Spirit of Edsa Foundation

Proposed Design Criteria of the People Power Freedom Center

Rationale:

In the closing years of the 20th century, by the Grace of God, as evidenced by the prayerful and joyful pervading spirit of the hundreds of thousands, some say millions, of people gathered at EDSA from Sunday evening, 22 February 1986, to Tuesday evening 25 February, as well as in many other places throughout the archipelago, the Filipino nation united to defy the threats of the dictorial regime of Ferdinand E Marcos and confronted his armed forces with calls for peace and reconciliation, standing kapit-bisig against tanks, M-16’s airplanes, etc.

No blood was shed, crime rate dropped to zero during those mesmerizing days. The dictator fled, and the Filipinos regained their Freedom and their Democracy. It was triumph proving to the world that such prayerful non-violent unified action could SUCCEED IN THIS DAY AND AGE OF VIOLENCE AND FEARFUL MODERN WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.

Philippine EDSA Peaceful People and Prayer Power Revolution was a definitive break away and leap forward in man’s history of conflict resolution, antithetical as it was to the usual wars and bloodshed that have accompanied human struggle towards the realization of his aspirations.

The Center perhaps ought not to be just primarily a memorial to the Filipino people, his love of freedom, and his previous struggles to attain it, but rather PRIMARILY A MEMORIAL TO THAT HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT IN MAN’S HISTORY THAT HAS COME TO BE CALLED PEOPLE POWER.

Given the small size of the site as museums site, the People Power Freedom Center should thus focus on PHILIPPINE People Power and show its echoes in other countries after February 1986. The overall Filipino love of Freedom and his struggle for it could be felt to other museums, as with exhibits of native arts and culture.

THE CENTER IS THUS OF INTERNATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE. It should wake up and inspire the world should see less and less resort to the horrors of violent conflict such as we are now witnessing in other countries.In design, ambience, exhibits, activities, and projects, the Center should be focused on enlightening and inspiring anyone who visits it to practice or espouse peaceful people power as an effective tool for change and conflict resolution.

The audience of the Center is not only the Filipino, but also the world Application to UNESCO and any appropriate international institution for it to be recognized and supported as such could be made. THUS, THE CENTER SHOULD BE AN INTERNATIONAL MEMORIAL FOR THE WORLD AND A TRIBUTE TO THE FILIPINO PRAYER AND PEACEFUL PEOPLE POWER.

The Filipino nation were the chosen people, so to speak, in the contemporary world to first, on a significant scale, demonstrate that people power works, is of course the honor to the nation that the center would imply, and the reason for claiming the honor FOR THE PHILIPPINES TO INITIATE AND HOST THE WORLD’S PEOPLE POWER FREEDOM CENTER.

Finally, it should be clear that the EDSA Revolution was not only action for Freedom and Democracy, and that this CENTER WOULD SERVE ALSO TO ESPOUSE PEOPLE POWER IN A PEACEFUL AND DEMOCRATIC WAYS IN FIGHTING UNLAWFUL AND UNJUST INSTITUTIONS, AS WELL AS, TO SPREAD MORAL VALUES.



Backgrounder:

Project conceptualization and development initiated by the Spirit of EDSA Foundation (SOEF) Founding Chairman Christopher L. Carrion, an ardent EDSA veteran on August 8, 1988 initially by envisioning the construction of a proposed “Tower of Peace” to serve as the first Philippine landmark in order to “perpetually commemorate” the world renown February 1986 Prayerful, Peaceful, People Power Revolution institutionalizing the “EDSA Spirit and Ideals” of love of God, patriotism, and volunteerism. ( Refer to letter to Mr. Jesus M. Roces dated 8 August 1988).

In 1993, again Mr. Carrion reiterated his proposal regarding the said “Tower of Peace” to former President Fidel V. Ramos. The proposal was however declined by the President due to security reasons on the part of the military. ( Refer to letter to former President Fidel V. Ramos dated 7 January 1993).

An alternative plan was thereafter presented by SOEF Founding Chairman Carrion together with the SOEF Board of Trustees and Arch. Pablo Antonio, Jr. to then President Ramos. The proposal got former President Ramos verbal approval to allocate 4,174 square meters requested for the construction of an EDSA People Power Freedom Center/ Museum, instead of a “Tower of Peace”



Purpose and Objective:

  1. To highlight and memorialize the History of the Filipino Peaceful People Power Revolution of 1986.
  2. To promote the Spirit of love and faith in God, instill patriotism, and and the spirit of volunteerism that was in EDSA in 1986.
  3. To serve as an effective historical manifestation of national pride and educational vehicle of Peaceful People Power as appropriately manifested in Philippine history when Filipinos, of all walks of life, rich and poor, stood for what is Right, Truth, Justice, and Peace
  4. To be a living Memorial, especially to future generations of the youth to experience and feel what really transpired during those 4-days (February 22-25, 1986) through the 360 multi-vision light and sound theater.
  5. To be a repository for memorabilia’s and other artifacts of EDSA 1986.
  6. It will also be an institute for research.


