geographic area, by gender, by region. At makikita dito kung paano nagpapahayag ng preferences ang ating mga mamamayan mula sa iba’t-ibang lugar ng bansa, with comparative data from the sender. At siyempre dahil umpisa ngayon ng election campaign ay baseline ito.
Pero kung ibabatay natin doon sa mga nakaraang karanasan, partikular doon sa 2010 national elections, ay posibleng magkaroon pa ng maraming pagbabago doon sa eventual outcome. Marami nga sa kandidato nagsasabi ang pinakamahalagang survey ay sa election day mismo. Dahil ito ay hindi na random o sampling frame ang gagamitin. Iyong pagkalahatang resulta na kung saan lahat ng mahigit sa limampong milyong botante ay lalahok ay mababatid.
Kung titingnan naman natin iyong partikular na performance ng administration candidates — mula doon sa pinaggalingan nilang level at the time na nag-uumpisa, na pinili pa lamang sila na bubuo ng administration ticket, ay mataas na ang naabot na antas. At katulad ng obserbasyon in Pangulong Aquino, patuloy naman iyong pagtaas ng antas ng pagsuporta sa kanila.

MARIE: Anymore questions? No more questions Secretary Coloma. Thank you very much.

SEC. COLOMA: Maraming salamat. Magandang hapon sa inyong lahat.