"Remember history. History does not repeat itself."
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri stressed this as the country commemorates Saturday, Feb. 25 the 1986 EDSA People Power revolution that brought down the regime of the late former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
"I was a 16-year-old boy in High School. We were not as political as we are now. Nakita natin ang samahan ng taumbayan na pumunta sa EDSA sa malaking pagsasama sama (We saw how people got together to a very big gathering),’’ he said.
‘’Along the way, use the law to further enhance growth of the people. What is important is the future, I am future-thinking,’’ the Senate chief said.
"How can we make use of all our historical knowledge that we fought for, for stronger nation. we are pre-positioned in Asia, we can send goods to all over nations. we should move forward, look forward with no politics, set aside politics and unite for our people,’’ he stressed.
Zubiri’s comments were made during a media briefing on the Senate-ratified Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) at the Centennial Hall of Manila Hotel Friday, Feb. 24.
With him during the briefing were Senate President Pro Termpore Loren Legarda and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Alfredo Pascual.
"Actually I was 16 years old when EDSA happened. I was a journalist in America at that time. I left during martial law and EDSA People Power happened when I was working in Los Angeles,’’ Legarda said.
‘’There were always lessons, we value our democracy, we value our free speech, diversity and still find unity in our diversity. We value our freedom, democracy, what we fought for in the history as a nation and as a people,’’ she emphasized.