Design Goals:

  1. Create a world class Museum/Freedom Center which will inspire the audience to espouse PEACEFUL PEOPLE POWER as an effective tool for change, conflict resolution, and transformation.
  2. Design a facility that responds to the required aggressive design and construction schedules.
  3. Design a facility that maximizes flexibility for various exhibits, activities, learning projects allowing for expandability to accommodate both memorial and learning center needs.


Chronology and relevant milestones:

May 9, 1996 - DND Secretary Renato de Villa approved the allocation of a total area of 2,000 square meters for the proposed People Power Freedom Center (PPFC).

Topographical surveys were conducted by the Engineers of DPWH and the AFP, together with representatives of SOEF to determine the exact site and the area for the proposed PPFC.

Arch. Pablo Antonio, Jr. was requested to undertake the preliminary design perspective.

February 25, 1997 - unveiling of the Architects design perspective was done during the 10th EDSA Anniversary Commemoration at the People Power Monument.

Subsequent meetings and planning sessions followed: 30 October 1995, 13 December 1995, 03 January 1996, 21 September 1996 and a joint meeting between SOEF Board of trustees the newly created EDSA PEOPLE POWER COMMISSION (EPPC) and the on September 20, 2001.

Construction of the PPFC was delayed due to the pending final approval of the property, exact lot area and a necessary revision of a drafted MOA.

February 25, 2002 - A Memorandum of Agreement was signed allocating the exact site/property area of 2,000 square meters between the Government and the SOEF/EPPC, represented by the AFP Chief of Staff Brig. Gen. Diomedio Villanueva and approved by DND Sec. Angelo Reyes, EPPC Chairman Ramon del Rosario, Jr., SOEF Founding Chairman Christopher L. Carrion, and witnessed by President GMA and former Presidents Cory Aquino and Fidel Ramos.

October 23, 2003 - AFP Chief of Staff Narciso L. Abaya wrote SOEF Founding Chairman Christopher L. Carrion reconfirming the AFP’s commitment to honoring the MOA.

May 29, 2003 - President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo volunteered to extend to the AFP the necessary funds needed for the said transfers and relocation of the AFP military barracks located in the allocated 2,000 square meters property which will be the site for the PPFC, coming from the Presidential Social Funds, in the presence of former Presidents Aquino and Ramos, SOEF Trustees, past and present EPPC Commissioners, and other guests. This took place during the dinner held at the residence of SOEF Chairman & Comm. Christopher L. Carrion called “Nights of the President” at Chris Carrion’s residence at 235 Langka Drive, Ayala Alabang Village, Muntinlupa City.

February 4, 2005 - SOEF Founding Chairman Carrion wrote a letter to the new AFP Chief of Staff - Lt. Gen. Efren L. Abu regarding the proposed conceptualization initiated by Chairman Carrion which is the “Wall of People Power Heroes”.

March 27, 2007 - Had a meeting with AFP Chief of Staff Brig. Gen. Hermogenes Esperon. Got his approval in principle for the exact construction site and the proposed “EDSA Wall of Heroes”.

August 12, 2007 - Got a letter from AFP Chief of Staff Hermogenes Esperon confirming and approval of the concept proposed “EDSA Wall of Heroes”.

A design of the PPFC proposed by Architects Coscolluela, Antonio, Locsin, and Alcazaren was submitted to SOEF.

February 26, 2010 - A follow-up letter to President Arroyo was sent by SOEF Chairman & Comm. Christopher L. Carrion regarding the release of funds she committed for the transfer/relocation of the AFP military barracks located in the site where the PPFC will be constructed. (No action taken by former President Arroyo).

Desired Timetable:

April 2011 - The Architects are now working on a collaborated final design.

August 21, 2011 - Proposed unveiling of the final perspective of the Architects PPFC design (during the commemoration of Ninoy Aquino’s Death Anniversary) for presentation to His Excellency President Benigno S. Aquino III with former President Fidel V. Ramos in attendance

February 25, 2012 - Groundbreaking and lying of time capsule.

February 25, 2013/2014 - Proposed target dates for the Inauguration.