30th People Power Anniversary Activities in San Francisco

The first two activities in San Francisco, California, commemorating the 30th anniversary of the People Power revolution that toppled the Marcos dictatorship in the Philippines, are taking place this week.

At the "Voices of People Power" evening of remembrance, this coming Friday, February 12, 6 – 8 pm, at the San Francisco Philippine Consulate, 447 Sutter Street, 5th floor Social Hall, anti-martial law activists will speak about their experiences in the anti-dictatorship movement, and the continuing relevance today of the power at EDSA of a people united against injustice. Admission is free, and a light dinner courtesy of Goldilocks-USA will be served. Details of this event can be found at https://www.facebook.com/events/1063901723662648/ Details of this February 12 "Voices of People Power" event can be found at https://www.facebook.com/events/1063901723662648/

Monday, February 20, 2016, 8:00 p.m., Pacific Daylight Savings time, is the deadline to submit entries to the nationwide (USA) Essay-Writing Contest, on the theme of “Recapturing the Spirit of the 1986 People Power Revolution, and What It Means to Me as a Filipino-American.” The contest is open to the generation of Filipinos residing in the U.S. who were born after the fall of the dictator, Ferdinand Marcos, on February 26, 1986. Cash prizes for the essay-writing contest are: $500 for First Place (ABS-CBN award); $200 for second (Inquirer.net award); and $100 for third (Philippine American Press Club award. Contest details can be found at https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10206509579952831&set=a.1066526937980.11761.1070221377&type=3&theater

The winning essay will be read at the People Power commemorative main event at the San Francisco Philippine Consulate on Thursday evening, February 25, which will also feature the ribbon-cutting of the exhibit of the works of photojournalist, Kim Komenich, who won a Pulitzer Prize for his images of the February 1986 revolution, by Philippine ambassador to the US, Jose Cuisia, and by San Francisco Philippine Consul General Henry Bensurto.

Events are scheduled in San Francisco from February - April to mark the momentous 30th anniversary of the historic uprising in which Philippine dictator, Ferdinand Marcos, after 14 years of corrupt and bloody rule, was overthrown by the united effort of millions of Filipinos, dubbed throughout the world as People Power. The complete calendar of events is available at https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10206602002183329&set=a.1066526937980.11761.1070221377&type=3&theater   

The activities are organized by the San Francisco Philippine Consulate, EDSA/People Power@30 Committee, Philippine American Writers & Artists, ABS-CBN International/TFC, Inquirer.net, and the Philippine American Press Club, with support from Goldilocks USA, Philippine News, Positively Filipino, Fil-Am Book Club, FACINE, Pusod Foundation, Philippine Folklife Museum Foundation, and others.

It was 30 years ago this month when the Filipino people asserted their power, and rightened what was wrong. Let's remember, and draw strength and inspiration for our times.