In the midst of new wave of street revolutions

MANILA, Philippines - The commemoration of EDSA People Power comes in the midst of a new wave of street revolutions in the Middle East and North Africa following the overthrow of the dictatorships in Tunisia and Egypt.

One thing in common between EDSA People Power Revolution and the Middle East’s People Power uprising in Tunisia and Egypt is that encroached governments strongly supported by security forces can be toppled by unarmed people on the streets with the plaza as the battleground. What is Tahrir Square to Egyptians is what EDSA is to Filipinos.

The new wave of people power unrest in the Arab world was flogged at overstaying authoritarian rulers. Tunisia’s President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali held office for 24 years while Hosni Mubarak of Egypt 30 years.

Now Libya has been ruled by Moammar Gadhafi for 42 years. Mubarak faces demonstrators with troops, firing at protesters with machine guns and high-caliber weapons. The death toll has now reached 300 according to Human Rights Watch.

The Philippines was under the regime of Ferdinand Marcos for 21 years. Twenty-five years ago, a military mutiny broke out of Camp Aguinaldo triggering the first bloodless people power revolution in Philippine history.

The Filipinos are celebrating the turning point in the struggle for the return of democracy in the country when the late President Cory Aquino was installed in power on February 25, 1986.