INTRODUCTION
Eleven years ago, we called upon the almighty to protect the masses of our people gathered on this avenue named after a Filipino patriot, Epifanio de los Santos. Eleven years ago, God listened and took our side — and we won back our freedom and democracy.

By any measure, EDSA was an extraordinary episode in our country’s political history. Nonviolent but radical, EDSA forced the capitulation of a government that had lost the trust of the people, and thereby its moral right to govern.

Our justification then was the inherent right of every people to self-determination –the right to choose their leaders, the right to choose how they wanted to be governed and the right to realize a future of their own making.

At EDSA we Filipinos defended our fundamental freedoms — and gave the world a glimpse of the heroism and the greatness inherent in all of us. And we also surprised ourselves in realizing that there dwelt in each of us an abounding capacity for personal sacrifice and transformation.

And yet, for all its breathtaking glory, EDSA has remained, for many Filipinos, an unfinished revolution — especially for the poor. They were there with us in the thousands, helping to win the day. They were there with us, shielding us with their numbers, emboldened by little more than a vague promise of change.
DELIVERING ON OUR PROMISES
More than a decade after EDSA, we should be able to answer how well we have delivered on those expectations.

Indeed, our economy has reawakened and now shows remarkable robustness as Asia’s young bull. We have brought about a better condition of peace by resolving the age-old conflict in Mindanao and dissension in the ranks of the military. We have gone much farther than in previous years in the fight against mass poverty.

Yet, I recognize with equal clarity that we have made other promises that remain unfulfilled. In our society, vested interests, dynastic structures, and parochial forces remain powerful enough to limit our people’s choices.

Most of the things that many of our people now take for granted remains still a dream for a good number of Filipinos — adequate and nourishing food, decent shelter, a good job, healthy bodies, affordable education, and speedy justice under the law.
INEQUITIES REMAIN
Indeed, we have grown — economically, politically and socially — but there remain glaring imperfections in the structure of our national economy and society. A broader middle class is emerging, which has been good for our democracy and development. But a handful of families and groups still control many strategic industries.

We have addressed the need to break up large monopolies by deregulating certain sectors — such as banking, telecommunications, fuel and transport. Government itself has shown a clear commitment to divesting itself of its business operations, seen in the privatization of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) and the sale of government assets that are no longer cost-effective.
A DEMOCRACY REBORN
And as we approach the new millennium, EDSA once again beckons us to be true to its spirit of people empowerment. We need this fundamental strength. For much still needs to be done, if we are to pole-vault our way to the twenty-first century.

Our young democracy — along with our budding economic resurgence — has yet to stand the test of durability. We remain subject to the vagaries of the global economy — and here at home, to the clash of vested interests. Not all of these interests have the good of people and country in mind.

On this eleventh commemoration of the EDSA People Power Revolution, I call on all Filipinos to pursue with even more vigor the present exchange of ideas on our options for the Filipino future. This, after all, is what we won: the freedom and the responsibility to engage in reshaping the nation. This we can do without fracturing the hard-earned unity that has moved forward our economic growth and social progress.

If we cannot do this today — close to a century after we won our first revolution against tyranny — then we cannot claim to be truly free: free of our old doubts and fears, free of the darkest shadows of the past.
CLOSING
We cannot but be hopeful that divine providence will continue to guide us all — leaders and followers — into correct, responsible action.

EDSA calls on us to reapply its spirit of people power to safeguard the gains we have won. Edsa calls on us to wield this spirit to strengthen our people’s freedom. And EDSA calls on us to direct this spirit toward an even stronger capacity to make clear, intelligent choices on how we will advance into the 21st century.

As we proved ourselves worthy of our freedom eleven years ago, let us rise to that same challenge today, by acting as free men and women, imbued with only the desire to achieve the greatest good for the majority.

Thank you and God bless us all.

Mabuhay ang Diwa ng EDSA!

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

Maraming salamat at mabuhay tayong lahat!