Prayer Assembly to be held on the commemoration of Aquino death Anniversary

NEWS RELEASE
August 20, 2009

Reference: Fr. Joe Dizon, Spokesperson (#09209081994)

Various groups will come together for a memorial prayer assembly tomorrow August 21 on the occasion of the death anniversary of the late Sen. Ninoy Aquino.

The commemorative activity is organized by the Concerned Citizens, ATOM and Pagbabago! People’s Movement for Change. Pagbabago! will lead the ecumenical service of the assembly.

The various groups leading the August 21 assembly will commemorate not only the death anniversary of Sen. Aquino, but also the life and death of his wife, the late former President Corazon Aquino.

Fr. Joe Dizon, spokesperson of Pagbabago!, on his part sees the significance of the activity as the people’s expression of their longing for a change in the country.

“We come together as Filipinos who want to work for meaningful change in our country. We are tired of poverty, corruption, abuse of power, human rights violations, and the sellout of the dignity and sovereignty of our nation,” said Fr. Joe Dizon.

Dizon pointed out that the massive turnout of the people during former President Cory Aquino’s wake and funeral was not simply an outpouring of the people’s love and respect for the late President.

“It was undeniably an expression of disgust with the current president Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. It clearly showed a disgruntled nation fed up with dishonesty, injustice, and the lack of honor in government,” said Fr. Dizon.

The comparison between Sen. Aquino and President Aquino on one hand, and the current President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on the other hand, could not be avoided, the group claimed.

“Mrs. Aquino has been portrayed, rightly so as the exact opposite of Mrs. Arroyo – the former being a fighter against a dictator and martial rule, a leader who willingly surrendered her borrowed time in government as its ruler; and the latter being a tyrant, a very corrupt official and a leader who had usurped power and would not give it up. Mrs. Arroyo embodies an obstacle to, if not the opposite of the change we yearn for,” said Fr. Dizon.

Pagbabago! People’s Movement for Change launched its Tie-A-Yellow-Ribbon: Tuloy ang Laban! Campaign to encourage the people to be vigilant, and to be part of a continuing struggle for democracy, truth, accountability, justice and genuine change in society.

Yellow ribbon tying

Yellow ribbons with the message ‘Tuloy ang Laban!’ are laid out in Taft Avenue, Manila in preparation for the memorial prayer assembly tomorrow, on the death anniversary of the late Sen. Ninoy Aquino.

Students, faculty and employees from Adamson University, University of the Philippines Manila, Philippine General Hospital, Philippine Christian University and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila participated in the yellow ribbon tying and a noise barrage at the Plaza Salamanca in Taft Ave. cor. Kalaw Ave.

Engr. Jun Lozada, and other members of Pagbabago!, will be joined by Association of Major Religious Superiors, the La Salle Community and other groups in a yellow ribbon tying at the EDSA Shrine tomorrow at 11:30am. ###