POE: UPHOLDING SPIRIT OF EDSA IS GREATEST
CHALLENGE FOR LEADERS

LA UNION--The EDSA People Power Revolution left more than just lessons but also challenges to the leaders of today, presidential race frontrunner Sen. Grace Poe said.

Speaking at a press conference in La Union, Poe said the greatest challenge for public officials is how they would uphold the spirit and message of the revolution that all Filipinos are equal in terms of rights and opportunities.

"Ang hamon sa bawat namumuno ay kung papaano natin itataas ang diwa ng EDSA kung saan ang bawat Pilipino ay pantay-pantay, may karapatan, may hustisya at kaginhawaan sa ating buhay," Poe said.

The senator was only 17 years old when the EDSA revolt toppled the dictatorship. The then young Poe was in San Juan at that time with her parents, Fernando Poe Jr. and Susan Roces.

For Poe, the greatest legacy of the revolution was the restoration of the freedom to speak and express frustrations against the government. However, she noted that the country still has a long way to go before it could fulfill the promises of EDSA.

"Naging mas libre tayong magsabi ng kung ano man ang ating pananaw sa gobyerno o sa ating lipunan. Pagkatapos ng EDSA talagang mas dumami na 'yung mga dyaryo sa ating bansa. Naging mas malakas ang loob ng mga mamamahayag," the senator said.

"Pero wag natin kalilimutan na ang diwa ng EDSA ay hindi lamang dahil doon, hindi lamang sa isang pinaglalaban. Ang pinaglalaban nila ay magkaroon ng patas na pagkakataon ang bawat Pilipino," she said.

Poe, the lone independent presidential aspirant, is running under the banner of "Gobyernong may Puso," which promises to include all Filipinos in rapid and sustainable economic growth. As the first foundling to aim for the presidency, Poe said she represents the hopes of the neglected sectors of society.